GPA wanted in Australia to build Half-Safe Replica

[Bob Carriere]

..... how did he manage the fuel issues during the long hauls..... even if following a coast line most of the way...... how much could he safely carry or was he refueled???

Just curious

Bob C

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

..... how did he manage the fuel issues during the long hauls..... even if following a coast line most of the way...... how much could he safely carry or was he refueled???

Just curious

Bob C

Hi Bob,
The first part of his round the world trip was across the Atlantic so not much chance of following the coastline. He did tow a fuel reservoir but in the rough seas this caused problems by being turned over. There were extra tanks on board. The book shows a plan of all the extra fitments. Having been all over it, I cannot imagine how awful it would have been He even had to do valve jobs in mid ocean, imagine trying to fit the collets while bobbing about, you would need a few spare ones!!

[Lynn Eades]

Bob, when they left Halifax to go to the Azores, they towed a fuel tank, which at one stage, kept rolling over, twisted up the tow rope and came close to sinking them.
From memory (and this may be wrong) it took 7 weeks to cross the Atlantic.
Between the Azores and the African coast they were hit by a hurricane. Elinore mentions being in 40 and 50 foot high seas. The book is facinating. The stuff they dealt with was amazing. Fumes, Condensation, Fuel blockages, an explosion, everything wet, constantly sea sick, crashing of waves on the hull,being aware Halfesafe could split and sink at any moment, under hull repairs, no where to lay down properly. An endless list of of soul and life destroying things to deal with. They were crazy!

[Lynn Eades]

There was one bit there where they had a fuel blockage in the floating tank.
He couldn't remove the top for fear of loosing it all.
He decided to put in a temp fuel line in the drain plug.
He pressurised the tank a little, rigged up fuel line with a plug cemented to the line. he then went into the water, removed the drain plug, (a little petrol came out as planned) Then, coming up for air once each minute, he spent an hour trying to get the plug in. He states that it was a stabbing effort because the tank was moving so much that he couldn't get the 1/4" plug in and started in the thread. He had a fear of sharks btw, and there were sharks.
I only have the first book, but have read about the rest of the trip as well.
An absolutely fascinating story and an amazing achievement.
A shame I never knew where Halfsafe lived. If I had known, I might have gone to see her while I was in Kalgoorlie.