round ireland crusing speed of 22kn

[two stroke mick]

I was out yesterday off the west coast of ireland and I was thinking about the crusing speed requirement of the RI 2013 of 22kn. My rib will do close on 30 kn but
crusing at 22 kn can be very uncomfortable on the west coast. 17 -18 kn is a much more reaslistic speed and at times I had to reduce my speed to 13 or 14 kn.

Am I getting too old for this crack or is a crusing speed of 22 kn a realistic speed for a rib lof 5.0 m or less

tsm

[MustRib]

Thing is... as far as I can see, there are only four boats under 5m going, and one of them is mine. Quite a few at 6 metres plus, and they will handle confused seas a lot better.
Sometimes its better to speed up in the chop, but I expect the going will be tough at times, better at others, and am sure the 22knots is an average for a leg. Weather and sea conditions will dictate.
I can average over 30 knots with a slight swell. Much less when its gets lumpy.
Your not getting too old Mick, just a little more errr....comfortable!

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

I was out yesterday off the west coast of ireland and I was thinking about the crusing speed requirement of the RI 2013 of 22kn. My rib will do close on 30 kn but
crusing at 22 kn can be very uncomfortable on the west coast. 17 -18 kn is a much more reaslistic speed and at times I had to reduce my speed to 13 or 14 kn.

Am I getting too old for this crack or is a crusing speed of 22 kn a realistic speed for a rib lof 5.0 m or less

tsm

[9D280]

You know what? It will depend on the size & wavelength of the chop at a given moment.

Forth cruise last year we exited form under the Kinkardine bridge into a huge wind vs tide chop. SR4, me @ 5M and another 6& a bit M. As the river widened and the current dropped, the wave shape changed. There were times I could motor along quite happily at 25 knots, the others were either slamming big style or over one, through the next.

500 yds. later I was slamming big style, the SR4 was happy, another 500 yds. later.... you get the picture.

You'll have seen the pics from ERR2013. I managed an average of 20,.2 knots to Crinan, 18.1 on the way back, and I'll tell you for free it was hard work for chunks of the return trip, but as Mustrib says, there were times when opening the throttle made it a far smoother ride.

Just remember to stick with your buddy boat(s).

[tonymac]

Originally Posted by MustRib

Thing is... as far as I can see, there are only four boats under 5m going, and one of them is mine. Quite a few at 6 metres plus, and they will handle confused seas a lot better.
Sometimes its better to speed up in the chop, but I expect the going will be tough at times, better at others, and am sure the 22knots is an average for a leg. Weather and sea conditions will dictate.
I can average over 30 knots with a slight swell. Much less when its gets lumpy.
Your not getting too old Mick, just a little more errr....comfortable!

Have you been out there? I have.

I recken that the speed will decrease.

Dont want to dampen spirits but just being realistic.

[two stroke mick]

I went around clare island on thursday and it was not a wild day. the wind was from the north, but at times I had to drop my speed to 13- 15 kn

[willk]

The RI is essentially a race although some may take part for the experience alone. Racing and Cruising are worlds apart. The winning boat will be skippered by someone with a different mindset to most. They will have a boat rigged for it, they will not stop, they will not back off, they will not consider the comfort of crew, they will take chances...

...or they won't win.

[Adamn]

I have read so much about RIBS and what they can do but as I only owned a SIB at the time I could only imagine what to expect.
I bought my first RIB in the Autumn a 5m Zodiac Pro with a 60 Yam on the back. Not the deepest hull but OK.
I went up to Fowey from Falmouth last Sunday the sea was slight on the way with only the occasional lumpy swell around some of the headlands but this was smooth faced due to little wind. The rib rode well at 21kts and I was frilled.
However on the return journey the wind was a F4 gusting F5 from the SW with white caps everywhere! Luckily the wind and swell were together but there was still a 1m wind swell with larger waves every few moments. I tried to plane at 16kts but found it slammed or launched off a wave and with the wind under the bow it easily went skyward I had the engine trimmed in but had to drop down to 10kts for safety.
I am sure a deeper V with a forward console set up would do much better.
Did you have much weight forward?

[two stroke mick]

I also believe that phyical condition will play an important part of this event. I have read much on the works that have been carried out on the boats in prep for the event, Is anyone carrying out any personal fitness training for the round ireland event?

tsm

[Trevor G]

We're one of the Sub 5m Ribs (Team Baby Blue), and for us the RI 2013 is definitely a cruising challenge and in no way a race - if the weather's kind and we get to the end then I'll have won my challenger - irrespective of whether we're the first or last one back!

I'm sure we'll just adapt the speed to match the conditions - I should think most of us smaller boats will be able to do about 30 kts in the dead flat, but be much happier in the low 20's "normally" - especially as for the smaller boats the fuel we'll need to carry will be a much greater proportion of the boat's weight than for the larger boats.

Trev

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by willk

The RI is essentially a race although some may take part for the experience alone.

We are talking about the Montgomery Swan production I assume? Unless I've missed something it's very much a cruise and not a race.

Having said that, I reckon that the smaller boats will be doing well to average much more than 15kt given a bit of mixed weather. I'm not sure where the 22kt figure comes from, but you'll be needing some very settled weather to make that as a long distance average in a 5m boat.

[Boatnomad]

"I reckon that the smaller boats will be doing well to average much more than 15kt given a bit of mixed weather"
Way i see it too.... Also,as TSM says,overall fitness will play its part.

[willk]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

We are talking about the Montgomery Swan production I assume? Unless I've missed something it's very much a cruise and not a race.

You're absolutely right Boss, I've just read the blurb

It was the "challenge" bit that had me confustered - you know - "I challenge you to a leisurely cruise" wasn't a phrase I'd heard before...

[two stroke mick]

wilk

That jaunt you had to scotland a few weeks ago in the beast has made you soft. You now think that all ribbing is like that.

[willk]

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

wilk

That jaunt you had to scotland a few weeks ago in the beast has made you soft. You now think that all ribbing is like that.

lol - patently you have failed to keep track of me. Lot of miles* in a SIB and a 6.1m since then. Any more water and I'm gonna turn into a duck for real...

Ardbeg from Cushendall return in appalling weather - 6.1m
Rathlin from Donegal return after dark - 6.1m
14Nm tour of Inver Bay, St John's Point - 2.7m SIB

I rest my case, on my Laurels

[jambo]

You tell him W, you old sea dog!!

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[willk]

Originally Posted by jambo

You tell him W, you old sea dog!!

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

wuf!

[lc0021]

I took the "Challenge" to mean the challenge to complete it. However - I was considering doing it (to enjoy - not endure...) - but I reconsidered when I saw the length of some of the legs...

Maybe I'll just do clew bay out to Inishbofin with 2TMick instead...

[two stroke mick]

LC0021

I would love the company


TSM

[willk]

Originally Posted by lc0021

I took the "Challenge" to mean the challenge to complete it. However - I was considering doing it (to enjoy - not endure...) - but I reconsidered when I saw the length of some of the legs...

Maybe I'll just do clew bay out to Inishbofin with 2TMick instead...

Bangor to Killybegs is a killer. Loooong day...

[Ribochet]

Originally Posted by lc0021

Maybe I'll just do clew bay out to Inishbofin with 2TMick instead...

If you have never been then put Clew Bay at the top of your "to do" list

I have had the pleasure of spending a lot of time over the years boating in Clew Bay in both a 6.5m RIB and a 3.8m SIB and I would describe it as breath takingly beautiful, unspoilt, challenging and often very "sporty" to say the least