appledore to lundy and back again in the aerotec!

[matt h]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Looks like a nice run over!....Well done fella
I would say The Scillies would be upping the Anti quite considerably!....not impossible but things would need to be perfect...it can be quite lumpy (even in calm conditions) rounding Landsend (I wouldn't try it from the North Coast)...and you'd want plenty of 'Back up!'..also an open ended departure date would be a big pluss...that or a return ticket on the Scillonian

Pussy!!

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by matt h

Pussy!!

Remind me!

[matt h]

I think Me You and Mollers should all go to the Scillie's in your 290?

[matt h]

you bring yr fishing rods and show a mad cornishman how to fish. Mollers could bring some Pasties and I will general abuse both of you!!

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by matt h

you bring yr fishing rods and show a mad cornishman how to fish. Mollers could bring some Pasties and I will general abuse both of you!!

....Just enough room for you two on that trip I reckon!

[simonafloat]

tbh I think the scillies is a step to far for me. not justbthe distance but the fact that i don't live in the area. lands end is nearly 2 hours drive for me and i'd want to do an eyeball of the conditions without relying exclusively in weather forecasts. there are several vantage points of the lundy crossing near my house and its good to just park up and spend a few minutes watching the conditions.

i spent a while on sunday morning just watching the conditions and then took a view that the forecasts showed the winds dropping further still. so i made the decision to go for it, with a view to turning west for clovelly if it proved too bumpy.

[simonafloat]

my route



heading well to the east of the lsland to avoid the tidal race off the south of the island known as the race.

[simonafloat]

Originally Posted by simonafloat

my route



heading well to the east of the lsland to avoid the tidal race off the south of the island known as the race.

lol I just noticed the distance on the map - 2042 miles! Something to do with my current gps position - south coast of Turkey 😎

[willk]

Well done - epic solo Aerotec passage.

[dogboy]

Great little story and mighty adventure in such a small boat ! I launched my little zodiac futura airdeck (same size) the same day from the end of the toll road beach on opposite side of the estuary to Appledoor. After an hour or two exploring the estuary for the first time (lovely), we decided to head down towards Saunton sands hotel.... only to find it was extremely choppy over the bar. Choppy enough for us to turn back ! I cant imagine ever doing a trip like yours in the futura ! Maybe it's time for an aerotec if it's capable of that ! simon, are you just Fearless and made of shock absorbing gel, or is the aerotec really that good in comparison ?

[simonafloat]

Originally Posted by dogboy

Great little story and mighty adventure in such a small boat ! I launched my little zodiac futura airdeck (same size) the same day from the end of the toll road beach on opposite side of the estuary to Appledoor. After an hour or two exploring the estuary for the first time (lovely), we decided to head down towards Saunton sands hotel.... only to find it was extremely choppy over the bar. Choppy enough for us to turn back ! I cant imagine ever doing a trip like yours in the futura ! Maybe it's time for an aerotec if it's capable of that ! simon, are you just Fearless and made of shock absorbing gel, or is the aerotec really that good in comparison ?

Lol I dont know, never had myself down as fearless exactly. What time exactly did you try crossing the bar? I went over on high tide at midday on the outbound leg and it was pretty choppy. I did 3 miles at about 10mph or so, then it got very calm. on the return leg it was 4.30 so most of the estuary had already emptied. so calm over the bar but very tricky staying in the channel. and a nasty bitnof mud at the bottom of the slipway to negotiate. i dont think theres much in it between the two boats in terms of comfort. is yours a mk3? very interested in trying one out if you're ever in the area perhaps a boat swap for the day?

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by simonafloat

my route



heading well to the east of the lsland to avoid the tidal race off the south of the island known as the race.

That's a nice direct route!

[dogboy]

Originally Posted by simonafloat

Lol I dont know, never had myself down as fearless exactly. What time exactly did you try crossing the bar? I went over on high tide at midday on the outbound leg and it was pretty choppy. I did 3 miles at about 10mph or so, then it got very calm. on the return leg it was 4.30 so most of the estuary had already emptied. so calm over the bar but very tricky staying in the channel. and a nasty bitnof mud at the bottom of the slipway to negotiate. i dont think theres much in it between the two boats in terms of comfort. is yours a mk3? very interested in trying one out if you're ever in the area perhaps a boat swap for the day?

We tried crossing around 1.30 I think, with high being at 12 midday as you say. It was my first time in the estuary, so I don't have much local knowledge. we normaly come to this side of Devon for the bodyboarding and don't bring the sib. I was told 3 hours either side of high tide for playing around in the toll road car park beach area, but to be honest, at less than 2 hours it was getting quite shallow and very muddy, making landing a bit of a problem. Next time we will try slips on the Appledoor side. Mine is a mk 1. I'd be very interested in trying a aerotec, so it would be good to meet up some time in the near future and do a bit of a swap. I am an hour away in Taunton, so not to far for a last minute trip when conditions allow.... keep me posted

[simonafloat]

Hi all

I will definitely be doing this crossing again at least once this summer. Hopefully this time the weather will allow an overnight camp on the island. Be nice to do it in the company of others, so if you're interested in bringing your own sib then let me know and I'll keep you informed of possible dates.

It will always be a last minute green light unfortunately, the weather is always fickle, but there are plenty of plan b destinations including clovelly, bucks mill or just a day on the taw torridge estuary. Message me if you're interested. Vhf essential

Cheers all

Simon

[Cliff B]

Great trip and pictures mate, very jealous!

[Firstrib]

This is an inspiring thread

[davkt]

Originally Posted by simonafloat

Hi all

I will definitely be doing this crossing again at least once this summer. Hopefully this time the weather will allow an overnight camp on the island. Be nice to do it in the company of others, so if you're interested in bringing your own sib then let me know and I'll keep you informed of possible dates.

It will always be a last minute green light unfortunately, the weather is always fickle, but there are plenty of plan b destinations including clovelly, bucks mill or just a day on the taw torridge estuary. Message me if you're interested. Vhf essential

Cheers all

Simon

Have just bought myself an Aerotec and that sounds a great trip if I've got it fitted out by the time it comes up. Just out of interest how have you mounted the vhf in yours as I was thinking adding something like that and a 12V chart plotter could be a good idea on mine

[simonafloat]

Hi dave, messaged you re lundy. I made a waterproof box which houses the vhf and a 14ah battery. 2 waterproof 12v sockets on the side for charging and running other stuff eg chartplotter. And a waterproof socket for the vhf antenna. Box attached to thwart with stainless straps.