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Hard Boat Schedule 2007

Girl Gray

Girl Gray sails from Brighton. She is an Aquastar 43, powered by twin Caterpillar turbo charged diesels. She is licensed for 12 passengers and is a fully licensed workboat for MCA area 2 The boat is one of the biggest and best equipped boats sailing from Brighton. A description is as follows;

• A cabin on deck with seating for 10 passengers - sit in comfort and the dry as we cruise out.
• A proper WC in a compartment at main deck level.
• All the latest electronics to sites are found with the minimum of effort.
• Walk on boarding through transom gates that can even take a wheelchair and make loading easy for divers.
• Serve yourself tea or coffee all day or use the drinks dispenser to prepare your own drinks.
• Certification by Bureau Veritas, a leading Classification Society, for 12 passengers to 60 nautical miles offshore.
• A maximum speed of 22 knots with a 14 knot cruise.
• Effortless recovery by electric lift
• Drive your car right up to the boat to load/unload (before parking on a nearby multi storey)
• Wide wreck database and DGPS navigation
• BOC Marineline O 2 system available on board (see below).
• PLB(EPIRB) location system
• Audio recall and underwater PA system
• Hot showers back at the berth
• All the skippers were RN divers (one a CD, the other an SD).

A map of the location and drop off points can be found from this link. Map of Marina

The boat has two skippers:

• Steve Pollard is a retired professional diver and naval clearance diver who is at home with looking after the complexities of modern recreational diving and is a keen angler.
• Mike Snelling has been working out of Brighton for over 30 years and, as a former test pilot, is well versed in using all the modern

The Mistress

The Mistress is moored in the marina at Newhaven and we have easy access to the boat jetty for trolleys with ample car parking on the site as well. We are well served locally within a few minutes walk with dive shops, fishing bait and tackle shops, a local cafe, bed and breakfast accommodation and a range of other local activities and attractions such as the historic local Fort, beachcombing, breakwater fishing and much more, Newhaven is the ideal place for a family day out.

The Mistress is a 30ft Offshore 105, built to D.O.T. specification and conforming to Marine Safety Agency requirements, she is licensed to carry 12 passengers + 2 crew up to 60 miles from any safe haven. Powered by her Volvo diesel engine, producing 330hp, gives a boat cruising speed of around 11 knots and a top boat speed of around 15knots.

• Electronic aids include GPS's with differential, two depth sounders, two VHF radios and radar.
• Safety equipment includes an Oxygen Therapy Unit, always ready for emergency use and for which there is no charge, a 1st Aid Kit is also carried. A life-raft and life jackets for 14 people, and a full flare pack is carried at all times. Whilst on the boat 3rd party insurance cover up to £2m is provided.
• A canopy covered rear deck gives shelter from sunshine and spray or the wind and rain, there is also ample seating available inside.
• Tea & coffee is always available.
• There is a toilet fitted for use by passengers and crew

Brighton Diver

The boat has a large forward cabin for dry gear with seating to provide a dry ride for passengers.  A galley is equipped with a fridge, microwave cooker for pies, etc, and gas for hot drinks.  240volts ac is available for battery charging or pc's.  A toilet is provided inside the cabin.

The boat is designed to cater for all types of diving from a novice on the inshore wrecks and reefs from 10m to 30m to deep tec on the offshore wrecks up to 75m (see wreck database for details).  A canopy covered deck gives shelter from sunshine and spray from the wind and rain.  There is also ample seating, available inside the large forward cabin which can double as a private changing area.

• Tea and coffee is always available.
• There is a toilet fitted in the forward cabin.
• Easy access onto the boat when loading.
• Entry into the water is by backward roll from the side of the boat.
• Getting back onto the boat could not be easier, this is via a side mounted electric ladder.

Brighton Diver is a 33ft Aquastar, built to D.O.T specification and confirming to Marine Safety Agency requirements to carry 12 passengers and 2 crew up to 60 miles from any safe haven.  Powered by 2 x 250 hp New Holland turbo charged diesels fitted in 2004, giving a cruising speed of 17 knots with a top speed of 22 knots.

Electronic aids aboard include 2 echo sounders, differential GPS, plotter, two VHF radios, radar autopilot.  A comprehensive First Aid Kit and an Oxygen Therapy Unit is always ready for emergency use.