#2: [08-Jun-04]

08-Jun-2004 -- When coming back from 54N 2W at 3 p.m. we rushed to Morecambe Harbour where our boat, the "Samanto - LR 226" and its skipper were already waiting for us. Gordon had done an excellent job prior our arrival, involving BBC and placing an ad in the local newspaper.

About 2 hours before highwater we left Morecambe Harbour. Tide differences in this area are considerable and currents are rather strong, which can be seen best when having a look to the shore embankments. Further we calculated the exact tidal condition with Captain Peter's "Tsunamis Navi Sailor", a nautical chart program for Windows.

Proceeding towards the point at about 10 knots (12 mph, 18 km/h) we passed the nuclear power plant of Heysham, and after about 30 minutes we were at one of the last unvisited British offshore confluences, where we duly hoisted the Austrian flag for Werner and the Italian one for Captain Peter. A Union Jack or a "Red Duster" was unfortunately not available on board the "Samanto".

Land is visible from this point towards the following directions:

• North - mountain range
• Northeast - Heysham and Morecambe with the nuclear power plant as the most prominent object
• East - view towards the buoyed approach channel to the port of Heysham with a ferry from the Isle of Man coming in
• Southeast - a view towards the Blackpool area, Britain's most famous summer resort

The whole operation took us exactly two hours and at about 5 pm we were back on the jetty of Morecambe.

Many thanks to you, Gordon, for your excellent preparative work which made our mission smooth and professional!

Offshore in the Morecambe Bay, but with a view of land.