Round the IOW

[DGS]

Hi just wondering if anyone would be interested in a trip round the IOW in the next few weeks. I'm new to ribs & have been gaining confidence over the last 3 months with trips to Lymington (the furthest so far), Beaulieu & Cowes from Warsash but would love to try & get round the island. I have a 4.8m ribcraft with 4 stroke 60hp so I'm not the fastest & the weather / waves would need to be good! Intending to winterise at the end of Oct so would love to have one last trip to keep me going until relaunch March next year!

[HUMBER P4VWL]

With a boat that size so easy to tow and launch, don't winterise, just flush it and use it on those glorious winter days when it's clear blue, flat calm and fresh as. Just wrap up. You'll miss some of the best days of the year otherwise!

[boristhebold]

I agree about winter weather, some days it can be so much better than other times of the year. With regard to going round the isle of wight and you say your new to ribbing, I would recommend you build up to it unless you feel 100% confident, the weather is great and you've taken appropriate precautions and have a good plan with the right kit aboard. If the weather isn't great it can be rather rough and intimidating in some parts.

[Hightower]

lovely little rig you got there. Agree what the others have said. Don't waste money or time winterizing, I've never done this. Just run up the outboard on muffs once every 2 or three weeks if you haven't used her and move the trailer around to keep the wheels free. I would have to say that January and Feburary are the lean months for me and I'll certainly use my RIB up untill Christmas, there are some nice Cod out there with my name on.

[Rogue Wave]

my view is that I pay for the boat all year so I might as well use it all year.



i'd be up for a trip round the Island, wekend after next is good for me

cheers Stu

[Zagato]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

With a boat that size so easy to tow and launch, don't winterise, just flush it and use it on those glorious winter days when it's clear blue, flat calm and fresh as. Just wrap up. You'll miss some of the best days of the year otherwise!

Totally agree, I use to keep my yacht in all year. Some of the best sailing days especially around the Solent can be had as it's so quiet BUT rounding the island can be very precarious and don't rely on weather forecasts. I know many people that have been caught out and have fought to safe themselves from very dangerous predicaments. For instance if the forecast says it will blow a 4-5, don't rely on that it can go much higher. Wait until conditions are near ideal, there is no rush and you will have a more enjoyable trip especially if you are taking family along - you don't want to put them off RIBbing.

Spoke to a guy last week that had a Searider and sold it after his last outing last year when wind and tide caught them out! It scared them for good! They didn't get much passed Chichester Bar either let alone around the the IOW. Also spoke to a guy who hit an unforeseen force 8 IN Chichester Harbour itself, said it was worse in the harbour than out Tides can create Mary hell with sea conditions when the wind wants to play the devil as well.

Jump in when you have a few days stretch of good weather and you will have an enjoyable save trip

[Ian M]

Ice hockey permitting (no I am just the taxi driver ), I am up for a trip around the island. Are you firming up on dates?

[Neil Harvey]

I'd be up for that if the weekend works well...it's been a while since I did RTI.
Would be launching from up the Itchen, so easy to meet at Warsash

[DGS]

1st or 2nd Sept would be good. A bit concerned that the ribs so far are all rather long & powerfull & that I won't be able to keep up! Are there any smaller ribs (& horses) up for it to keep me company at the back? What's the best way round & the adavance weather site to check?

[Neil Harvey]

Originally Posted by DGS

A bit concerned that the ribs so far are all rather long & powerfull & that I won't be able to keep up!

Don't be... first tiem I did it was in a 5.4 SR, the boats waiting at the back to support the smaller ones were the larger ones!

We'll wait for you

I've only ever gone clockwise round, but depends on tides etc.

For weather sites, I usually compare XC weather, Metcheck and BBC, and try to make some sense of that lot. Others may have better suggestions.

It can also help to check Bramblemet for a few days running up to a proposed outing, just to see what the wind has been doing as an indicator to seastate.

[Ian M]

Wot Neil said

Believe it or not, on one of the my more recent full circuits of the Island it took me 11 hours - and I was in the RIB. I was supporting some mad wind surfers; so I am used to working the throttle both ways

Originally Posted by DGS

1st or 2nd Sept would be good.

Err seems like we have blown it already

[Ian M]

Just found out that I cannot do 1-2/10, it is a big week-end in Number One Son's hockey life, and I have to run him up country.
Week-ends that are good for me are 8-9/10, 15-16/10 and 22-23/10.
If you have your heart set on 1-2/10, go for it, assuming weather etc. is OK, Neil knows his way around

[Crusher]

I'm planning to go to Alderney on the 1st and 2nd Oct as long as the weather window is ok. Go over on the Sat, B&B back on Sunday, anyone other boats wanting to come over too would be great.

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[matt h]

Feel better if another Rc 4.8 came along?
Im up for a IOW trip.. as all have just said DONT WINTERISE!!

[Avocet]

Originally Posted by matt h

Feel better if another Rc 4.8 came along?

I'm not sure that your style of helming will necessarily provide the reassurance sought!

Having said that, I could well be up for the trip: HT Ventnor on 1 Oct is 3.00pm BST and would make a good break for lunch half way round.

I also like the alternative idea of Crusher's trip to Alderney. Will discuss with Mrs A this evening.....

David

[DGS]

Can I just check a few things? If the trip is about 70 n.miles then I won't average much more than 20 knots (if it's flat but much less if really choppy) then will need a lunch & beer stop at (say Ventnor) so say 5-6 hours all in - is this realistic? I have a 55L in-built fuel tank so with my 60hp 4 stroke I should be able to do the whole trip on this? I would only go with good weather given my small boat (4.8m Ribcraft) & relative inexperience but still very keen! What else do we need to plan for? How many boats are definately up for the 1st - would be great for other small ribs to join us? Thanks

[Rogue Wave]

. You should be able to crack on in a Ribcraft 4.8 after all they are nearly as good as a Searider 4.7 so I think 20 knots is fairly conservative, unless that's near your best cruising speed.

BTW I would advise you to never go out without spare fuel, a method of getting it into your engine and 2 stroke oil if you have one.

Plan for the weather, suitable clothing, make sure yoo have a paper copy of passage plan obviously depending on the time of tides you can get a nice push once you get past the Needles if the tide is flowing

cheers

[wiLlfish]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

you can get a nice push once you get past the Needles

iz dat wy yew fel owt ov dat zowdiac?

[Trevor G]

Originally Posted by matt h

Feel better if another Rc 4.8 came along?
Im up for a IOW trip.. as all have just said DONT WINTERISE!!

We had our 1st run out in the Searider on Saturday and it went fine - so I'd be up for this as well - but can't do 1st October as we've got the end of season Weymouth cruise on 1st and 2nd Oct.
If the date ends up being pushed back count me in and I'll take the Searider, or we could run with you to the needles on 1st before continuing to Weymouth (in Blue Ray).

Trev

[Zippy]

Might be out this weekend and could be up for a round island. Hopefully weather will be ok!