I ran out of money in Wells. Not your usual running out of money that people usually tell you about when you invite them to the pub, though. This was really running out of money. I transferred the last £100 from a savings account into my current account just so I could buy food. Then eventually that ran out too. The overdraft was on it’s limit, and the credit card long since past its capacity. I had the spare change left on Kudu, and that was all the money in the world I could get my hands on.
Since Wells, I’ve been surviving on more borrowed money. Every time I’m delayed by the weather, I’m further in debt. Every time the boat breaks, it costs me money that I will be paying back over the following year.
I left Stonehaven on Saturday morning to be confronted by a 30 knot gust which sheared the brass gooseneck bolt. I suppose I can count myself lucky it happened when it did, but nevertheless we limped back into the harbour.
To fix it was no major feat, although I still haven’t done it, but it meant another few days delay, and then there’s the weather. I’ve been plagued by bad weather for the entire trip, and it’s certainly not looking any better. There are deep lows hovering over the Atlantic at the moment, and they’ll be making their way over here to the East coast, meaning even more days stuck in harbours, and even more debt clocking up.
I’m not going to tell you just how my I owe, but suffice to say that this cannot continue any longer or I’ll be a prisoner to it for far too long. I gave it my best, I got to Scotland, but I have been beaten by constant breakages, bad weather, and inexperience.
Kudu will undergo a hefty refit this winter, with modifications built upon my experience this summer. Next year she will be ready for further adventures, but the reality is next year I’ll still be paying back this year. We will see what happens I suppose, but rest assured, this is not Kudu’s last adventure.
I’m off back to Preston by road on Thursday. Next week I’m sure I’ll have a few interviews, and the week after be back in the office. It will be like my life hasn’t changed at all, but as I’m sat there at my new desk, happily coding away on some fancy new piece of software, I’ll have a faint smile on my face, because I know what I did in the summer of 2009, and I will never ever forget it.
Thank you to everybody I met, everybody who offered help, and everybody who sent messages of support. Without you, I’d never have got this far.
For now, the flame of adventure has been reduced to a humble pilot light, but it won’t go out. It’s just a matter of time before there’s an almighty explosion.
Really sorry to hear that this adventure has reached its end. I look forward to the future adventures of Kudu and Mr W.
Hi Nathan
I wish you well in all your efforts and hope that the job pays loads of cash! You have been an insparation to my own efforts of starting it out alone and starting my own business; now that i’ve been made redundant it has given me the push I need as well as the posts from here! Yachtmaster exam next week!
Take care, heed those lessons, and have fair winds!
Matt
P.s. When the business is able i’m going to send you an invite to join me, maybe you’ll take it, maybe not; one thing is certain – you are an insparation.
Fantastic effort Nathan, pity not to make it to the West Coast this year. Still. . . you don’t sail all around Britain just to get to London !
Dylan may catch up with Kudu yet
It all looks good on the resume. . you can give motivational speaking engagements now.
May the road rise up to meet you and the wind be always at your back. . .
Cheers. . . . Dave
Hi Nathan
Many thanks for sharing your adventure thus far via your website – I’ve been an avid reader and watcher of your videos. I look forward to more in due course, but for now, adiós and best wishes.
Keith
Hey bud,
Though break but you’ve done well! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us, look forward to seeing more in the not too distant future.
Barry
Good job so far Nathan, you faced weather that would have had me sitting and waiting even longer for it to clear – or heading home by bus until the weather man changes his tune.
You have gone from being the neophyte I met on the Rach last year to a proper yachtsman – the only thing that stood between you and the completion of the journey this year is money
I know you have the balls to finish the trip
it has been a tough year – especially in the North – although east anglia has had a much better season
Looking forward to you renewing your journey
Dylan – keep turning left
keep in touch old chap
d
Best sailing videos I have ever watched, very funny, had me laughing out loud at some points. Looking forward to seeing some more in the future!
Thanks for a great website
James
I’m gutted to hear you’ve got to stop, Nathan.
I find myself torn, on one hand I feel sad that you’ve had to call it quits for the time being, but there’s an overriding emotion/worry…
What the hell are we going to read/follow now you’re not sailing around any more!?
I know that like me, everyone who’s followed you out of harbours into rough weather and felt that flip of nervousness in the gut, smiled at the good, laughed at the funny and said things at the screen when stupid things outside your control happened will genuinely miss following your adventure.
One thing’s for sure though – it has been a great ride and I can’t wait for it to start again.
I hope all goes well when you get back to the grind and you get yourself out and sailing again soon.
All the best,
William
Hi Nathan,
First of all I like to congratulate you for this great achivement!
I’m writing you first time but I’ve been watching you in last two weeks with big enjoyment and envy. I’m more interested in sailing after meeting a American sailer on East Black Sea Coastline of Turkey this summer, but watching your adventures turns this interest to inspiration.
I wish I have the resources to support you Nathan. But we never know , I keep playing lottery
Do you think finding sponsors for future longer journeys possible?
