An idea - Alderney Cannonball Challenge

[Channel Ribs]

We have in mind a little event and I thought it might be a plan to get your reaction...

A round the island RIB race, open to any remote steered petrol powered RIB regardless of size. First boat back in the harbour wins a modest prize and a trophy inspired by the cannon balls recovered from Alderney's Elizabethan Wreck (just off the harbour).

There is a small catch though, the main fuel tank must be disconnected and a race tank connected. The size of the tank has not been determined yet, but we are thinking of 1592 drams (5.88 L) just to keep the theme up.

There are a number of routes around the island, but the closest in is about 10 miles.

Aside from the deadly dangerous, treacherous and sometimes quite sneaky rocks there are also two bodies of restless water to contend with. By restless I mean whirlpools, overfalls and tide that displacement boats cannot make headway against.

Please let me know what you think, how much fuel would be needed to make it interesting and most of all whether you would like to spend a weekend at the start of the 2010 season learning the routes and mastering your engine's fuel consumption?

[J S]

Sounds like a good idea but the fuel allowance seems a little stingy. Basically limiting the race to 50hp ish ribs. Even though you say regardless of size.

James

[Channel Ribs]

How much do you reckon then?... "how much fuel would be needed to make it interesting"

Given that any RIBs coming from the UK will either have to be tenders to gin palaces or have made the channel crossing themselves, it needs to accommodate boats with a fair sized engine.

The advantage is already given to the smaller boats, as they will be able to go faster and be more agile close inshore so the tank should be enough to give bigger RIBs a good go.

[J S]

Maybe each boat can be given a 20L race tank which will enable bigger boats to compete but give bonus points for how much fuel they return with added to the points from the time they get round in. Maybe that will turn it into an economy race but will give smaller boats and sibs that can do it on a few litres a good chance. But it may prove too tricky to measure the fuel returned with etc.

Just a Suggestion

James

[Polwart]

Malthouse - that's a nice idea for an event. But given that at 'fast' cruising speed most people on here seem to quote 1 L/nm and maybe some boats claim 0.75 L/nm then you're proposal is a bit optimistic - especially if you are hoping to attract boats from the mainland. (Why restrict to RIBS?). I suspect there are some places round the island where you really don't want to run out of fuel.

Originally Posted by J S

Maybe each boat can be given a 20L race tank which will enable bigger boats to compete but give bonus points for how much fuel they return with added to the points from the time they get round in. Maybe that will turn it into an economy race but will give smaller boats and sibs that can do it on a few litres a good chance. But it may prove too tricky to measure the fuel returned with etc.

Just a Suggestion

James

Thats a nice idea James - just needs a good set of scales.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Malthouse - that's a nice idea for an event. But given that at 'fast' cruising speed most people on here seem to quote 1 L/nm....

Thats a nice idea James - just needs a good set of scales.

Definitely liking the points for coming back with the most, I see three prizes in the offing.
Best time with the fuel allowed, (bronze)
Most economical run within the allowed time, (silver)
Best overall performance. (gold)

Having discussed this more locally it has been suggested that 16 Ltrs is enough for most boats to get around with a sensible combination of speeds.

It has also been suggested to decide the direction on the day so that boats can coast over the finish line if they conk out in the last mile.

[simmons0]

Originally Posted by J S

Sounds like a good idea but the fuel allowance seems a little stingy. Basically limiting the race to 50hp ish ribs. Even though you say regardless of size.

James

Easy win for us then!

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by J S

Maybe each boat can be given a 20L race tank which will enable bigger boats to compete but give bonus points for how much fuel they return with added to the points from the time they get round in. Maybe that will turn it into an economy race but will give smaller boats and sibs that can do it on a few litres a good chance. But it may prove too tricky to measure the fuel returned with etc.

Just a Suggestion

James

This is where weighing the tanks comes in handy. You'd need some sort of effective time penalty or a proven points system to penalise the most uneconomical boats.

[Pete7]

Barking idea, will be won by the Nash-Tower team who are a Solent based group of black hand engineers. They will work out that filling the tubes with a mixture of nitrox oxide and hydrogen will supliment enough fuel to make it all the way around in a fuel guzzling v6 200 hp carb engine

Pete

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Pete7

They will work out that filling the tubes with a mixture of nitrox oxide and hydrogen will supliment enough fuel to make it all the way around in a fuel guzzling v6 200 hp carb engine

Sounds valid