NEWS
AGX - Mission Accomplished
Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:05:30 +0000

The final Broadly Boats Special in the Alpha Global Expedition series is now available as a free download from: tinyurl.com/59vkxp The book “Over The Top” by Adrian Flanagan will be launched by Orion in October 2008. bb.firetrench.com ftnews.firetrench.com agx.firetrench.com nighthawk.firetrench.com ftd.firetrench.com

The Tall Ships’ Races 2008 got off to a flying start
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:56:11 +0000

HMS Mersey will be following the fleet. Above, earlier this year when HMS Mersey welcomed first vertical (bi-polar) cirumnavigator Adrian Flanagan back to British waters after his transit of the Russian Northern Sea Route The Tall Ships’ Races 2008 got off to a flying start yesterday as the race got under way just off the northern [...]

Alpha Global meets Exercise Midnight Sun
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:36:54 +0000

pictured left to right: Mark Giles, Andy Whitmore, Adrian, Paul Molyneux and Warren Beresford On Wednesday Adrian & Louise met with four members of the Territorial Army who are taking part in Exercise Midnight Sun which is the Royal Signals TA expedition to Greenland, one of the planets last great unspoilt wildernesses, in August 2008. The [...]

FAVOURITE PICTURES
Sat, 31 May 2008 14:18:40 +0000

We’ve finally made it home after 2 weeks on the Hamble. And what an incredibly memorable 2 weeks they have been. Of the many hundreds of pictures taken on the 21st May, these are two we particularly like. The family portrait is taken by our good friend Tina Hadley, the other by Sara Coombes [...]

AGX - PHOTOS
Mon, 26 May 2008 12:01:06 +0000

Below are a selection of family photos taken over the past couple of days - please feel free to use them. For publication purposes, a photo credit will suffice (Louise Flanagan) Reading The Times at breakfast on Thursday morning!

AGX - PHOTOS
Mon, 26 May 2008 11:55:02 +0000

Below are a selection of family photos taken over the past couple of days - please feel free to use them. For publication purposes, a photo credit will suffice (Louise Flanagan)    

THE DREAM CAME TRUE
Mon, 26 May 2008 11:35:57 +0000

  The smile that said it all - (photo - Louise Flanagan) The Alpha Global Expedition ended at 11.00am on Wednesday 21st May when Barrabas crossed the start / finish line between Calshot Spit and Hillhead in the Solent. Adrian Flanagan became the first single-handed sailor to achieve a ‘vertical’ circumnavigation of the earth. Below, in [...]

Thanks for a wonderful welcome home
Wed, 21 May 2008 15:13:37 +0000

Adrian and Louise wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who have helped to make this voyage of circumnavigation possible, to those who sent messages of support as Adrian prepared to sail away, to those who wrote and emailed during the trip, to all of those who came to make the conclusion such [...]

AGX Homecoming
Wed, 21 May 2008 10:08:15 +0000

Anyone wishing to rendezvous with Adrian at sea made their way to the EAST BRAMBLE MARK (50 47.2 N, 1 13.7 E) between 9:30am and 10:00am today. Spectators Spectators were able to watch Adrian as he proceeded up the River Hamble between 10:00am and 11:00am. Viewing from either the Hamble or Warsash side of the [...]

Full Day Ahead
Wed, 21 May 2008 08:30:57 +0000

Today will be a very full day for Adrian Flanagan as he ends a unique voyage - an outstanding achievement. Perhaps the final course chosen was a gentle build up to today. Originally, Adrian considered leaving Norway and heading South and West around the Shetlands and the Scottish islands, along the West coast of Ireland and [...]


Over The Top
News Archive

28 July 2006
DHL to the rescue .... again

DHL have come to the rescue of the Alpha Global Expedition once again! With 800 miles to sail until I reach Nome, Alaska where Barrabas will be lifted out of the water for emergency repairs to her propeller shaft, DHL are flying out replacement parts from the UK. With these critical spares awaiting my arrival, valuable time will be saved and thus the prospect of sailing the Northern Sea Route kept alive.

Among other items DHL will transport are new TackTick instrument displays. After the severe batterings of Atlantic storms, Cape Horn fury and close calls with a typhoon, the mast-top windvane which feeds wind speed and direction data to the display unit needs renewing. Designed principally for small boat, inshore sailing, TackTick instrument display units are being given a thorough testing in extended offshore conditions and have come through remarkably well. I selected TackTick instrument displays because they operate wirelessly, recharging through an integral solar panel. Being wireless means I can carry the displays around the boat so that I have instant access to data without the need to go to the cockpit or chart table.

The crucial spares being sent are the replacement cutless bearings. Dennis Rawle of Exalto has agreed to send out a variety of external diameter sizes because I do not know the exact diameter of the stern tube. On this basis, one of them will fit. This type of 'can-do' approach from Dennis makes the disappointment and logistical complexities of an enforced stop much easier to defeat.