22nd June - Our grateful thanks

Mission accomplished - tying up at Gravesend 16:15 Fri 19 June

First and foremost, our grateful thanks to our support team leader:- Sarah Maltby. Without the Master Marinette, the crew would have died of thirst, hunger and exhaustion. Our bags and assorted kit were always where they needed to be (which was frequently in three different places on the same night); bananas, Mars Bars and water were always on board and, just like the RNLI, she was always there for us - with arnica, Nurofen and a smile.

To Commander James and Diana Ekins, who provided a superb escort RIB and without them we would have been mere jetsam on the tide. In Xanadu they escorted us throughout our time on the tideway and covered well over 100 miles there and back. Without their support we could not have safely considered the tidal part of the odyssey. Martin Stanley also gave much-needed support and encouragement on Friday on his RIB Bear All, and crucially arranged the mooring of both Gannet Ripple and Xanadu on Cadogan Pier.

To the station managers and crews of four RNLI lifeboats (Chiswick, Tower 1 and 2 and Gravesend) who acted as splendid outriders and gave us invaluable advice on handling barges, catamarans and the Woolwich ferry. Their advice was, basically, get out of the way, as they won’t even feel you.

To Alexanders Roe and Ross, the remainder of our support team, who have helped us with the planning and stepped in to run the households during the odyssey, as well being a crack team of administrators and photographers.

We want especially to thank our hosts who were so incredibly generous and hospitable to us on our voyage downriver:

Philip and Christine Blackwell
Jono and Anna Gage
Nick and Belinda Boyd
Tony and Nicola Lawrence
Anthony and Liz Hudson
David and Catherine Bertie
Andrew and Gilly Howard
Alastair and Jessica Speare-Cole
David Rosier

You have all helped in so many and varied ways:

Jollyon Coombes, for lending his oars (Jollyon rowed the Thames in May). Unfortunately, we had to use them a great deal more than we anticipated.
Rob Gray, for the loan of rowlocks.
Mike Samuelson, our BSC cyber-secretary and blog co-ordinator.
Bill Mitchell, Coombes Boatyard, Bembridge.
Rod Rowsell, BSC Boatman, for unearthing an old tiller in his boatshed for us to modify.
Alan and his team at Spinnaker Chandlery, Bembridge.
Sarah Fremantle, for the loan of her trailer.
Preston family, for the loan of everything from their scow as spares.
Fabian and Pippa French, for the loan of their Laser spinnaker.
Lechlade Marina.
Simon (President, RNLI Gloucestershire) and Penelope Preston.
Peter and Dick Freebody, Boatbuilders and Restorers at Henley.
Lord Boyce, Chairman of RNLI.
Lord Iliffe, for Penton Hook Marina.
Mike Gates, Marina Manager, Penton Hook Marina.
Dave Chawick, Penton Hook Marine Services.
Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, for organising a waving crowd from the Houses of Parliament.
Gravesend Sailing Club.

And, finally, to all of you who have so generously donated to this cause, from us and the RNLI Bembridge Lifeboat Station, our heartfelt thanks.