North West RIBsters - Page 4

Garygee · 17 March 2003, 13:13

We have two kids coming my son Liam, 6 and daughter Rachel 11.

All we need now is a good beach for them to play on

Regards Gary

whitingiom · 17 March 2003, 22:40

Chaps

Douglas beach - a no no!

Laxey Beach - ice cream shop, rock pools, safe swimming, lots of sand, PUB - accessible about 3hrs each side of HW.

Dhoon - gorgeous little place - no PUB (bring cans)

Ramsey - very shallow but lotsa sand - harbour accessible around HW (good pub with London Pride on draught for you softee Southerners).

West side

Peel beach - harbour accessible at all states (on breakwater). Lots of sand and a great ice cream shop

Port Erin - safe & sunny

Calf of Man - no beach (and no landing) but a fabulous place to see seals and take on wind over 5 or 6 knot tide!

Port St Mary - nice beach - breakwater mooring accessible at all times.

Loads of little coves to explore.

Have I whetted your appetite?

Jon

crazyhorse · 17 March 2003, 23:19

Just to add a little more highlights to the isle of man.

Buy some tomato sauseges from the butcher in the Indoor market opposite the sea wall in Douglas they are the ultimate and I know my grub.

The chinese Resturant in Ramsey is superb also.

Get a free membership to the casino if you want a little flutter before you go.

Its a great place.

Ian · 19 March 2003, 17:34

If all the beaches and coves are so good, maybe a circumnavigation of the whole island is a possibility for the weekend. Thoughts?

whitingiom · 20 March 2003, 13:19

The Isle of Man occupies a central position in the Irish Sea, and also in the British Isles. Douglas, on the east coast, has a latitude of 54.08N and a longitude of 4.27W.

The Island is 52 kilometres (33 miles) long from north to south and 22 km (13 miles) wide from east to west at the widest point.

The coastline, which covers over 160 km (100 miles), encompasses an area of 572 sq. km (227 sq. miles).

Despite its comparatively small size, the Island contains a wide variety of scenery. A range of hills stretch obliquely across the Island, the highest of which is Snaefell at 621 metres (2,036 feet). Between these hills lie well defined valleys. Around the Island's flat northern plain are long sandy beaches which contrast markedly with the rocky cliffs and sheltered bays around the rest of the coastline. Over two thirds of the land mass is cultivated, principally the fertile northern and southern plains

Brian · 20 March 2003, 15:10

Would I be right in guessing that a circumnavigation would be about 70nm?

Garygee · 21 March 2003, 08:47

I am not sure if doing a circumnavigation would be good in a weekend.

We will have wife & kids with us and while I will be happy to not come off the RIB all weekend I know they would.

If its just a weekend how about this for a option, subject to weather of course.

Drop the people who want to look round/play on the beach of somehere nice, maybe Peel. The people who want to play RIB's do the circumnavigation and then pick the people up who didnt. Would think we could do it in say 4 hours at most ?.

Maybe then have a beach BBQ that night.

What do other people think, just not sure if going over, doing a circumnavigation, some shopping, playing on a beach and coming back will fit into a weekend without over doing things.

Regards Gary (Still waiting for my boat

)

Ian · 21 March 2003, 12:40

Sounds a good idea to me Gary. Also keeps us out of the way for a while whilst the 'Yachties' do their thing.

Dave Clarkson · 21 March 2003, 12:53

Agreed Gary, not all of my crew will want to spend all day afloat. Why don't we leave it flexible with some group activities(BBQ etc) during the weekend to socialise. We could all choose beach, shopping, circumavigation etc. to suit all parties. Meal/beer times usually make good group activities.

Regards,
Dave

whitingiom · 21 March 2003, 17:27

If you are staying in Douglas, the inner harbour flap gate is only accessible around 2 hours each side of HW.

On the Saturday in question, that's around 10am - 2pm and 10 pm - 2am (Sunday am).

There's not much room in the outer harbour on the visitors pontoon - 7 boats may be too many at one time.

More on this later

Garygee · 23 March 2003, 19:27

What about Ramsey Is there not a good harbour or marina there ?. Not sure about tides though

Regards Gary

whitingiom · 24 March 2003, 09:04

Ramsey Harbour is tidal - only accessible for a couple of hours.

There are no marinas on the Isle of Man (other than a finger pontoon in Douglas Inner Harbour) - it is a source of major irritation!

I have had some B & B quotes from the bigger hotels, none from the smaller ones I've contacted yet.

What is an acceptable price per head?

£20
£25
£30
£35+

Jon

Ian · 29 March 2003, 12:25

£20 - £30/head sounds good to me especially as there may be six of us onboard!. Prefer B&B rather than hotel.

Garygee · 31 March 2003, 18:44

Hi folks

Are their any options to camp, B&B can be hard work with kids.

Also have we decided where we are overnighting ?.
Have seen a few sugestions but not sure if i have seen a descision.

Regards Gary

Ian · 31 March 2003, 20:06

Douglas, if space available, looks favourite especially as the Douglas YC have a do on that weekend which should make the town lively.
Not sure about camping in the area though, could look elsewhere on the island.
Whitingiom, help required here if poss.

Windchill · 04 April 2003, 12:50

Overnjight sounds good to us! Hotel or B&B, wherever there is life, but is also suitable for people of the shorter variety.

whitingiom · 04 April 2003, 17:02

Sorry guys.....rather busy in work.

There are a couple of campsites on the island, but living here, I don't know much about them.

I could do with an idea of numbers etc. soon, as I am sure hotels etc will be filling up.

Alternatively, I can post detials of the hotels and you can contact them?

Garygee · 05 April 2003, 22:32

Hi folks

We will sort out our own accomodation out, we still have not got our RIB yet.

Just past our third "firm delivery date" on 22nd March and no new date, but hoping very soon.

Hope their will be no problems for the trip but at this stage I have given up planning any dates until it turns up.

Regards Gary

GED · 06 April 2003, 11:35

been there done that and cancled the boat, ticks you off doesnt it

Ian · 10 April 2003, 18:46

Jon, could you post the details of hotels/B&B's on here.
I have a party of five, maybe six, so with just a 70hp engine can't really take any others. If you need seats can you post on the forum, and if you have spare seats on your RIB do likewise. It will at least be possible to arrange crewing numbers and will also show how many are going on the cruise.