To go or not to go? Update! - Page 3

The Jackeens · 01 June 2005, 21:00

Rob asked openly for advice http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....1&page=1&pp=10 and he certainly got loads

As skipper he was responsible for himself.

Have to say a few hours spent with an instructor could help cut out a lot of woe

There are never any gilt edged guarantees 'out there' even with the training but there may be even less without

Glad you're safe home,

missus

ADS · 01 June 2005, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zippy

I have read the posts on both of these threads.

Being a boring and prehaps over sensible person i wouldnt have gone the trip but i am the first to admit i have missed out on opportunities because of this attitude.

I am delighted Rob made the trip safely and hopefully learnt from the experience. i can see his views on "Pushing the boundries" and have no problems with that. I would also hope however Rob can see that this wasnt a textbook cruise and is maybe not the best example for other people to follow.

i dont see the point in argueing if rob should or should not have gone. he has done it and been honest in telling us about it. At the risk of sounding contraversial, who are we to apply our standards to other people??

I agree entirely Zippy, well put.

Rob Jones · 01 June 2005, 22:16

I reckon we have fully exhausted this topic - It has been a blast and it really brightens my day whilst sat behind a PC.

I appreciate all the comments and to be honest it is a topic for which I have argued many times - whether it was should we or shouldnt we clear a mine field in Bosnia or take my bike past 150 mph.

On a fear scale I really was more nervous canoeing down a flood river in Bavaria than making the crosssing.

The boat felt good - I was methodical and picked my way through. I felt at ease and even enjoyed it (only when I spied the eastern isles)

Yes I am very new to boating - but I cannot gain experience from reading about it, I am somebody who needs to enjoy everything life can throw at me. I now know what it like to make 30 mile solo crossing to the Scillies in large seas.

As for getting lost - just another experience, I wasnt actually lost as I knew I had arrived just couldnt see the habour and spent some time gingerly edging forward untill the entrance appeared. Of course a scared sister can exagerate the story somewhat.

Training - YEP I done the RYA level 2 with Seasmart in Portsmouth.

Hightower - no offence intended.

I have monthly ninja tests - next month I am off kitesurfing to Tarifa, now you want scary try that. Big kite big winds and even bigger sea.

Right Desperate houswives it is then

Night all.

Hightower · 01 June 2005, 22:20

Next time ya down the Solent Rob, we can buy each other a Beer and talk about our Kiting exploits. Mine isn't surfing though, it's buggying

.

Andy

Rob Jones · 01 June 2005, 22:29

Will do - Im the crap guy getting dragged out to sea with a kite thats too big for him, although now I usually have an orange rib following me out.

Hightower · 01 June 2005, 22:33

Just wait till the winds blowing inland and see if you can startle a few motorists as you fly over a road.

MarkWildey · 02 June 2005, 00:06

Rob

You still haven't explained how you lost you shoes?

It stll makes me laugh

Mark

P.S. Are you going to RibEx; I'll be there Friday

EdwardH · 02 June 2005, 05:53

just read this as I have spent the last two days surfing some beautiful eight foot waves off the coast of NSW.

Well done Rob - good effort for making it over and back - but the Dog? i hope he was ok...

I fully agree you have to live life to the fullest. i have had my fair share of near death experiences and almost all were as a result of my being insufficiently prepared or venturing beyond the 'safe' line ... my life is fuller for having been in each of them. I just know that had i not been VERY VERY lucky in each of those situations, my familie's lives would be worse as a result of my actions.

Hightower · 02 June 2005, 08:16

I realy admire those people that push beond the boundrys of safety to make themselves feel more alive. I enjoy looking at these exploits on TV, perhaps because I would probably never do it, as I already live a pretty much fully filled life.

This isn't a dig at anyone specific.....But please remember all you extreme types........Sometimes you won't be risking just your life, but possibly that of someone who is trying to rescue you when things don't work out.......That's all.

Now I'll get off my rocking horse, before I'm pushed off.

Rob, I'd like to know what happened to your shoes as well. I nearly saw my spare fuel tank float off one day after I stuffed a wave and filled the RIB up to the top pf the tubes.

Andy

Rob Jones · 02 June 2005, 08:57

Well not to sure really what happened - I was in a dry suit and therefore the shoes were the last to be dropped into the boat.

With the whole wave and wind thingy going on I reckon they got blew out of the boat.

Small price to pay

Rob Jones · 02 June 2010, 22:20

Funny returning to this forum after a 4 year or so break from Ribbing. I see alot of the old names are still active members so I thought I would take a few words to let you all know I am still alive and still pushing that envelope.

The rib front - sadly the "chick" (she kills me for that) had the baby and swiftly followed up with another, so my toy fund had to take a back seat. As the Rib I had (Tornado 5.5m) was old and expensive to run (100l of fuel everytime I went out)So I sold it to a dive school in Kent.
From the funds I then purchased a 215hp Supercharged Jet Ski but found that was rather boring and banned from most slipways so I sold that and decided I would try to fly like a bird.
I bought myself a Paraglider and took myself off to the nearest hill to teach myself, I spent 2 summers flying in the Alps and decided to up the game and I bought a Paramotor, I have since flown around alot of the UK and done a few cross countries (basically flying along for a few hours and land in fields next to petrol stations).
I also noticed a new sport emerging called speed riding so hours spent on YouTube had me hooked so I am one of about 10 active fliers in the UK whom ski with a chute and jump from mountains.
In a nutshell things are the same, but I do admit I miss my boat and have toyed with the idea of a zapcat or something similar but I think my gut tells me to get back to ribbing (hence looking back here for the latest and greatest news)
I still have my little tender with 5hp (I capsized it in the North Sea but thats another story) and was out with it last weekend in Sennen Cove diving from it.
I am looking at getting a Humber 6.5m and have started to map the "how do I convince her its a good idea"
Anyways great to be back and all being well I will have a real boat sometime soon

Rob Jones · 02 June 2010, 22:22

some vids of the adventures to date

[YOUTUBE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp2lXd8vpdU

Rob Jones · 02 June 2010, 22:23

[YOUTUBE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-m3Aqo-7f4

wiLlfish · 02 June 2010, 22:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Jones

sadly the "chick" had the baby and swiftly followed up with another

tel hir iym sory.

itt wazunt mee

i woz sumwher elsse

wiLf

neilda · 03 June 2010, 00:17

The speed riding in Chamonix looked a lot of fun! I wouldn't have the balls to do it personally!

Hightower · 03 June 2010, 12:37

I've got bigga kites

than the foils you were using in the Speed riding Vid.

That close shave with that rock!

I always wanted to uphill ski. But as I can't Ski it's a bit difficult

Cookee · 03 June 2010, 13:18

Ss someone who has paraglided extensively in the snow covered alps (I used to have a French licence) it seems that you seem to crash a lot - doesn't that bother you / hurt?

searover · 06 June 2010, 10:03

I say good on yer. a good adventurer never was a wimp...happy days.

Nos4r2 · 06 June 2010, 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by searover

I say good on yer. a good adventurer never was a wimp...happy days.

Agreed, but a good adventurer goes properly prepared. Read into that what you will...

Rob Jones · 07 June 2010, 08:20

I love the safety concerns this forum always seems to evoke, as for crashing alot.
Actually that video was made up from various clips we created and the crashes we actually the other lads with me. But I would be lying if I denied crashing and yes I have crashed. Of course it can be painfull but on snow you do have an element of the white fluffy stuff to cushion any fall.
I have just returned from a weekend in the Lakes at a flying festival where we foot launched those little wings into the valleys. I should think a crash there would sting rather more than on snow.