IO540 - I'd think that the charts for much of this route are so old that 'current' is rather a moot point anyway. Certainly the charts we're using to plan our trip at the moment are decades old, and seem to be the newest available!
It's desperately sad to hear about Martin running into trouble so quickly, but well done to him for giving it a go - not many people have the spirit to try these things, and there is always more danger involved than your typical bimble.