Scillys or Bust

[Rob Jones]

Just to let everybody know my attempted crossing to the Scillys was a complete success.

We left from Penzance and to dampen the onboard fears we decided to follow the Scilloin 3 ferry - but of course 3 lads trying to get ready ensured we missed it. No worries we set off on our own.

It had rained for 12hours before hand and the wind was whipping up the sea but my 5.5m Tornado handle perfectly - not that I would know what perfect is as I have only just bought it with previous experience of zero!!

Nobody on board had ever been to sea and not seen land - which was a great first, so we took bets on who would spot land first. The scale was 6, 4,and 3 miles the gps indicated we were less than 2.4 miles from St Marys and not a single sighting of any land. Not ideal but another 2 mins and we seen the looming hills ahead of us.

The crossing took about 1 1/2 hours and took 70l of fuel.

We spent a night camping on St Agnes and debating who would swim back to the boat in the morning - Point to note a tender is needed as every day consisted of drawing straws for a nominated swimmer.

The next day was spent exploring the islands and a warm blue sky return crossing.

The week as a whole was ace - we were visited by 2 dolphins off St Ives. Dived a numerous wrecks, broke a ringo and learned to wakeboard.

If anybody is interested I will post some pictures on Monday.

[Richard B]

Nice one Rob

Please post pictures!

[MarkWildey]

Rob

Well done, the Scillies is a great place to visit.

Mark

[Rob Jones]

It was amazing - the freedom of whizzing from island to island was just as I had dreamed of. I now need to get my 5 year old into it and and I shall be off with you in May. I may even popthem onto the ferry and solo it with you across.

Incidently can you recomend a decent fibre glass repair shop? I haved a long crack along the hull (the part where the tubes sit) it had a previous repair job done but #i want to get it sorted good and proper. Any recomendations??

[ADS]

Rob,
is it cracked along the flange where the tubes glue onto?

Alex

[Richard B]

Which part of London are you based at (ie where you keep the boat)... N S E or W?

[behavin]

Hi Rob
i'm glad you liked my playground

I saw you in the harbour on a couple of occasions I was in our works RIB the redbay stormforce (with the green house on the front)

Next time say hello

[Shaggy]

Well done Rob

I hope to make the trip this summer from Hayle...

Proper Job..

Shaggy

[Rob Jones]

The crack is along the flange as suggested - it has been there for a while but I want to get it fixed up.

The boat is currently kept under armed guard at a military in Camberley, Surrey.

[ADS]

Had the same problem on mine Rob, I had to have the tubes off so that the grp man could reinforce it from both sides. Does it leak into the hull? and where abouts on the boat is it, mine was at the stern.
regards,

Alex