I guess I have bored most of you to death now with the story of shipping a 911 to the UK but, for the few that remain semi-conscious, here’s the latest. It is currently on board the Sormiou (pic below), sailing from the Dominican Republic to Rotterdam, and then from Rotterdam to London (Tilbury). Weather in the Northwestern Atlantic is currently fantastic (not):
NWS ocean prediction center Washington DC 1630 UTC Fri Nov 20 2009
Seas given as significant wave height…which is the average height of the highest 1/3 of the waves. Individual waves may be more than twice the significant wave height
North Atlantic north of 31n to 67n and west of 35w: Synopsis valid 1200 UTC Nov 20. 24 hour forecast valid 1200 UTC Nov 21. 48 hour forecast valid 1200 UTC Nov 22.
Warnings.
…hurricane force wind warning… .Low E of area 51n30w 970 mb moving NE 15 kt. From 43n to 46n between 36w and 45w and from 47n to 51n between 36w and 39w winds 50 to 65 kt. Seas 22 to 33 ft. Elsewhere over forecast waters within 720 nm SW quadrant winds 35 to 50 kt. Seas 16 to 27 ft. Also from 33n to 55n between 35w and 48w winds 25 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 21 ft. .24 hour forecast low well E of area. From 40n to 51n between 35w and 46w winds 25 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 23 ft. .48 hour forecast conditions E of area.
…Storm Warning… .24 hour forecast new low E of area 61n31w 973 mb. N of 61n between 35w and the E coast of Greenland winds 25 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 14 ft. .36 hour forecast low 63n37w 980 mb. N of 63n within 120 nm E of the Greenland coast winds 45 to 60 kt. Seas 16 to 25 ft. .48 hour forecast low 62n41w 992 mb. N of 64n between 35w and the E coast of Greenland winds 35 to 50 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft. Elsewhere within 180 nm NE quadrant winds 25 to 35 kt. Seas 10 to 17 ft.
…Gale Warning… .Except where described above with low 51n30w within 240 nm S and SW of a line from 57n36w to 60n45w to 65n53w winds 25 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 21 ft. .24 hour forecast within 240 nm S and SW of a line from 58n35w to 61n46w to 65n54w winds 25 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 21 ft. .48 hour forecast N of 57n between 44w and 58w winds 25 to 40 kt. Seas 10 to 16 ft.
If the above is correct, then individual waves may be up to 55 feet tall! But I still don’t wish I had bought insurance. What will be, will be.
I emailed Hapag Lloyd a few days ago, to ask about maybe getting dockside at Tilbury to watch the huge (chartered Luxembourgian) container ship coming in, figured I may as well anorak this thing to death. They have replied and given me a guy to call next week, we’ll see whether it might be possible. Would be very cool I think, especially as I wasn’t there to see it leave. I think it will make a great piece if we can wrap it up like that. I am wondering whether I can sneak out on a pilot boat – if they use them at Tilbury…
It arrives in London on the 29th, then give it a few days to clear and we should be collecting it in the middle of that week. I have booked all of that week off as holidays, so hopefully I can MOT it on the Friday and get it legal eagled soon afterwards. I will definitely order some new tyres for it, as sliding around the UK on 10 year old rubber is not my idea of winter fun!
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