Redbay - Ardbeg - Rathlin, Cruise & BBQ 2015

[willk]

Hey! How come none of the Redbay fans mentioned this?

Cruise Schedule

Do I have to do ALL of the work?

Looks like a good day lined up this year - bit of craic back at Base afterwards. Must try and get something sorted - tonymac, you game to crew?

[Portnahaven]

Originally Posted by willk

Hey! How come none of the Redbay fans mentioned this?

Cruise Schedule

Do I have to do ALL of the work?

Looks like a good day lined up this year - bit of craic back at Base afterwards. Must try and get something sorted - tonymac, you game to crew?

Yep.

[tonymac]

Originally Posted by willk

Hey! How come none of the Redbay fans mentioned this?

Cruise Schedule

Do I have to do ALL of the work?

Looks like a good day lined up this year - bit of craic back at Base afterwards. Must try and get something sorted - tonymac, you game to crew?

Delighted! Will give you a buzz this weekend.

[willk]

Originally Posted by tonymac

Will give you a buzz this weekend.

...and he did!

I'm just in the door at the end of a 235NM weekend cruise and I'm comprehensively effed. And shocked that none of the multiple Ribnetters I saw on the cruise have ANYTHING to mention about the lumpiest Ardbeg trip in years!

I'm gonna dish out smacks tomorrow when I recover. But tonight I have two enduring memories. One of the "raft" at Ardbeg, and the other of the turtle I spotted off Malin Head today

*sighs*

[mick]

You wouldn't notice the lumps with that lot 😁

[MacG]

Was a good day out,nice fresh spin over n back in the 6.5.Nice welcome in Ardbeg with drop of their own brew and a good lunch.Great BBQ back at base,thanks to Tom and crew at Redbay and Mark at Suzuki.

[willk]

Originally Posted by MacG

Was a good day out,nice fresh spin over n back in the 6.5.Nice welcome in Ardbeg with drop of their own brew and a good lunch.Great BBQ back at base,thanks to Tom and crew at Redbay and Mark at Suzuki.

Great that the 6.5 was first there!

I'd certainly echo the thanks to Redbay, Suzuki and Ardbeg for a great day and evening!

[willk]

Our decision to go was difficult. Obviously there was a great day to be had, but we're on the "wrong" side of the Island and the weather has been very poor. But as the day approached, a weather window opened and we decided to risk it for a biscuit. Once we had enticed tonymac into the Navigator's seat for the Ardbeg run and made accommodation bookings, the window was promptly slammed on our fingers. Undeterred we waited until the last moment and the window opened a crack on the Friday morning. Always ones for the crack, we slipped out of our home waters straight into a F5 on the nose which deteriorated into a following F6 as we shot past Malin Head (our Cape Wrath ). Interesting Moments were in good supply with 2-3m seas until we arrived at Rathlin where we rested up and grabbed a bite. We had by now racked up a couple of minor technical issues, so the last leg south to Red Bay was a little fretsome but nothing the sight of a mungo John Deere and trailer at the quay couldn't resolve. We HAD to be squared for Saturday so Team Redbay swung into action with their F1 Pit routine, giving us the All Clear to roll in the morning. I really appreciated the input, 'cos they had other things to worry about.....

[willk]

Indeed. I'm not sure if it was the lure of Ardbeg, the crappy WX or some tricksy clause in the contract, but the Powers decided that it would be a good day to sea trial the new splash. There was a bit of late polishing and tweaking being done as we got hauled back outta the way. Let me introduce you to the RIB with the Very English name. Wasn't named after Sebastian Coe, but it shoulda been, 'cos it goes like stink! I think of it as Adoptive Cuckoo Son of The Beast. Scary M-F! 12m long, weighs like a gazillion tonnes and does 42kts.

