Tom and Bex

Congratulations to Clover. Well done and thanks to the (two?) main volunteers who run this event and do there best to get the results out as quickly as possible, I believe the main one doing the scoring does it all without a computer. Is it too early to start planning for next year?

I noticed a proliferation of these on our way back from the BCN Challenge. They came across as unnecessarily aggressive to me and just made me want to speed up (didn't though, just passed at normal passing speed, just above tickover). Several boats we passed had ropes so slack they were hanging in the water and surged back and forth with a huge clang against the pilings even though we slowed right down and I have to say most of these were private boats. In all the years I've been boating I've never had anything knocked over or spilled inside whilst moored due to passing boats neither have I ever had mooring pins pulled out.

So where's the video of this rope work then?

We used some similar ones to scrape the anti slip paint from our entire roof. There are some available with only one blade screw though and these definitely distort very quickly. Also the screws securing the blade are made of something so soft they chew up when you just show them the screwdriver. Other than that they work fine!

Well I'm glad it's not just me even if it does mean a lot of work stripping it off and redoing it somewhere down the line. And it seems to scratch just by looking at it even though we did go back to bear metal in most places and followed all the prep advice. So the advice to the OP is don't use Rylards!

That's interesting. We had exactly the same problem with the rylards green that we used but couldn't find anyone else with the same problem. The paint seems very soft and took ages to dry then just peeled of with the tape. I take it you had much better results with the Craftmaster? Trouble is it will require sanding right back and full repaint to fix. Did you ever get any decent shine with the rylards?

Well our BCN Challenge trip is now over. We got back to Debdale today after what must have been our slowest trip down Foxton. 1hr 10mins to do the flight - if you don't want to scratch your new blacking don't take your boat down a flight of locks! Overall had a great time despite the weather. Total trip including the challenge was 234 miles 242 locks over 14 days and arrived back in glorious sunshine. Looking forward to next year already.

I'm normally very relaxed about other boats hitting ours although it doesn't seem to happen very often and nearly always results in an apology. The other day though we were hit very hard in Braunston tunnel by a very new looking boat - hard enough to send things flying out the cupboards which is hard on our boat! We were tight up against the side and almost at a stop when the other boat hit us almost head on then wedged themselves across the tunnel. When the steerer got level with me I expected at least an apology, but nothing, not even an acknowledgment as he stared straight ahead completely blanking me. Still no harm done - it probably did far more damage to the paint on his boat than any damage to ours.

Wet did have a day out to go back to Somerse! Plus we had to queue for locks at Hillmorton, Braunston & Watford. But yes we're having an easy jaunt back after the challenge travelling via B&F, Coventry, North Oxford and Welford branch. We're even enjoying the sunshine today at last! Had it been as wet as the challenge weekend we'd have been back days ago.

We're moored about a mile or so from Foxton ready for the run down the locks and back to Debdale tomorrow. Both of us are working nights this week so making the most of our last night of holiday!

I think it was the bottom ones that were tight. That was without rear fenders but with front one. Just looked at our times for farmers Bridge on the way back and it was 49 mins which I make 3.77 mins per lock including waiting to pass another boat at 1 lock which I suppose isn't too bad.

At least 1 boat I spoke to said they managed to average less than 3.5 mins per lock, but you're right not trusting reverse did mean we entered locks slightly slower! I need to measure our boat sometime because some of the locks on the Titord did seem very tight even without fenders. It was nice that we had far fewer trips down the weed hatch this year though.

This did annoy me over the weekend. An event supposed to promote the BCN with boats displaying BCNS posters in their windows seen by members of the public leaving piles of chewed up rubbish and plastic by the side of the canal. I know it's not everyone but there was definitely several boaters clearing their prop and leaving the rubbish in piles by locks and bridges. As for the length bonus, longer boats do take longer to turn, and negotiate locks etc. It might not be much and the balance might not be right but still adds up. For example a 50ft boat can enter a lock faster and use the length of the lock to stop in whilst the gates are being closed and paddles opened. Being 70ft (or more?) we have to stop with front fender touching top gate before the the bottom can be shut, with it just clearing the stern by a few inches with fenders lifted. That has to take longer. It will be interesting when we look at our times coming down farmers Bridge on the way back because I don't think we could of done it any faster in this boat but don't think we managed to average 3.5 mins per lock like some boats did. Perhaps a combined length/draft bonus would be fairer? Tom

