2008 © Nicholas Craddock

Website donated by Rooby

Nick Craddock and his wife Jo are the Captain and First Mate of Reel Estate

NICK: On the youthful side of 50 (just) Nick was born and bred in Herefordshire - about as far from the sea as you can get. However, he has a longstanding association with the coast having holidayed in Brixham several times every year since he was a shrimp when his parents visited their harbourside property. This is, no doubt, when the seeds of Nick's love of the sea and boats were sown.

JO: They say that behind every good man is a good woman and in this case the adage holds true. Nick's wife Joanne has supported the Round Britain venture from the outset. Although not quite as keen as Nick on longer sea passages, Jo has valiantly volunteered to endure the hours at sea for the benefit of a good cause. In view of Nick’s ability to pilot the boat, but inability to leap around the decks bringing in and putting out fenders and lines, she has been press ganged into being deckhand as well as galley slave. Jo can produce wonderful meals afloat and will be delighted to play hostess to any guests that come aboard during the trip.

ROOBY: The Round Britain website has been designed, and is being regularly updated by Nick's longstanding buddy Rooby. He has also been the inspiration behind many of the creative ideas that have helped shape the Round Britain trip and is managing the manifold admin duties that are needed to ‘get the show on the road’.

Rooby turned a whiter shade of pale the last time he was aboard Reel Estate in a ‘choppy sea’, and as a result he is now a confirmed landlubber. However, he hopes to join the boat at Oban for the calmer waters of the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness leg. These areas are relatively safe and thus shouldn't cause Rooby to go checking life insurance quotes online this time around.

JOHN FERGUSON: Dundee resident John Ferguson (a.k.a. Scottish Ted by his sassenach friends) will be lending his services as junior deckhand for several of the Scottish legs. As well as catching up on news from south of the border, he will also give Jo a well earned break.

PHIL DEAN: Marine engineer Phil Dean will be utilising his skills to make sure that both Volvo engines are running smoothly before Nick sets off Round Britain.

NICK’S home for the Round Britain trip is Reel Estate - a Fairline Phantom 43 manufactured by Fairline Boats Ltd., one of the Premier Sponsors of the venture.

REEL ESTATE is a flybridge cruiser with an overall length of 44'5" a 13'8"" beam and a draft of 3'6". Twin Volvo Penta 460hp diesel engines fed by a 1295 litre fuel tank provide a maximum cruising speed of 31 knots and a 300 mile range. ONBOARD accommodation includes two cabins with en suite, a saloon area and large galley. Other features include a reversible electric windlass, trim tabs, Raymarine Radar/chart plotters and ship to ship/shore FM radio. A 10' rigid inflatable boat with 10hp outboard is located on the rear and craned via hydraulic passerelle.