Many thanks to the guys at GREEN OIL, for helping us with this fantastic environmentally sound lubricant for our bikes. It worked a treat. I think our 1200 mile cycle through the baking heat of southern France and the driving rain we encountered in Spain really put the product to the test. Not a squeak out of the bikes. Thumbs up!
The team slept on board last night tied up in port. A good nights sleep was had by all without the need to wake for watches or the pounding of the boat to rouse them. A celebration fry up was cooked by Ben first thing then it was down to the chores. Decks had to be scrubbed, removing numerous tea spillage's and general debris from six days living in a confined space. The bikes had to be retrieved from the aft lockers and re assembled in the right order. It seamed so long ago that they were happily taken to bits after the epic cycle. Kit, expedition meals, panniers, helmets, tents, waterproofs, stoves and tools all had to be repacked and bagged up on the quay. Although cycling back to London had been discussed it was decided due to lack of time and the fragile nature of Raoul's bike after the crash that the train would be a safer option. The Boys still had to negotiate traffic and cross london fully laden when they arrived in Paddington Station at 15.30. It was only when safely in Raouls flat in west London that the Boys could really congratulate themselves and look back on a job well done. A fantastic training expedition for Greenland next year and again proof that sustainable, clean travel is possible and moreover that it makes for a heck of an adventure.
Skipper Ben broke the news that today could be the last day at sea and he estimates an early evening arrival in Plymouth. Spirits were high all day on board with a good breeze had Fleur putting in a personal best speed of 8.3 knots. A fine day in the channel, and time to reflect on a great week on board. There were several naval vessels and helicopters on exercise as the team first caught sight of land in the early afternoon. Continuing to hold a good 7 knots by early evening attentions were drawn to mobile phones on board that were finally picking up a signal from the uk and buzzing away after 5 days of silence. A sure sign that Fleur was closing in, and just as Ben had predicted he had his vessel tied up alongside the quay at one minute past six. He had said six o' clock but the boys gave him the benefit of the doubt being just 60 seconds late! A wonderful feeling to step onto the pontoon having completed the 1200 mile cycle and 6 days at sea without a hitch. It was time for a long overdue shower, shave and one or two refreshments in the quayside tavern!
Through the notorious Bay of Biscay without a sign of a storm cloud. Now heading up the Brittany coast and with the English channel in sight. It is amazing that the team have covered such distances with little wind, but unlike cycling or hauling pulks on the ice when you sail you are moving day and night and the hours and miles tick by. The lack of space to stretch those tired legs has been and issue for Raoul and Rich. After 1200 miles of hard toil then almost instant immobility in the relative confines of Fleurs cockpit the boys are getting a bit twitchy. Spirits have been lifted by a stronger south westerly breeze which has filled the sails and is pushing fleur homeward at a steady 7 knots. Skipper Ben has had to reef in the main and genoa on several occasions in gusty squalls. All good news. The boat has been joined by pods of Dolphins on several occasions, a welcome sight. More and more shipping is visible now on Raoul and Rich's night watch.The boys can't wait for something stronger to drink than black tea!
The last 10 hours sailing have been hard work and very frustrating with the wind on our stern we struggle to make 5 knots. Now well into the Bay of Biscay the seas are unusually calm with a full blue sky. Rich has settled into life onboard and although not managing to sleep he is wearily doing his 4 hour watches and starting to show signs of the appetite for food that he is notorious for. The sea sickness is hopefully behind him now. A brief squall and heavy rain shower pushed Fleur over the 7 knot mark but we were hovering at 5 knots for the rest of the day and well into the evenings watch. Over 300 miles to go and hoping for wind.
Where is the wind? Raoul and Rich were back on watch this morning to the familiar sound of flapping sails and the boom swinging across the deck. Skipper Ben had maintained a good course overnight and attempted to keep good boat speed in very light winds. The day turned out to be a scorcher with everyone on deck in the afternoon trying to even up those cycling tans. Things got better in the afternoon with a 22 knot wind on our port beam pushing us along nicely until the early evening. Skipper Ben is starting to look concerned at the amount of tinned food Raoul and Rich are consuming! The night watch was an uneventful 6 knot affair with a dozen or more heavy cargo ships slipping past Fleurs port side.
'Fleur' has been off shore and been out of contact between day 14 and day 18. However we are delighted to reveal they returned safely to the Plymouth 1800 on Thurs 3rd July.
All is well, objectives achieved.
Day 15-20 blog updates to come shortly…….
Big thanks to Matt Brandon for the kind camera donation- been invaluable, and to Jess for all her hard graft and fine journalistic skills!….and of course skipper Ben Stoddard for making the second leg of this trip possible. His patience and humor the best tonic for the seas.
Many thanks also for all your messages of support, texts, back slaps and high 5s!
Please continue to check the blog regularly for ongoing CNE news.
Team CNE
It may be a relief for Rich and Raoul from being in the saddle, but being at sea is far from easy work! With 4 hour watches and then 4 hours off, there is a whole new schedule to try and adjust to. Fleur has picked up a speed of 5 knots and is sailing through choppy seas with the wind in her bow, making for slow progress. The ups and downs aren't treating Rich favourably and he is suffering from a nasty case of sea sickness. He is unable to eat and we all know that means he must be feeling really bad! Tonight they will be rounding Cape Finistaire and making their way to the Bay of Biscay.
At 5pm this evening Ben, Rich and Raoul left Vigos fully supplied. They sailed 8 miles off the coast and anchored up, ate and are now awaiting the winds. They’re hoping for a good start early tomorrow morning.
Rich wishes Jake Happy Birthday for yesterday!
The last day of cycling on the Carbon Neutral Europe Expedition was one of the hottest, with the boys struggling with the heat and having to work extremely hard to cover the miles. The day was also not without incident - a packet of screws was thrown from a car in the path of the boys! Rich suffered from a puncture and a ‘’very scary back wheel wobble on a steep and fast descent.’’
They were relieved and thrilled to arrive in the evening in Vigos and unite with Skipper Ben and his cold beers onboard ‘Fleur’!
Tomorrow the 3 man team will depart on the next stage of their journey – sailing back to Plymouth. Low pressure and high winds are forecast for the Bay of Biscay.