As you are aware of that this journey made you stronger , experienced for the next ones, So I think you gained priceless things.
I wish you best of luck in all aspects.Looking forward to see more of your adventures.
Guray
Sad news. Sad news indeed. At least you have the knowledge that you gave it a good go.
I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog and hope to read more in the future.
Sad thing that money should put an end to it, but very understandable. If it weren’t for money I would have been on a similar trip long since… There should be some kind of crazy small boat fund to apply for a grant to!!
Sad news indeed Nathan but probably the best choice in the circumstance?
What will you do with Kudu, where will you lay her up for the winter or are you thinking of trailering her home to Preston Marina which just might be the cheapest option overall?
I Wish you well, keep in touch. Ring me when you get time.
Best regards David
Oh no!
I must say that although I may seem an imaginery person, I am really going to miss you and Kudu, r u staying in preston or going back to the old Smoke?
I don’t know what I am going to do with myself. I check your Blog every day almost, and as others have said above, smile & laugh stupidly at the screen when reading a post or watching your videos. (if you have any extra footage of the trip when you get back perhpas you could do us lovely fans a few more videos, would love to see some outtakes).
Any way, I wish you all the best, im going to miss you
Sure you will rake in the cash and it won’t be long before the Adventures of Kudu begin again.
Bye for now I hope X
You gave it your best, its a shame money has to ruin everything in life!
Is there any option to leave Kudu where she is and continue your trip at a later date? money and holidays permitting, perhaps you could do a bit at a time, or are you planning on living onboard again whilst working?
I think as others have suggested, we’d all enjoy any other video footage you have, edited or not! and it would be good to hear how you adjust back into normality
Good luck with the job hunt and I hope you have many more adventures in the near future. Do let us all know how you get on..
Hi Nathan
Not an easy decision I would imagine but just a short note to say congratulations on your acheivement. I will be looking out for the blogs to continue thru the winter letting us all know what you are up to, what you have been doing to Kudu and most importantly – when you will be resuming the voyage…
Congratulations again and thanks for all the great reading – certinly the best blog I have followed this year…
Peter
Hi Nathan…and well done!
It’s been good following your uploads and adventures…THANK YOU….for all your time, effort and above all sense of humour, because at times many….even those with all the funding and support would of given up ages ago.
looking forward to “More Adventures Of KUDU”…and there will always be a pint or three for you at Troon.
Also have you tried these guys for moorings etc:
http://www.wardleysyachtclub.org/
They are only a few miles north of Preston…ask for Ian Gartside (ex commodore) & old pal.
Hi Nathan
sorry to hear of the lack of Wonga but well done so far. thats a long way to go in anybodys book.
Cheers
Roger
A real shame but as others have said it does require money. I can’t imagine that you’ll stop there anyway and I and many others I’m sure look forward to your return.. Do you intend continuing the trip or are you going to find some other challenge to keep us entertained? Either way Good luck and keep us posted.
I’d like to second the request for another video to round it all off if there’s the footage to make it with.
Hi Nathan, great respect for what you did. Must be very hard to surrender to your cash-problems after doing such great sailing. I enjoyed your adventures, you made me feel like some sort of fellow-traveller – although sitting warm and dry behind my desk.
Hope you’ll pick op your journey net year!
Lucas – Netherlands
Its not an end but an interlude. No one said that it all had to be done in a year. Chin up, return to the grind, earn some sheckles and carry on when you feel like it. Look forward to reading the continuation some time in the future. Very well done for getting as far as you did and “hats off” to you for making a decision to keep things real.
Good luck with the job hunting.
Sorry to hear that your trip has been cut short Nathan. Like others have said, you have been an inspiration to many of us. Your blog and videos have been excellent entertainment (in a good sense) and hopefully you will keep us informed on your progress.
Hopefully it won’t be too long before you’re back in action again. I feel sure that this is just the beginning and we will be hearing more about you in the future.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
It was a pleasure to meet you in Stonehaven.
bummer nathan. i’m planning on keeping ninky in commission at least through the autumn so if you fancy a trip down to gosport for a sail some time get in touch.
First of all, congratulations on getting so far with so small a budget. Such a shame that you’ve had to pause your great adventure.
Second, as one or two others have already said, this blog has become almost religiously daily reading for me. Definitely one of the best, most readable blogs going. And the videos are excellent too. Don’t quite understand why I find them (and this blog) so compulsive since I don’t even know you! Perhaps it’s because you are fulfilling a dream of yours and having the good grace to share it with those of us who wish we were there but will always manage to find reasons for putting off those same dreams.
Third, what the bloody hell am I going to look at now over my first espresso of the day?
Hi Nathan, so sorry you have been forced to take a break. I only came across your adventure a couple of days ago and have not had time to look at the whole journey just yet. It is obvious from the little I have read you are an exceptional individual. I do hope you will continue with Kudu in the future.
Good luck whatever you do next and thanks for posting your story.
