playing around on the river

[Alex Brown]

Ok, so yesterday, there was some good windspeeds, and at one point, the local odas buoy was showing 9 metres of swell. It wasn't so nice yesterday, but today, there was nice blue sky, so we decided to pop down to St Annes Head to see what the swell was like. Amazingly, it had dropped right down to between 2 and 3 metres high since the wind had turned to the north east overnight. While we were down there though, I got some experience with handling the rib in higher seas than am usually used to which meant constant working of throttle to prevent too many takeoffs. As it was, we only managed a max of around 20knots going out through St Annes to the mid channel rock marker.
First pic, spot the empty oil tanker:-

[Alex Brown]

It looks a bit bigger when we get on top of the water

[Alex Brown]

There's a pilot boat hiding behind there somewhere.
The pics don't actually do the water any justice - although it wasn't breaking, it was just lumpy.

[Alex Brown]

There were these cracking lumps which just made planing nearly impossible in my little boat

[Alex Brown]

I tried to surf this on the way back, but unfortunately it didn't quite work - we'll try next time though.

[Alex Brown]

And now the rib after those exciting pictures
Building up a bit of speed for a nice circle:-

[Alex Brown]

Up river, there was no wind at all, so was able to get some good speed up and play around a lot more.... here we come for the second fly by:-

[Alex Brown]

Final pic, going back up river now doing around 30knots. Had a superb morning out, and the boat behaved great

[Ribald]

Nice pictures Alex,

Very similar conditions to when we came down to try the new boat out only we had the bl**dy ferry to contend with

As you say up river and under the bridge nice and calm - whoosh

BTW is your radar reflector mounted on a pole on top of the A-frame? If so any chance of a close-up pic.

[Garygee]

Nice Pics Alex

Really must get a waterproof housing for my camera.

Would not have dared to get it out yesterday without one.

Its interesting spending time in Milford and up North how the condition vary, you get big slow rolling waves that at times leave you feeling very small in the troughs, unit you get a great views from the next peak.

Up here we dont get the same height but they are very short and steep, often breaking at the crest. Yesterday some of the waves had me pitching at up 25 Deg ish, and very carful about turning side on.

Will have to get camera sorted. Even thought about mounting it onto the screen surround so its just turn and click with one hand still to hold on with
Aslo I think it makes it feel worse when your by yourself. You know if you go over, kill cord or not you any going to get back to the boat.

Still planning to get back down next August and hopefully some long trips now we have had chance to find out what the RIB's can do.
For me I have changed what I would set of to Milford in, so giving me more scope and being less relient of perfect weather.
Also planning to keep caravan donw all year round so may even be down at Easter.

Regards Gary