Crossing the North atlantic in a open rib - Page 2

crazyhorse · 04 February 2003, 22:02

Great imformation Arec, its sure sounds a bit nippy.

Have you any more Adventures your doing,and have you sent that email?

Arek Pawelek · 04 February 2003, 22:54

I had, a few adventures - You know, I'm chasing my dreams!

Not all had been at sea, not all at sea had been on RIB's

Writing in English is not as easy for me

but I'll try! Ask Andrew about our adventure, when we went together, on 2 RIBs, along all Polish coast, from east to west. 3 days, two of them really choppy (when we entered Kolobrzeg, not easy harbour to enter with big seas, we had to fly on full power with waves!) it was blowing up to force 10! Andrew had been with one guy on his old RIB (5,8 m long Avon with 70 HP Mercury), I had been on 4,5 m Sportis Idea 2000 (Mercury 60 HP on transom) with 2 my friends. The boat was a prototype, and suffered few damages... But she survived! RIBs are great!!!

crazyhorse · 04 February 2003, 23:10

When I was serching the world for Cabin ribs,I approached Sportis and they were one of the few companys that sent a letter and confirmed to me there specifications.

They make good boats from what I have read and it looks like you use them well.

Are you coming over here at all in the future?

All the best

Powerboat · 05 February 2003, 20:53

Just on a point of info !

There was a successful single handed RIB Trans Atlantic crossing in the 80's by Enda O'Coineen from Ireland in a 5.5M RIB.

This was his second attempt. His first attempt a year earlier ended with rescue by the RN just 150 miles off the Scilly Isles.

Enda went from Canada to Ireland. His exploits are recorded in his book The Unsinkable Kilcullen.

He went on to found Afloat magazine here in Ireland and also set the first Round Ireland Powerboat record.

Best wishes,

Stuart
www.powerboat.org

matiboy · 05 February 2003, 20:58

see this thread where his name came up a few days ago, I am still waiting for his book to arrive

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1652

Powerboat · 05 February 2003, 21:14

If you go to this link

http://www.onbusiness.ie/2001/1004/moneymakers.html

you can read some more about Enda and even hear about his exploits.

When he did his first crossing in the late 70's he was only 21 !!

He ran the engine on some of the early leg and after that for a short while each day to keep it servicable. He sailed for most of the journey. The engine was to get him clear of the coast and also to get him safely to land once he sighed it.

Along the way he was bumped by a whale and suffered a capsize from which he recovered.

I have always felt that Enda is one of the unsung heros of the world of Nautical adventure and exploration not only here in Ireland but worldwide.

Best wishes,

Stuart
www.powerboat.org

crazyhorse · 05 February 2003, 21:14

Arek drifted across a similar route in 1998 and "Bear Grylls" says he is going to be the first to cross the Atlantic in an open boat, what do you all think ?I think not!!!

Alan P [/B][/QUOTE]

Our pals at www.arctic2003.com are just as brave as all the previous people. Mr P have you looked at there web site?They dont seem to be claiming there the first are they.

If you can point us to a link where that claim is made then I appologise.

I dont feel we should not forget what they are attempting,and the conditions they may well encounter,with no saftey nets.

There is no disrespect here,For past achievments, but anybody who tries there crossing in a open rib deserves my support and that of the Rib Community as it promotes ribs as the true go anywhere Sea boats they are.

The sea doesnt care if its your first time or indeed its going to be your last time.It will blow the same no matter what.It will also do what it wants when it wants.

So good luck Mr Bear and any others past and present I wish you all well and a safe return.

Powerboat · 05 February 2003, 21:28

Ouch !!!

For the record I have tremendous respect for any one who undertakes such trips .In previous years I have both led and managed a few myself !

I now enjoy going to International Boat Shows for fun whereas previously I always went on the scrounge with Cap in Hand looking for sponsored equipment !!

For the record the Lad's website Claims :

"The Arnold & Son Trans Atlantic Arctic Expedition aims to set a World Record for the first complete crossing of the North Atlantic just south of the Arctic Circle in an 'open' rigid inflatable boat (RIB)."

Not strictly true but worth nonetheless of all our support and respect. I am also quite sure that they had not heard of Enda's trip.

I just made the point that some one else did it as well 25 years ago, at 21 years of age and with practically no sponsorship or technology behind him ! Nor did he stop along the way !

Once there are people like Enda and Bear , the world is a better place !

Best wishes,

Stuart
www.powerboat.org

matiboy · 05 February 2003, 21:30

Quote:

Originally posted by crazyhorse
Our pals at www.arctic2003.com are just as brave as all the previous people.

It must be rembered that crossings many years ago in all sorts of craft , some very small, did not have the advantage of GPS, Sat Phones, emailing progress , being able to talk to family on route, modern clothing technology, liferafts, epirbs, etc

Oh and being able to predict and pos avoid storms through fax info

It does put things into perspective regarding these early achievements

DepSol · 05 February 2003, 21:41

Quote:

Originally posted by crazyhorse
Arek drifted across a similar route in 1998 and "Bear Grylls" says he is going to be the first to cross the Atlantic in an open boat, what do you all think ?I think not!!!