What a shame about the cash flow problems. Your blog has kept me entertained and inspired over the past few months whilst psyching up for my own sailing adventure. I’d like to echo the requests for a director’s cut please. Best of luck to you and Kudu with whatever you end up doing next. Things happen for mysterious reasons, perhaps one day you’ll be able to look back and say it was the best thing that could have happened.
“If one advances confidently in the direction of one’s dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” – Henry David Thoreau
Well done Nathan, I have really enjoyed reading your blogs each day when I turn up for work, things just won’t be the same now…. they have inspired me & made me smile and you’ve done things most people only dream of. Keep the blogs up as would love to know what happens next. Thanks for a most interesting read & loved the videos too.
hi nathan, i just want to echo what everyone else has said.. really sorry to hear of your extended bit of shore leave.. but bloody well done for what you have achieved thus far..
I will keep checking back here and on ybw for the future adventures of you and kudu..
all the very best..
Craig
Thank you, and that quote is so very true.
I have experienced it many times over the years.
Nathan
You have had a good try and as you say the trip will be continued.
I still hope we meet up again on the start line for Jester Azores 2012
Good luck with the job hunting
Peter
Nathan,
As someone with a similar amount of sailing experience (well, before you started your trip!) & keeping a boat along the east coast, I’ve been inspired & drawn confidence from your adventures.
I totally appreciate how intimidating the North Sea can be at times & have without doubt pushed myself much further for reading your experiences & for that I thank you.
Hopefully you’ll keep us all updated as to your future plans.
I’ve been following you blog (and videos) since before you left London and can echo what everyone else has said that you’ve been inspirational to those of us who haven’t yet achieved what you have.
The journey is the destination and you’ve had a great journey so far, both the good and the bad at the time. You’ve gained far more than what it’ll be costing you financially.
Ever considered marketting a “director’s cut” DVD edition of you and Kudu’s first voyage? Would be a little extra to the refit fund.
Best of luck job hunting and keep up the blog!
Nathan,
Congratulations on what you’ve achieved, and thankyou for providing an absorbing and entertaining commentary for us along the way. It may seem odd, but far from feeling sad, I think that today’s post is the crowning glory of your blog – this is going to sound horribly consescending but it’s not meant to: It shows great maturity and strength of character to assess your situation as you have, and to know when to draw a line under things. I hope you’ll be back with more well-told tales of adventure, but that’s up to you. Whatever happens though, you’ll be able to look back on what you’ve done this summer with pride and satisfaction.
With my very best wishes for the future,
Andy
As others have said, your endeavours have been inspirational and your blog and video’s compulsive reading to this land-locked sailor. I’m seriously thinking of following in your footsteps as a parting gesture to the UK when I retire.
I hope you continue this blog with the refit and modifications to Kudu as well as your continuing adventures.
Thanks for all the enjoyment you have given over the last few months.
Come on someone give the lad a magazine series or book sponsorship deal!
Nathan – I’m so sorry that you’ve had to pull out for the time being. You’ve been amazing and inspired me to stop being such a “wuss” about sailing! I wish you loads of luck getting Kudu fixed-up this Winter for more adventures next year. You deserve a lottery win to help you refill the very empty coffers. Next year isn’t so very far away so keep your chin up….most of us will never manage anything like you’ve achieved despite our advanced years and perhaps fuller bank accounts!
Looking forward to webblog about your new job, could be as much fun as sailing
anyway good luck and hope to see you soon on the water again as I say in Dutch .. tot later op het water ….
Erik
Hi Nathan,
Sorry you have had to postpone progress for the time being, but good effort!
If you need a hand getting the boat out of the water let me know, I live a few miles from Stonehaven and have a Corribee trailer that I would be glad to let you use and would be happy to trail the boat to Lancaster for you if need be.
Cheers
Charlie
Nathan
Don’t let that smile get too faint. You’ve done brilliantly, and you’ve proved you’ve certainly got a “Jester” and more in you.
Personally I’d like to thank you for the great videos on utube and the absorbing threads on the YBW East Coast Forum. Your openness, honesty, and complete lack of bull*$&% won you a lot of friends and supporters.
Good luck for the winter and for next year. As ever – à donf!
Bill
Hi
as so many have said , a great blog and your a real inspiration. It is a shame that things have come to a stop for the moment but it has been great to follow you adventures to date, it has been a privalage to share the tales of your journey both pysically and psychologically…….. with your spirit and drive you have a wonderful life ahead of you…god luck and thanks
Nathan
We moored in front of you for a couple of days in Wells (Westerly Fulmar Orca) and I’ve been following your adventures with interest. I’m so sorry to hear you had to give up (for now) but you will have learnt so much and I think you do yourself down to say that inexperience was a factor. The blog was inspirational. Believe me, not everyone can write about sailing and keep their readers not only awake but entertained and informed.
Keep on with Kudu and then you will move on to greater things. At least you won’t have to wait until you retire to circumnavigate Britain.
nathan you did your best, you have the memories of the good times and the bad. at least you had the guts to try it. you are still young enough to attempt it again later on. good luck for the future and keep posting here to let us know how you are geting on.
spud192