We would just like to add our huge thanks to the organisers at Hawne Basin for the excellent reception and buffet they put on for us all. They made us feel very welcome and the bar prices were excellent too! Would have loved to stay longer and socialise in the evening but we were all just too tired! Now moored back at Star City making the most of our crew to get us through the locks before they had to head back to Somerset! Flew down farmers Bridge flight but delayed at bottom lock of Ashted flight by gate that wouldn't shut. Tried to clear sill with boat hook and now better but still leaking really badly but able to get through. Busy on the main line with 3 boats abreast at 1 point. Can't wait for the results. Think of all the boats doing similar route to us indigo dreams will do well. Would love to know the route some others took, particularly Firefly, crane and tawny owl as didn't see them at all. I think the points scoring is fairer this year than last in terms of length but feel extra points should be available for being deep drafted. Finally a huge thanks to Richard for fixing our gearbox before we set of this morning. Now if only this rain would stop... Tom and Bex

Sounds like we did the best thing by doing the titford last night and coming down this morning. Thanks to chalice for passing wrong side of us. It can get quite shallow on the off side with a deep 70ft boat. Now on straight run in to hawne basin after coming down Park head locks.

Diesel and Dust moored up at the top of the Titford. Crew fed and watered and ready for sleep. Off again at 7am. Just been passed by another boat but don't know who. Very wet through every set of locks today apart from Titford - several changes of clothes needed for crew! Don't think we could have got any wetter even if we fell in. Much easier and quicker doing locks without other boats around, even in the dark!

Diesel and dust just past Pelsall junction heading for the Walsall. Can't remember seeing this many boats on the BCN before! Currently running about 40 minutes behind so some planning to do when we stop tonight. Only one weed hatch trip so far though - picked up rope, mesh netting, and jeans and large quantity of plastic bags as we pulled over to let Telemachus pass then Albion and one other boat passed us as we were clearing the prop! Indigo dreams behind us still I think.

Star City is looking very crowded with 5 boats here! All crew now aboard, fed and watered and ready for sleep! See you all tomorrow.

Our crew also include Jack, Kat and Steve if they could be added to the list sometime that would be great. Suppose we need to get some sleep at some point before the challenge!

Only just picked up on this but if anyone wants to help us up Hatton tomorrow morning starting from about 9ish all help would be welcome! Does anyone know any more about this? Is it likely they will be open by Saturday? If not major re planning required!

Should I be worried that we seem to be about a day behind all the boats heading into Birmingham from the south! Currently enjoying live music, beer and free Wi Fi at the Two Boats Inn, long Itchington. Planning on tackling Hatton first thing Thursday morning when Steve our official timekeeper arrives! Tom and Bex

Just to say the link you sent on Twitter @NBdieselanddust hasn't worked. Maybe try pm on here instead. Also wanted to say a huge thanks for the time you're putting in to this and will definitely put some money in towards the phone and buy you a drink at the end. Tom and Bex

Sounds like it's all coming together. One question though - do we use #bcnchallenge or @BCNchallenge when using Twitter? Also feel free to use us (Diesel & Dust) to test the mapping software as well if you want as we're slowly making our way into Birmingham from Braunston. Can't wait till the weekend now. First of our crew Steve (our official timekeeper) is joining us on Wednesday to help us up Hatton and the rest of the way to our start point so expect some last minute planning to be done. We have got it right that we can do the BCN locks in 3 minutes each haven't we if not our first draft route might have been a bit ambitious! Tom and Bex

We're experimenting with Twitter @NBdieselanddust (I think!) So will have to see how we go. Definitely think we need someone to collect all the info and post it here as well if possible. Currently going down Watford locks after a slow trip along the Leicester line summit. I'm sure it's not normally this shallow but every other boat we passed put us aground - still good practice for the BCN!

We've finally started our positioning move now. Moored North of Yelvertoft at the moment and hope to be at Braunston tomorrow night Watford locks depending! This whole Twitter thing sounds very complicated to me and I'm normally very good with technology! I might try Twitter but will probably find it easier just to keep this thread updated (or another one opened specifically). We also use Water Explorer as we find it useful for recording our journeys and our friends can easily follow us so will have that running, but some form of group tracking would be good. Look forward to seeing some more boats around this year with the number of entries -just hope we won't have to queue for any of the locks, that world be a first for us on the BCN! Tom & Bex