Round Ireland Powerboat and RIB Challenge 2013 - Skerryvore

[willk]

Team Suzuki were great guys to go to sea with. Cool and collected, they had a great sense of humour too and took the rough with the smooth. They were at sea every day of the Challenge and were still in good spirits when we left them in Dingle. They held their own in the pub too - 'spect! We spent two days with Jonathan Young from ScotSeats and Barry Staunton from RS Marine - same story - good company - hardy lads. They made full use of the sound system and I'll never hear Johnny Cash again without thinking of them.

[willk]

Much has been said about the weather on the Western sections of the Round Ireland. I will simply say that it was average for this time of year and could have been much worse. The Atlantic is fickle and powerful and our western shores can be little comfort to large groups of visiting craft, as the Duke of Medina Sidonia discovered in 1588. It was a surprise to me that the weather held so well for so many days, enough to actually get around at all. The 950 performed beyond even my hopes and expectations - running fast each day, entering displacement mode only for the biggest 3-4m swells off Loop Head. I would never compare her to the small craft who faced a different challenge entirely, but I would say that I don't think there was her equal amongst the larger boats. Skerryvore charged through the course, outrunning what she could and planting a heavy shoulder in what she couldn't. I want one.

[willk]

I bumped into a few of the many RIBnetters on the Challenge. Good to meet you all. Best of luck with your future Adventures!

[willk]

Thanks, as ever, to our very own Dreamweavers - Tom & Conor and their team at Redbay Boats. Thanks also to Mark, Steven, Rob and Sean (aka Sebastian Coiffeure ) from Suzuki UK for everything. They could have turfed us out in the angry seas but didn't (someone else DID get turfed out!). Thanks to my missus too for running the home front at a busy time. I was delighted to see the Team and vessel safe in Kilmore Quay, having completed the course in the original timeframe of the Round Ireland Challenge. The only reported failure on the entire voyage was one windscreen bolt and I can now confess from the safety of my mountain lair, that I stole that bolt.....

[kerny]

Nice pics and report willk, I'm sure that this has been an adventure that you and everyone else involved will cherish for the rest of their lives. The last pic you have posted is my favourite and would look great if enlarged

[ShinyShoe]

Is your plan to steal it bit by bit and rebuild it from the stolen parts!!

[tonymac]

Originally Posted by donegaldan

Shortly after the rain, the skies cleared once more, the seas were calm and all 300 ponies were opened up...

I have another couple clips from this day, will post shortly once I get them cut

Great shots Danny! Looks like you are getting the hang of the Gopro now!

Thanks

[Portnahaven]

Excellent stuff Richard.
Like the third picture back - must be akin to standing 20 feet in front of a fire hose at full blast.

[T 15]

Thanks for the report and pics.

[donegaldan]

Originally Posted by tonymac

Great shots Looks like you are getting the hang of the Gopro now!

Thanks

Yup, the painstaking part is getting 30 good seconds where i wasn't moving and there is no rain on the camera !
Litterally Gigs and gigs of data to review when I got home...

The fact it survived being plunged into the water at the carrick-a-rede rope bridge.. well that was an added benefit

[tonymac]

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Is your plan to steal it bit by bit and rebuild it from the stolen parts!!

The only problem is Shiny that he has so many parts from so many boats and so many visits to Redbay that he can't remember which bit goes where on what boat!!

Great report as usual Willk. Again I'm green at missing another Test Monkey outing.

[donegaldan]

Originally Posted by tonymac

I'm green at missing another Test Monkey outing.

A hell Tony, at this stage you must be green throughout with all the adventures you miss

Could I try and convince you that we maybe didn't have an absolute ball ?

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by willk

Thanks, as ever, to our very own Dreamweavers - Tom & Conor and their team at Redbay Boats. Thanks also to Mark, Steven, Rob and Sean (aka Sebastian Coiffeure ) from Suzuki UK for everything. They could have turfed us out in the angry seas but didn't (someone else DID get turfed out!). Thanks to my missus too for running the home front at a busy time. I was delighted to see the Team and vessel safe in Kilmore Quay, having completed the course in the original timeframe of the Round Ireland Challenge. The only reported failure on the entire voyage was one windscreen bolt and I can now confess from the safety of my mountain lair, that I stole that bolt.....

You forgot to thank your agent

[willk]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

You forgot to thank your agent

A Rash move. I was Swollen with pride, Itching with gratitude even...

... you know how it is!

[willk]

Originally Posted by tonymac

The only problem is Shiny that he has so many parts from so many boats and so many visits to Redbay that he can't remember which bit goes where on what boat!!

Gonna call her Chimera. She's a 6.1.7.4.950.11m open decked wraparound cabin boat with a diesel outboard. Busy colour scheme too

[willk]

2013 Round Ireland Powerboat and RIB Challenge HD - YouTube

[whisper]

Originally Posted by willk

Excellent video willk Do you reckon they would lend me that rig for a round Britain

Awesome

[AJ.]

Great vid Willk

[willk]

Yes, nice, but nothing to do with me (although I'm in it). It is the work of Rob Cooper from Suzuki.

I should mention that the RIB Skerryvore was named after the band Skerryvore, themselves presumably named after the eponymous reef and lighthouse off the west coast of Scotland. They gave permission for their music to be used in the video, which is a refreshing change from the usual Youtube stuff.

[Pikey Dave]

Great Vid Willk, I hadn't realised that there were other boats taking part in the race challenge