To RIBEX from Chichester Harbour - Saturday 12 May 2007 - Page 2

Mrs Jardon · 12 May 2007, 14:26

we launched at ichenor this morning around 9 am ish, we were told by the conservency folks at chichester it was going to be F4-6 in the harbour and F7-8 possibly 9 later outside chichester harbour with gale warnings and the weather was supposed to worsen as the day went on.
we went and had a look anyway out side the harbour entrance and it was really rough, we backed off and turned round when we were in waves of 3-3.5m+ and getting progressively worse the further out you went. personally it was too rough for me knowing it could get worse during the day and we would have quite a few miles of it to even reach the possible shelter of the iOW.
i have two free vip tickets and a 50% discount ticket, if anyone in the chichester area wants them then pm me and come and collect them from the witterings as it would be a shame for them to go to waste
spoke with lurcher this morning and he said it was very rough out there and i have to agree

hopefully any of those folks who have battled it out there today are all home safe and sound at the end of the day

unfortunately when we got back to ichenor and had recovered the boat the local harbour guys had been called out to 2-3 boats in distress around the chichester bar area, one with a failed engine and two others with various probelms needing assistance

hopefully they are all ok

Biggles · 12 May 2007, 14:30

When its bad like that I've gone round Hayling Island if the tides right to miss out that drag across the front of Hayling Island which on a bad day is quite dangerous.
Exiting at Langston isn't that much fun either but you get to the shelter of land much quicker.
Its unfortunate we are having this bad weather now after the blistering April.

LURCHER · 12 May 2007, 15:55

We left at 0930 and it was very rough for the first 2 miles then it got a little less steep and we plugged on towards Cowes , shortly after passing the forts we came across Sir Robin Knox Johnson heading the other way being escorted by several Ribs and 2 Navy Patrol boats . We turned round and followed them for a bit and what a relief from the pounding .SAGA was doing 19 knots under reefed main and Genniker ! Turned gain and pressed on to Cowes finding flat water at last under Osbourne for the run in to Cowes .
The exhibition was as usual very poor with little to see on land . A good lot of ribs on the water and nice to meet a few names and put faces to them .Andre Nauti Bogib to name a few . Star of the show was the fabulous Dutch Lifeboat and the superb Parker fleet .Met the Edges who had left later from Northney .
The return leg was a joy downwind and sea all the way back to Chi bar . Both of us had a few big ones and Tex in the Carson has a nice egg shaped lump on his forehead and nose . Luckily the very solid Carson was undamaged ! I will try to upload afew pics and a vid when I have time .
Chris sorry you didd not make it I phone a couple of times but no reponse .
Hope all make it back in one piece .

Mrs Jardon · 12 May 2007, 17:14

i think it was you with two passengers and you all had helments on? we saw you i think near the entrance to chi harbour.

i was hovering around debating whether to give it a go or call it quits, just did not fancy being slammed about for miles in that !

i think i am a fair weather boater!!

LURCHER · 12 May 2007, 17:21

No helmets but hood up on our jackets
Orange hull orange tubes with black nose
There was another blue Rib On Account out there but he turned back and orange carson with us

Neil Harvey · 12 May 2007, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs Jardon

i think it was you with two passengers and you all had helments on? we saw you i think near the entrance to chi harbour.

i was hovering around debating whether to give it a go or call it quits, just did not fancy being slammed about for miles in that !

i think i am a fair weather boater!!

Good on ya Chris and Debs, better to give up and have many another days good ribbing than have something bad happen.

Did you go by ferry or not go at all in the end?

Mrs Jardon · 12 May 2007, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil Harvey

Good on ya Chris and Debs, better to give up and have many another days good ribbing than have something bad happen.

Did you go by ferry or not go at all in the end?

no we went and pulled the boat out and went for a slap up mixed grill that was the size of a small house!

hats off to those that pushed thru it, hopefully not too many aches and pains tomorrow

Hightower · 12 May 2007, 19:48

I shot over to RIBEX in Tim M's Evolution after first welcoming Sir Robin back from his travels.

Was fairly slow going until the shelter of Osbourn Bay, the trip back was much better.

According to Chimet it was gusting 38 knotts at midday.

The Jackeens · 12 May 2007, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by LURCHER

A good lot of ribs on the water and nice to meet a few names and put faces to them .Andre Nauti Bogib to name a few . Star of the show was the fabulous Dutch Lifeboat and the superb Parker fleet .

Nice one the lads

K & P

LURCHER · 13 May 2007, 08:19

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmxksRYog6I

Biggles · 13 May 2007, 10:30

Lurcher,

That brings back some memories. For a couple of years two of us used to exit via the Chi bar on 4 meter Seariders. Had some rough days just like you there. Looks like you were getting wet. Well done for persevering I bet you earned your meal when you got to RIBEX.
We used to battle out to the first marker, about 1/2 mile off land and decide if we were going to go on. It usually eased off after the first marker but if it didn't then you knew you were in for some bad stuff.
Thats probably why the RNLI station is situated in the entrance.
Likewise the RNLI station at langston.

ian mcconnell · 13 May 2007, 13:32

I went across to ribex from southampton yesterday at 12-1230pm, in what was the biggest seas i have ever been out in (on my own).

I hope you dont think i am exaguating when i say some were 3m and higher, and very close togeather, it is safe to say i have a lot more confidence in my searider.. I reakoned from a safety point of view as long as i had it pointed in the right direction preventing broaching, and took it nice and slow i would be safe.

After about 25mins of pure concentration i realised my speed had risen to between 15-18knots and i was starting to enjoy it, the whole trip still took me 55 mins from southampton, and i was very wet, but what a learning curve.

When i landed at Ribex the first though on my mind was i needed a bigger rib!!! but i believe the only real issues with the searider, the first is its width very narrow, this made for a bumby ride in the rougher seas BUT it did not feel as if i was going over and secondly the bow is not upturned like most ribs again i cant see how that would make other ribs perform better i just meant i got wetter..

Thank fully on the way back, it was noticebly carmer, waves only 1-1/2 mtrs, after my new found confidence in the searider i was approaching 25-30kts with a big smile on my face and lots of air..

Great day (bit scary though)

LURCHER · 13 May 2007, 14:26

WET you can say that again , I had great pleasure in telling my eldest son who works for Gill at boat shows that the Gill suit I was wearing was rubbish as I was soaked through. Looked like I had peed myself when we arrived at Cowes .He then pointed out that had I done up the zip I would have been a lot drier! I was so cold I went into Cowes High St and bought a Musto fleece just to piss him off .

Mrs Jardon · 13 May 2007, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by LURCHER

WET you can say that again , I had great pleasure in telling my eldest son who works for Gill at boat shows that the Gill suit I was wearing was rubbish as I was soaked through. Looked like I had peed myself when we arrived at Cowes .He then pointed out that had I done up the zip I would have been a lot drier! I was so cold I went into Cowes High St and bought a Musto fleece just to piss him off .

funny that, we had wet patches in just the same places as well!

The Edges · 13 May 2007, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs Jardon

i think it was you with two passengers and you all had helments on? we saw you i think near the entrance to chi harbour.

i was hovering around debating whether to give it a go or call it quits, just did not fancy being slammed about for miles in that !

i think i am a fair weather boater!!

We had helmets on but were travelling across from Langstone so probably not us.
Quite an eventful day bit uncomfortable on the way across and we did contemplate a stop off at Portsmouth for a breather but decided to press on.
The journey back was great a 20 mile surf !
Big respect to Becky and children and of course to the wee boat.