Stirling Cruise - June 2012

[Zodiac Spindrift]

Blooming cold and a wee bit lumpy here. Hope all is going well on the cruise.

[SPR]

they were reported in convoy leaving port edgar, by the new bridge safety boat !

Last reported position is river Devon

S.

[Zodiac Spindrift]

For a moment it eased off a bit, but the wind has picked up to a force 4-5 south east. Against the tide the trip down river will be choppy for the return trip this afternoon.

[SPR]

thanks to all who attended , hopefully you will get back safely ...the event was a success and the new Lord Provost of Stirling has promised new landing facilities at riverside... The boats are leaving around 2pm Sunday.

The canal boats really like the RIB's being present- they likened to fighter planes on wings and slow bombers !

Next Event is Elie Cruise 17th of June, going to inch Keith island.

I also been asked to tell you wheel 10 is on in July - free launching and canal passage to Falkirk wheel. I will post more details in different thread.

Thanks again to all who turned up, and made uh a good day.

regards

Scott

[kev]

Thanks scott it was a good day, it was a bit rough on the way back some big standing waves at the bridges, everyone got back home safely, if a little sore,

Kevin

[kev]

some of the boats.

[Zodiac Spindrift]

Sorry to have missed the trip but least my services were in demand at Aberdour after one of our yachties went for an involuntary swim courtesy of the aptly named "boom".

[SPR]

Originally Posted by Zodiac Spindrift

Sorry to have missed the trip but least my services were in demand at Aberdour after one of our yachties went for an involuntary swim courtesy of the aptly named "boom".

Elie Cruise 2012 - 17th June 2012 to inch Keith or Wheel 10 in July!

glad to see your rescue skills did go to waste!

[Zodiac Spindrift]

Are you planning to land on the Inch?

[SPR]

yes - if weather is good! unless advise otherwise!

[awr]

Hi,thanks to everyone for a great day out,as Kev says the standing waves from Dunmore to PE were hard going in the ribs,hope the canal boats had a smooth and safe run back to Grangemouth on sunday afternoon.We look forward to future cruises and will follow the forum for info.Alan

[SPR]

Originally Posted by awr

Hi,thanks to everyone for a great day out,as Kev says the standing waves from Dunmore to PE were hard going in the ribs,hope the canal boats had a smooth and safe run back to Grangemouth on sunday afternoon.We look forward to future cruises and will follow the forum for info.Alan

glad you enjoyed it, canal boats are waiting for tides at Grangemouth locking in about 11pm !

Wheel 10 if anybody is up for it, big parties over the weekend etc.

S.

[9D280]

yep that last leg was quite lumpy!

Kev & myself made it up to the weir, and before anyone asks that thing on top of my console is an unfinished instrument pod... Which if all goes to plan Will be a finished one by this time tomorrow.

Hope you guys got out ok, the ferry slip plan worked, but i guess you figured that out this morning! I saw the canal posse back in the lock earlier this evening, so looks like everyone got back.

Was good to put some faces to names. I wonder how many of our southern fleet i have seen on the telly tonight?

Will get some pics up soon...

[SPR]

I guess it was just the bevs boat that didn't make it! The big green Pacadilla !

Hope to see you all soon...

[9D280]

It made it... With a little help from a rib!

[macattack101]

Glad everyone made it back. It was a rough trip back through kincardine. Was really tired by the end at PE. Great to put faces to names. It was fantastic having the ribs racing down the river, I even got flat out for a stretch. I will get the video posted of our trip uploaded. No shots of the trip back as we were holding on.
Cheers colin

[Shog69]

Bugger, I missed this and I missed helping at North Berwick as the weather was shite for the cruise down from Port Ed to North Berwick on Saturday/Sunday. Will be there on the 17th though.

[SPR]

Press Release:

RIVER FORTH FLOTILLA TO STIRLING CELEBRATING THE QUEENS DIAMOND JUBILEE

What a wonderful event; every one enjoyed it, hundreds of people on the bank watching the16 boat flotilla from all over the central belt arriving in Stirling. Some boats left the Forth & Clyde Canal at Grangemouth and others left Port Edgar to cruise up the river with VIP guests on board who had a ball.

Most of the guests hadn't realised the beauty of the river as it winds its way to Stirling and all took part in coordinated flag waving to the crowds and some with colourful Union Jack umbrellas. All boats performed well in the glorious weather escorted by the Ribs from Port Edger it was a spectacular site. Even the slower boats got a helping push from the Scottish Canals Safety RIB to keep them all in line and enabling them to arrive altogether in Stirling at 2 15 on Saturday. Hundreds of well wishers were at the Stirling Rowing Club to meet the boats including the Alloa Brewery Pipe Band who performed a Beating of the Retreat on the River side. The first boat to tie up was the 1923 Ratho Princess Scotland's second oldest Passenger boat with the Lord lieutenent Marjory Mclachlan's and her party. The next boat to berth was a replica Clyde Puffer, the Maryhill with the Provost of Stirling Mike Robbins and the Provost of Falkirk Pat Reid. The other boats carrying VIPs, council officials were the wide beam canal boat Piccidillo and cruiser Explorer

A Civic reception was laid on with thanks to the Rowing Club and Stirling Council at the club house. The Provost of Stirling made a Speech to thank the boaters for their efforts and to say how much he enjoyed the experience and advised that pontoons would be installed at Riverside to bring the river back to life for boaters something not seen since before the fist world war. The Provost then continued to present Ronnie Rusack Chairman of Seagull Trust Cruises with a plaque to commorate the event, Ronnie then replied thanking the City of Stirling for their hospitality and all those who had put a major effort in making the event such a success especially Scott Roberts and Donald Boa from Scottish Canals.

The RIBS returned down river with the tide and the remaining flotilla spent the night at anchor on the River before leaving on the Sunday lunch time as the tide turned all was smooth sailing untill the mouth of the River Carron. An easterly wind was blowing and an out going tide and 1.3mt waves sprung up rocking the Flotilla some lost a few pieces of crockery but all made it safely up river to the Sea Lock

With the commitment of Stirling Council to put in the facilities we must make it an annual event so others can enjoy the upper parts of the River and for those with little experiences safety in numbers can give them the confidence to explore that part of the River and make Stirling once again a boating destination

[jongtily]

Great day and great to meet all you guys.
Relieved to get into Port Edgar in one piece though - looks like we've got internal damage to port side tube. Must have been one of those thumps when we came back down from going over those waves about Bo'ness!
Here are a few photos.
John

[jongtily]

And a few more!