Exciting development!

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

I guess since the cable was laid east-west, you need to find the bouy, sail a few miles SW then begin traversing North and South across the path of the laid cable until you snag it. If you’re far enough from the end, the weight of the cable should keep the end on the ocean bed. Once up on deck, the task of running the cable to its end begins. The weight of cable certainly would need powerful winches and clamps!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Mark

 

That sounds about right, but not quite!

 

You say….”find the buoy and sail SW”………If you sailed west, you would miss the cable end completely!………Because we aint got that far yet!

 

Gotcha?…..Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

Should have been SE of course. Glad you passed the awake-test!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Even more exciting news!….Chaps

 

The film crew will be fitting a mobile camera to a second boat and filming…..Ship to ship!

 

That should be great fun!…………….Can`t wait for the results!

 

The camera boat will be operated by a Hoylake club member…….Which is a nice gesture

 

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Grab a load o` this chaps!

 

A touch of class!……… For the Etherow boys big day at Hoylake!

 

Rosie likes the new walkies outfit!

 

Bob

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

Very smart Bob.

 

Len.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Well chaps, it was our big day today….at Hoylake

Just got home after a 13 hour day!…..Yes!…..13 hours!………… Of pure enjoyment!

Feeling very tired now, so have just selected one picture out of 160 shots!

 

Bob and Mark Horton discussing the various features of the model

 

The weather was gorgeous and we had a very interesting day

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Full report required when you are rejuvenated Bob!

 

We are waiting with bated breath…..

 

Colin

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The Star of the day!…….But which one?

 

Early morning filming…….Everybody bright and cheerful!

You should have seen us at 6.30pm……….Nine hours later!

Some of us were quite jaded!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Another early morning shot, showing Dave Wooley with most of the Coast team and Mark Horton taking a few close ups before filming started.

It was very interesting watching the team in action and was impressed with Mark`s interviewing skills and hilarious sense of humour!

 

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The Crosby Brass Band played a major part in the proceedings, which was great fun.

Especially the confetti bombs going off!

 

Don`t know what was going on for this scene

We were lucky with the weather!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

It`s a sobering thought…….Six hours filming….Edited down to 8 minutes on the telly!

 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Bob, you haven’t directly answered the crucial question! Did everything work OK?

 

Well done to all concerned!

 

Colin

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Colin

 

There was not really any doubt about the cable laying sequence.

More on this later

 

The Hoylake members, who were very helpful all day, made their appearance with JAWS!………………Nice one, boys!

Unfortuneately, time ran out before Ken Webb of the Hoylake club could get into the act, with his camera bourne tugboat………….Sorry Ken, mate!……..and you waited all day too!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Jumping ahead, about 100 pictures!…….This is the final scene…..Cable laying

 

A stiff wind had sprung up, late afternoon and blew GE off course on the early runs, and for the final run, the paddles packed up completely!

Nothing serious, the chain had jumped the motor cog……..But we carried on, undaunted, too tired to make a repair!……Gritted our teeth and reached Newfoundland at a scale speed……..ie…..painfully slow!

The cable ended up being wrapped round one of the buoys in the process

Sheltering behind the wall, out of the wind

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Cable rescue

I really deserve a gallantry medal for this! The pond bottom was slippy and slimey, felt very deep, with the occaisional brick lying in wait!…….Not to mention the wind

Have I mentioned my little toes all aquashed up, in those frightfully tight waders?

 

No you haven`t, but……Gerron with it, Bob…….You Wuss!

 

Teeth gritted once more….The cable was retrieved from 12000 feet in mid Atlantic!
With my five pronged hand!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Finally, Great Eastern reaches Hearts Content in Newfoundland!

“Thank Goodness for that!”…………………………………….we all said to ourselves!

Where`s that brass band when we need one?

I must have stood in that water for a full hour!

Are you all right, Bob?……..”No problem”……..He croaked. fingers frozen and cramp setting in!

 

With a great sigh of relief…….The signal was there!….Phew!

Meanwhile, back in Blighty……..

Cassandra sent the all important signal in Morse Code…..

 

 

Action!……

And the signal was?………..”COAST” of course!”

 

Cut!

 

Well, chaps, that just about winds up the story of the Great Eastern laying a cable across the Atlantic.

We`ve had lots of fun over the last five months and will be nice to look back in the future years.

 

So it`s goodbye from Capt Bobrunel, here on the bridge of the mighty ship, The Great Eastern……….Er…….What`s that?………”Can we run that again, please?”

 

Not ruddy likely!

 

Bye, chaps

 

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

Bob, what a wonderful day! And great sequence of photos with your inimitable commentary on proceedings. Well done and congratulations on an excellent job! Mark

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you very much, Mark

 

It was indeed a magical day for us, we really had a lovely time, full of interest and such nice company

 

We will remember the occasion for years to come and will look back with very fond memories of the trials and tribulations we encountered

 

Many thanks for your help and advice over the past five months

 

My very best regards….Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

Please let us know when it’s scheduled to be broadcast, (I know 2012, but that’s all).

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

In addition to the Film, you can read the book! Bob has agreed to write a full ‘insider’ account for Model Boats which will appear next Spring. In the meantime there is also likely to be a Gallery spread of photos from the filming contributed by Dave Wooley.

 

Something extra to look forward to!

 

Colin

[Damien BrowneParticipant @damienbrowne14051]

Hi Bob,

 

Well done a great achievement! looking forward to the programme.

 

Damien

 

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Many thanks, Damien

 

I`ve recieved your pm and have duly replied.

Regards to Junior and Declan

 

Bob

[Phil Winks 1Participant @philwinks1]

congrats Bob me auld mate proper looking forward to seeing the resultant 8 mins of footage and the book thats definately on my wish list

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Phil, me ol` Mucka!

 

So yer still lurkin` out there!

 

Thanks for the congrats, M8

 

It`s gonna be a loooooong wait, I`m afraid!

 

Bob

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