Sorry Mr. Hogg, forgot the pedantry rulings.
I'm sure Chris would have the intelligence not to take Progress on a 24 hour sea passage when he actually ventures out of a relatively sheltered estuary for a bit and doesn't have the option of putting to port for 16hrs due to all the ports drying.
And, whilst I'm sure Progress is the most qualified narrowboat on the water to make these journeys, she still does, in no way, ever belong out at sea and anything other than the mild conditions she has so far faced would pose serious threat to her, surely you must acknowledge that.
Finally, you are correct I do not read posts fully, particularly if they bear no relavence to the original question which, unless I'm very much mistaken, was not "Should I take Progress to Chichester"
Lee