Alan P

Our pals at www.arctic2003.com are just as brave as all the previous people. Mr P have you looked at there web site?They dont seem to be claiming there the first are they.

If you can point us to a link where that claim is made then I appologise.

I dont feel we should not forget what they are attempting,and the conditions they may well encounter,with no saftey nets.

There is no disrespect here,For past achievments, but anybody who tries there crossing in a open rib deserves my support and that of the Rib Community as it promotes ribs as the true go anywhere Sea boats they are.

The sea doesnt care if its your first time or indeed its going to be your last time.It will blow the same no matter what.It will also do what it wants when it wants.

So good luck Mr Bear and any others past and present I wish you all well and a safe return.

[/B][/QUOTE]

Website changed recently I logged on when it was first up and running.

Dom

crazyhorse · 05 February 2003, 21:50

Fair point Mateboy ,I respect all that did it, and those who are going to do it.

Electronics can give you a sence of safety,but the sea hasnt changed and neither has man.

If your overwelmed bye a big breaker out there.Then its Curtains for you.All the electronics in the world will not help.

It will take hrs for a vessel to get to you ,and then its down to if it can find you? Which is dubious.

A personel epirb may help but its still a real risk,as your survival time is going to be small,and if its Blowing Badly then its even slimmer.

I appreciate Explorers and all who dare to attempt to explore.

There are no guarantees and in 20 yrs maybe people will look at us all and think we are Crazy.

crazyhorse · 05 February 2003, 22:33

The world is indeed a better place with all these Characters bobbing about.

Alan Priddy · 05 February 2003, 23:07

So. Not only have they changed the opening page and stopped saying they are going to be the "first". They are now NOT going to the Arctic so why is it called the "Arnold & Sons Trans Atlantic Arctic Expedition"? Is this a case of media over truth? We shall see. Alan P

crazyhorse · 05 February 2003, 23:33

Yes your right Alan there is some new stuff on the site! boat build pictures ect.

It will be interesting to see what does actually happen? as I have a feeling its going to be a interesting yr.

They are running a 450 Cat with a waterjet and alli hull.

It will be interesting to see how she is in sea trials,as this is a normal commercial set up and might not be that fuel efficient,for its weight ?

Maybe they are going to be the First rib to, do something after all?

I will ,Watch this space ! as they say in the Newspaper buisness!

www.arctic2003.com

Keith Hart · 06 February 2003, 07:19

Er......didn't the Vikings cross the Atlantic in open boats circa 800 AD?

Keith (just thought I'd mention it) Hart

Alan Priddy · 06 February 2003, 08:27

They certainly did and I am sure that it was one of my relatives.

Thanks for the comments about RTW

AlanP

Arek Pawelek · 06 February 2003, 13:03

First or last - not the most important. Important is on WHAT kind of craft. In Poland, many sailors are talking, that Atlantic crossing on a RIB is nothing special! Many of them sailed across Atlantic and don't make any fuss about that

The only difference was the craft - BIG or small, but a yacht designed to sail on the ocean, with food, water, and cosy bed

As to electronics - don't trust too much for them!
During my whole voyage I didn't received any weather forecast , not from BBC, not from Deutsche Welle... The EPIRB - one of the best brands, KANNAD, didn't set off, when my boat capsized. On the other hand, becouse of that, I HAD to put the RIB back to the right position and I HAD to sail across Atlantic

VHF, ICOM m15, one of the best hanheld VHF's - broken from the first days! I didn't make single contact with any ship. But I sent a couple of letters in plastic water cans! They are drifting yet, I think, somewhere on the Atlantic

Only the GPS had been working without problems!
Don't trust to eletronic's...
I wish all the best for guys from "Bear Grylls"
I think, that every one, who is trying to do similar thing desrves support all of Us.

crazyhorse · 06 February 2003, 21:01

There you go Mateboy, we both learnt that without even getting wet..

That will do for me,and this is about as close to the Arctic as I want to be Thanks.

Thanks Arec your advice may one day help us all be safer on the Sea.

matiboy · 07 February 2003, 12:26

just read the mad irishmans book recieved yesterday

if he were a cat he'd have gone through a few of his 9 lives, in summary I think the guy is just lucky to be alive as there were many simply foolhardy things he did

this was no calculated sophisticated planned crossing, but a homemade shoestring job

fascinating to think we could rig up a sail and take our ribs sailing, let alone through storms across the atlantic

still cant figure out how he got it to sail in a straight line without any intricate self steering system

crazyhorse if you pm some details can lend it to you, subject to getting it back

Arek Pawelek · 07 February 2003, 14:40

Matiboy,
I don,t know how it was with Kilkullen, but I know how it was with my Cena Strachu. RIB was going straigth as long, as the wind had been blowing from front quarters up to halfwind. I had to set the sails and secure tiller. With winds from the back - its different story. Thats why I had to read a book about windvanes and had to built one. I made this on Canary Islands.