Alderney Jaunt

Charles · 07 June 2004, 15:15

Charles · 07 June 2004, 15:17

Further shots

Pete7 · 07 June 2004, 15:27

Daniel thats an interesting way of trimming a boat

Err, why is there a big rib being towed ? or is it really bad news involving another mercuriser bravo sterndrive ?

Pete

Nick Hearne · 07 June 2004, 15:29

Love the first photo! Looks like the sea was ruff

Nick

Alan · 07 June 2004, 15:42

Oh Ballcocks. Richard rang me last night to tell me that the crossing was smooth but I didnt realise that it was that smooth. Now I wish we'dve skived work to go

(Mind you I suspect he was happy to have the chance to drive his own boat again

)

Photos beg a question - just how heavy is Aging Youth? He seems to be doing a good job sinking the stern of Top Banana in the photo!

Pete7 · 07 June 2004, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

Photos beg a question - just how heavy is Aging Youth? He seems to be doing a good job sinking the stern of Top Banana in the photo!

Hmm, and in the first photo he isn't on board so the rib is only running on the back 12 inches

ozz · 07 June 2004, 16:37

wow, looks like god had the iron out!

Charles · 08 June 2004, 18:55

Louise · 08 June 2004, 20:22

We left a choppy(ish) Solent and as we moved away from the Needles the water just flattened right out, making for an incredible trip.

1. Southern coast of the Isle of Wight disappears in Blue Ice's wake.

2. Awesome Explorer powered by BOTH engines.

3. Scorpio gliding on glass.

4 & 5. Top Banana ice skating across the channel.

Louise · 08 June 2004, 20:26

Disaster strikes for Awesome Explorer but Aging Youth, without hesitation, takes to the water with diving knife between teeth and cuts away the fishing net.

1. Kevin in the water.

2. Andy gets to see the cause of his problem.

3. "Wait for me!" shouts Kevin.

Louise · 08 June 2004, 20:30

Once the net was removed, Andy found that there was no drive on the port engine/leg. Not wanting to overload the starboard engine, Scorpio towed Awesome Explorer into Braye Harbour, Alderney.

1. Top Banana pauses off the Alderney coast (Daniel, Kevin (Aging Youth), Kathryn (Froglover)).

Louise · 08 June 2004, 20:42

Needing to kill time to give Awesome Explorer a head start as she would be proceeding to her home port at only 9 knots, we hired a Mini Moke to explore this little paradise island.

1. Daniel said he'd like to stay forever, and luckily we found this little place was free, having been vacated by the druids a couple of thousand years ago.

2. Fort Tourgis.

3. Kevin & Kathryn arrive in the Moke. Note Aging Youth's personal number plate! In fact, he seems to run a fleet of at least a couple of thousand vehicles, all with personal plates!!!

4. Oldest pub on the island. "Do you think we look like tourists?" said Daniel.

Louise · 08 June 2004, 20:50

1. Platte Saline. Beautiful!

2. Kathryn & Louise paddling at Arch Bay.

3. Is that a mermaid over there? Oh no, it's Aging Youth, doing his impression of a gnome on a rock!

4. Aging Youth can't resist taking a dip.

Louise · 08 June 2004, 21:01

1. Fort Clonque, which is managed by the Landmark Trust and can be rented as a holiday home (sleeps 13 - anyone for a cruise to Alderney??).

2. Our hotel, the Belle Vue. I think they were expecting Jackeen's Missus!

3. An Alderney 'phone box. The post boxes are blue too.

4. Time to head back to the boats so we loaded up the Moke with our luggage and all looked the other way when we passed a member of Alderney's police force. We reckon we probably outnumbered their entire force anyway

.

Louise · 08 June 2004, 21:09

All too soon it was time to leave.

1. Aging Youth helming Blue Ice.

2. Leaving Braye harbour.

3. The Micklewrights made sure we would stick to the plan and catch up with Awesome Explorer mid channel by taking our lunch as well as their own!

4. Having retrieved our lunch, we stopped to eat it!

Louise · 08 June 2004, 21:15

1. Aging Youth helms Top Banana. He & Kathryn have already bought their yellow Geckos in anticipation of being the next owners!

2. Blue Ice somewhere in the English Channel.

3. Cruising along the coast of the Isle of Wight.

4. Just when we thought we were home and dry... the engine overheat alarm sounded. So the leg was lifted but all was in order. Hmmm. Naughty Richard, playing with the trim too much so the poor lickle engine was deprived of water.

pmorgan · 09 June 2004, 21:22

Great to meet some of you guys at RIBex and put faces to names and boats.
Looks as though you had a fab trip. Don’t want to make you too jealous but I had an equally enjoyable day stuck in an office in sticky central London – NOT ! Well I have to pay for the toys some how I suppose !

Louise · 09 June 2004, 21:42

Great to meet you both, too, Peter & Trudie. Can't wait to go to Alderney again, so if anyone fancies going, please let us know and we'll come too. Would love to spend a few days there, exploring the Channel Islands and French coast.

timboli · 10 June 2004, 06:01

Would love too but although my boat would have been fine in the pictures shown,I am not convinced that it wouldn,t turn into a bit of a nightmare if there was any wind,say force 3 upward.
Bearing in mind I have a 7 year old child,is there any rule of thumb about how big a RIB should be to contemplate this trip with a fair degree of safety?
Also what paperwork is reqd -SSR-Certificate of competence-VAT certificate?
aside from passports of course.

John Kennett · 10 June 2004, 09:10

I've done a few channel crossings in a 5.8 metre RIB with no problems despite some interesting conditions. The trips were always in company with other RIBs and although I never felt in danger it was really hard work at times.

I wouldn't personally take a small child on a trip like this, even in a much larger RIB.

As for paperwork, you probably won't be asked for anything but it's best to be prepared. Take whatever you would need for France in case your plans change though (passport, SSR, ICC, insurance, proof of VAT etc).

John