High tide, originally uploaded by nathanleefloats.

We’ve got a very high tide here at wells. It’s gone above the harbour wall

Small boat owners, originally uploaded by nathanleefloats.

These two just turned up along with a few others. They are private boats. The larger of the two has three leather chairs spanning the bridge, although i reckon there’s room for five. Very busy here tonight.

I wanted to say thank you to everybody who has sent in a donation. I just about got enough to replace the camera with something that is likely to stand the test of being on a boat all the time. After a lot of research I finally settled on a Sanyo Xacti WH-1. It arrived yesterday, and I set about doing some filming today to show you what I’d done on the boat, and take you all on a quick kayak tour of the local creeks.

The camera is waterproof. Apparently down to 3 meters for up to an hour. It’s even written on the side 3m/10ft WATERPROOF.

Well, guess what…. You’ve got it in one.

Whilst out on the kayak I put it in, hand deep, to make for a bit of a surprise on the next video. It worked fine, and I continued filming afterwards, but later, about half an hour later, back on shore I was filming on the boat, and green screen. Then it said it was overheating, and now it won’t switch on, at all. Obviously a warranty job there, so I hope I get it back before I set off.

I’ve managed to lift the footage I did get, off the SD card, and the underwater stuff looks impressive. Sanyo are making a big deal out of this camera being a proper snorkeling cam, so I have to presume the one I got had a fault, and it’s not just a bad design.

I’ll keep you posted. Still, the fact is, Kudu now has a new camera, even if I have to wait for the replacement, and so the continuation of the video series is totally down to everybody who has donated. Thank you!

A graphical tracking of my progress has been requested a few times, and I do want to do it, I just don’t know how.

There are a million and one options available to me, and I know about these, but the trouble is, they all required GPS tracking data, and that’s locked up on my Standard Horizon CP180i chart plotter. Without spending a load of money on the special SH data transfer card, I don’t know how it can be done.

Suggestions are more than welcome.

You can now subscribe to the Adventures of Kudu, so you’ll be updated to the latest posts straight away. In the top left you will now see this…

Subscribe to Onkudu

Or you can click that one, and you’ll be taken to the feedburner page, where you choose what to read the updates in. If you have a Google, or Yahoo account, or one of the many other RSS readers, then hopefully this should make things a bit easier for you.

Also, I can’t resist playing with things

I decided a while back that I would try and use this blog to help support a charity, and I have finally got around to setting it all up.

The following is an excerpt from my newly formed just giving page, and I think summarises my reasons for doing this quite well.

 When i set off around Britain in my 21ft sailing boat, Kudu, I did it for no other reason than my own personal experience. I didn’t have sponsorship, and I wasn’t collecting money for a charity. I set off in an effort to circumnavigate Britain on a shoestring budget and that was my only goal.

I departed on the 2nd of May, and since then my life has been changed by the goodwill of others I have met along the way. I have also, quite unexpectedly, received a good deal of attention for my voyage, and so I thought the least I could do to offer something back was to support a charity.

I have chosen the Ellen MacArthur Trust for a number of reasons, aptly, Ellen first came to fame by doing just what I am now, circumnavigating Britain in the same type of boat as mine (A Corribee), but more importantly, because I believe what the trust is working towards is absolutely worthwhile.

Please take the time to read what your donation would go towards supporting, because I think it is a truly well deserved cause. After months or even years of virtual imprisonment by their illness, the freedom attained from being on the water, powered by the wind and sea and controlled by your own hands, must be a remarkable experience for these children.

So if you have been enjoying my blog or youtube video series, please consider making a donation

http://www.justgiving.com/onkudu

Note: Donations are securely facilitated by the justgiving website, and are paid directly and instantly into the Trust’s account.

Kudu needed a tender. My experience of a weekend around the crouch and roach last year was proof that you can’t do the east coast without one, since there’s just no way to get ashore if you need to.

There were two problems with finding a tender for Kudu; no money, and no space. I couldn’t buy a “proper” tender since they are very expensive, and there’s just no room on the boat to store it.

I found a solution though, an inflatable kayak, which in honor of the great David Lewis, I’ve called Condom.

Condom & Kudu

It all folds up into a little bag which stows in the quarter berth, and despite getting a little splashed, it’s too bad to paddle. I’ve done a lap around St Kat’s anyway :p

I calmed down after my little stress the other day. A good sleep sorted me out and I attacked the solar panel problem with a fresh head in the morning, which resulted in…

Solar Panel on my Corribee

I’ve only fitted one of the two panels, but it’ll be enough to keep the nav gear running for a few days, and when I get to the River Crouch, fitting it’s brother will keep me occupied for an afternoon. I’ve tested it and it’s charging the battery well, or at least, it was yesterday before the cloud arrived

The outboard issue is still causing much concern though. I’ve spoken to the engineer this morning and he said he’s still working on it. Having bought a brand new engine and it still being broken 8 months later is a bit of a record I think. Mailspeed should win a prize!

I’ve got to ring the chap at lunch time to see if it’s done, and then get the train to Southend, in Essex, to pick it up. I’m worried about lugging the thing back on the train since it’s very, very heavy to walk distance with, and I’m not sure they’ll be too happy with me being on the train with a stinky outboard smelling of fuel. I have no choice though, so I’ll just have to deal with it. Of course, if it doesn’t get fixed I’m going to have to try and locate another engine from somewhere, which will be fun with a non existent budget and one day left. The joy!

Apart from that I’ve given the boat a tidy and stowed most of my liveaboard clutter, I’ve got some final tidying to do today, and then we’re all set for sea.

Nerves are kicking in now too.

On Saturday night I arrived back in London after a 13 hour drive back from the south of France. I’d been invited out there by a friend on the marina to stay at his holiday home in Frejus. Not only was it the first time I’d visited the south of France, a destination to which I’ve promised myself I will return, but it was a total relief as I took his Hobie Dragoon out into the surf on the beach and promptly set off around the bay between Port Frejus and St Raphael. Eight months stationary in St Kat’s had not caused me to forget ho to sail after all. I even had a hull out of the water at one point.

Oh, I stocked up on wine too. 1 Euro 11 cents for a bottle of red. I thought it might be like vinegar, but it’s actually quite nice, so I bought a load of them, as well as one nice bottle for a special occasion. Still, that’s Kudu’s wine cellar sorted for the immediate future.

Not wanting to spend any more time in London than I have to (it’s too expensive) I set off to my parents’ in Lancashire on Sunday morning. Carrying two very large and very heavy bags, I lugged home a load of city clothes, shoes, DVD’s and assorted junk I won’t be needing for sailing adventures, and have deposited it in the ‘rents spare room. Sorry mum.

I’ve also ordered two 20w solar panels and a charge controller. The only thing I’m lacking at the moment, is somewhere to mount my winches. I can’t sail without them so I’m getting nervous. I need to get some stainless steel mounts made up. I have the drawings, but there are no local metal work shops and I don’t have access to a fax machine. I thought about making some out of hardwood, but apparently nowhere sells that either!!!! I think England has lost it’s ability to make things.

Oh, also, breaking news. I’ve just bought a cheap mini DV camera, so hopefully I’ll get the hand of editing and post some videos during my travels.

Oh, more breaking news. I’ve just got off the phone to Mailspeed and I should be able to pick up my outboard at the weekend. Relief – they’ve only had it since February! Apparently the big end bearing went, which is good after two days use I think. I’ve got to run it in again though. I might have to potter around St Kat’s east dock for a while.