Rob Hudson, crew 4th leg Greenland to Bristol

It’s all over. We arrived back at the SSGB at noon to finish the expedition, and it was also the end of the last leg back from Nuuk in Greenland.

What a fantastic experience! Thank you, DHA, for letting me share in the adventure, and to all my crewmates on the last leg for your unfailing good humour in often quite challenging circumstances.

But enough of that. I guess you are more interested in the outcome of the trial of the century. More eagerly anticipated than the recent case on the Archers, my court martial was finally held in Northabout’s saloon last night. My good friend of 24hrs, Andrew Carnegie – the micro poet – acted as my defence lawyer (nobody else would take it on), and I was marched in to face the judge, Skipper Mike, to the welcoming words of “Bring in the guilty bastard”. Ben did a great job of prosecuting, Andrew valiantly presented a defence of the indefensible, and the trial soon descended into ever more complicated arguments about incomprehensible points of legal irrelevance until I pointed out that I had already been found guilty but had appealed against the leniency of the sentence, so it was only a question of how extreme to now make it.

Keel hauling with the keel up or down? Hanging from the yard arm? Cleaning the heads?

No, the judge chickened out, and I was sentenced to sing a song. My wife will confirm that listening to me singing is far more of a punishment for the audience than the singer, but I was prepared. I had thought this would all take place in Ireland, so I had remembered a song by Tom Lehrer called “the Irish Ballad”, which has lots of verses, suitably silly refrains, and is all about murder.

After 4 verses I offered to cut out a few (which was gratefully accepted) and just did the last 2 to finish.

The whole thing was videoed by Steve, so it may be inflicted on you on this website in due course. I am truly sorry!

So, it’s over. I’ll sign off now, and thanks for all the fish…..”

Thanks, Frances, for letting me serenade you last night! It was a real pleasure.

Rob Hudson, crew 4th leg. Docked in Portishead getting ready to go to Bristol tomorrow.

Well, we arrived at Portishead last night after flying up the last bit of the Bristol Channel after the tide turned at Barry.

Northabout had the bit between her teeth, and we surged along at 10/11kts – into Portishead.

As we entered the lock first leg skipper, Dave, was there to greet us together with another Thornbury Sailing Club member, Nigel. Andrew from Cardiff Bay YC sailed across to join us for a drink or two – our micropoet Twitter follower – great to meet you at last!

We will get to Bristol tomorrow morning – DETAILS WILL BE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE (for the benefit of my various family and friends who fancy turning up.

The trial of the century has been deferred again – the sentences being discussed before it has even started don’t promise a fair hearing. If I survive, I’ll try and do a final update.

Ben Edwards, crew. Whole Expedition 18 October from near the entrance to the Bristol Channel

So three days ago we pulled into Dingle.  A charming little coastal town with an abnormal number of pubs.  The reason for this is Dingle is the destination that the American tourist industry has focused on.  As a result while nice it probably the only place in Ireland where you can actually buy a green top hat.  Judging from current evidence at least some of it’s fifty two pubs are very nice.  At about eight o’clock the five of us( Dad had met us on the pier) minus Mike got a lift from a man named Aiden who has been following the boat on twitter and his daughter, Kate.  We went to a pub out of town called the South Pole Inn.  It’s claim to fame was that it was run by Tom Crean, the carpenter on Shackleton’s expedition.  Aiden and Kate sadly had to go but we stayed for about an hour before getting a taxi back when Mike called with the location of dinner.  Shaun from Eagles Quest joined us, they’d been following us in convoy since Westport and had arrived two minutes after us.  After a very satisfactory meal we went back to the boat and slept.

The next morning we set off with high spirits.  We’d had a look at the weather forecast and it was tailwinds all the way, for once.  The next twenty four hours moved us very very quickly towards our target, Dad got seasick but fortunately that didn’t last long.  With the wind and swell behind us we were doing twelve knots at times with an average of about seven.  Amazingly that continued and continues to continue as we continue to head east.  We’re now in the lee of Wales and hope to get to Portishead tomorrow.  Thence to Bristol, see you there!