[willk]

It got launched after us on Saturday. Saturday was sporty. A F5 on the nose all the way to Ardbeg with various tidal overfalls and interfaces to enliven the moment. We barely set eyes on the damn thing until we arrived, somewhat dizzy, at Ardbeg and there it was all tied up and serene at the end of the raft - our chance to get all snuggly with her....

....but we were waved off

That said, we got a few snaps of her twirling her assets at Rathlin later in the day:

[willk]

But enough of that yoke! We finally made Ardbeg after a fair bit of bumping about. tonymac was a Star and stuck it rightly. Ardbeg is a fantastic spot to call into for cruising RIBs as they have their own quay, restaurant and (obviously) Whisky! This year the drachms were waiting on the quay for us, in souvenir glasses.

Slainte mhath!

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by willk

It got launched after us on Saturday. Saturday was sporty. A F5 on the nose all the way to Ardbeg with various tidal overfalls and interfaces to enliven the moment. We barely set eyes on the damn thing until we arrived, somewhat dizzy, at Ardbeg and there it was all tied up a serene at the end of the raft - our chance to get all snuggly with her....

....but we were waved off

That said, we got a few snaps of her twirling her assets at Rathlin later in the day:

That radar tower looks weak in the middle Nice aft deck, what's the "A" frame for?

[willk]

And so replenished (and fortified ) we headed SSW for Rathlin where we rounded the west light in very interesting water indeed. After the traditional "tea" in Rathlin we gained a passenger and headed back to HQ and the welcoming arms of a John Deere. Safely onshore, a quick wash was needed before hitting the boat club where Suzuki had laid on a particularly excellent barbeque and entertainment. Thanks Mark - an excellent night, just a shame I was too beat to do it justice, donegaldan would have been very disappointed in me

[willk]

Our return leg was to have been on Sunday, but skipper and crew were "tired" and the wx wasn't just exactly the right flavour of perfect, so we decided to rough it in Cushendall for another night Monday brought sunshine and moderate seas and we were escorted to the door

The cruise back encompassed the entire north coast of Ireland - Fair Head and Ballintoy (Game of Thrones county), Carrickarede rope bridge, Giant's Causeway, Rathlin, Malin Head, etc. We met porpoise, dolphin and a lone turtle. The sun shone, the sea was kind and we ran into Malin Harbour for a late (packed) lunch. Home in the evening and well tired after the few days away. All in all a great weekend, made special by the company and camaraderie encountered.

Thanks again all!

[willk]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

That radar tower looks weak in the middle Nice aft deck, what's the "A" frame for?

I think the scale may not be obvious - that's massive tubular. The side decks are self draining under the aft deck. It's massive and extended over the transom. The gantry pivots out over the water. There is a roller on the aft end of the deck. It's a Fishery Protection/Enforcement vessel, so I guess they might wanna lift "stuff" from the water. It has a research role too, so who knows. No-one tells me stuff like that - it's probably classified

[willk]

BTW, I'm a huge fan of Ardbeg whisky. Apparently, the International Space Station crew are too...

Ardbeg reveals results of 'space whisky' experiment - BBC News

[jambo]

Originally Posted by willk

BTW, I'm a huge fan of Ardbeg whisky. Apparently, the International Space Station crew are too...



Ardbeg reveals results of 'space whisky' experiment - BBC News

And here's me thinking your favourite was Coal Ila!!


Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by jambo

And here's me thinking your favourite was Coal Ila!!


Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

Yeah! but they give Ardbeg away for free... you pays for the good stuff

[willk]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Yeah! but they give Ardbeg away for free...

Sure they do - the way fishermen put "free" mackerel in pots. Those wee drachms sit out there, wafting their alluring scent over the tide on the North wind - drawing us in.

You could probably class them as an Aid to Navigation too. No help going home, mind....

[two stroke mick]

Wilk I dont know why you are surprised at Tonymacs ability to make that jaunt to Ardbeg, He got a good education and shakedown in Mayo two weeks earlier. That where he was educated.