Where's summer gone

[ribber]

I sometimes wonder if it's worth keeping on with the boat, what with all the upkeep and expense etc. scrubbing the bottom and generally spending time and effort.
Then you get a perfect day and it all seems worth it

[Dan Gurney]

Testify!

[Max...]

It's been poxy so far mostly and this weekend....

North Foreland to Selsey Bill
Strong winds are forecast
24 hour forecast:
Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 5 or 6, backing northwesterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 for a time later.
Sea state
Slight, becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Rain and thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4, then backing southerly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming slight for a time later.
Weather
Showers, rain later in west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

[jambo]

It certainly has not been one of the best that's for sure!! IMHO it has been SH£TE!!!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

[matt h]

Second that

[Fenlander]

Perhaps been lucky (hope we didn't get the village's complete summer allowance Jambo) but our near two weeks away until return yesterday have been very good on the whole. West coast Scotland's where it's at... and amazingly only saw two or three midges in two weeks... compared to a million in seconds of leaving shelter which can be the norm.

[Fenlander]

And no they weren't all taken on the same day!

Edit: Weird thing... every one of these images is pin sharp on our PC when viewed from the original of the file I've uploaded here... but they always soften when clicked and viewed in the site pages.

[The Gurnard]

In my optimistic outlook..I look back over this year and can recall a few smashing days for SIBing

April ..off Oban




May .. Loch Etive




May .. Loch Leven





June ..Kyles of Bute




June .. Heading for Belnahua



Although I do confess there have been some rough days in July when I thought my SIB was half empty of water and was very glad it wasn’t half full.

Dont mean to rub salt into any pessimist’s wounds..but here is tomorrow’s forecast for Oban.. slightly cooler than I would like for this time of year..but another great SIBbing day by the looks of things...perhaps I live in a different world?




My summer is no where over yet either ..so chin up lads ..the sun will shine for you too.

Just noticed your post Fenlander..and glad you look on the bright side too

[Adamn]

Summer in the British Isles-


It's why we love it!!......

[Nasher]

Yep, got down to Dartmouth yesterday and had a sit on the beach at Beesands for a while yesterday afternoon. Well what's left of it after the rough weather from last year and this.

Anyway, spend most of today sat in the tent reading etc whilst the boat sits on it's trailer outside, the rain has been so hard at times it was hard to hear yourself think in the tent. Lo and behold, it's 5pm and it's just brightened up

Looks like we have a window tomorrow morning to launch, have a run around and get back before the rain starts again. Sunday looking rubbish then hopefully clearing a bit for a couple of days.

Nasher.

[kerny]

Just put the central heating on feckin freezing up here....

[Tim in Yorkshire]

Been out on the Rib the past 4 days, cod, mackerel, pollack, lobster, the girlfriend has got a good grip of helming, it has been great

After fishing from the rib this morning we've been snorkelling, and good news there's some swell in the forecast so time for some surfing next week.

Yorkshire is ace

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Perhaps been lucky (hope we didn't get the village's complete summer allowance Jambo) but our near two weeks away until return yesterday have been very good on the whole. West coast Scotland's where it's at... and amazingly only saw two or three midges in two weeks... compared to a million in seconds of leaving shelter which can be the norm.

Fenlander don't broadcast it. We like to keep it secret cod before you know it there will be Blackpool and tbe charm will be gone.


Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

[willk]

I try to be like the Gurnard and not complain about weather - what's the point and you may as well play the cards you're dealt. That said, I don't remember a worse summer for boating. It's been cold, wet and windy. Very windy. I've had to cancel all sorts of boaty stuff 'cos it would have been 'orrible. That said, I managed to get into one of the Gurnard's pics above - so it can't have been all bad.

God help my apples though - what a wash out! And I saw my first wasp today - so late! And only two barbecues to date Today's weather attached....

[Max...]

Yep, 8mm here in the six hours it's been bucketing down non-stop since 9am. We went out for a family walk this morning, fleeces, full waterproofs - the lot. It's the 26th July FFS!

You have to get out with the kids or you go mad. Kind of fun but boy is this cr@p boaty weather - either blowing 5 or 6 or pi$$ing down. Not been out for three weeks but hopeful for mid week.

Better get better soon - off to Dartmouth for a week.

[The Gurnard]

Ahh well guys..another summer weekend is over for me... and as usual ..I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Once a year I try to take an old friend and his lad out in the boat for a day of mackerel fishing. They don’t have much so it is always a big treat for them. I confess I cancelled our day’s fishing two weekends ago..because of the strong winds. To make up for it.. as I know they were very disappointed.. I promised to take them a weekend wild camping and shark fishing..instead.

We spent Saturday and Sunday at Loch Etive as sea loch near Oban....I will let the photos tell the story.

Pitching camp in the middle of no where..Saturday was a lovely day.. just slightly colder than normal July weather ...



But not cold enough to stop the lad from swimming in the burn beside the wild camp spot.



Although I wouldn’t go swimming.. he still looked a health pink and not hypothermic blue.



At night I lit the usual campfire and we scoffed beef burgers and beans.. supplemented by baked potato wrapped in tin foil .. cooked in the fires glowing embers. The lad was in his element and loved the “Bear Grylls” experience. He had a ball collecting the firewood..and I had a ball watching.



We woke to a flat calm this morning ..and sunshine.. in stunning surroundings.



Rods were make ready and baited. I put a whole mackerel on my hook..just for effect..to keep the lad going. Its always a big fishing competition between us.. largest catch of the day is winner.
He is into a nice fish..his look of concentration says it all as he fights a monster shark.



I had warned him of the Spur Dogs nasty spines..which can inflict venom if it cuts skin.. also that they have a mouthful of sharp teeth...so he was over the moon when I reached into the water and brought his catch on board the boat. He was a bit too scared to hold the threshing monster.. So I held it for him as he took the photo. Im a whimp too..I wear gloves when I handle the brutes.. but that fish made the lads year..never mind his day. It was then returned to the water and will live to fight another day.



Yup both myself .. my old pal and his lad certainly didn’t complain about the weather..or anything else this weekend... roll on next week for more summer fun..

I have never once thought the SIB was too much money or effort to keep...its part of my way of life

[tonymac]

Gunard - I hate you!!!

Good luck mate and enjoy.


Bloody awful over here. Wind has been terrible! Even if I was fit to go out I couldn't have.
I agree Willk - terrible 'summer' for boating - maybe September since I've now retired he he he he he

[willk]

Originally Posted by tonymac

I agree Willk - terrible 'summer' for boating - maybe September since I've now retired he he he he he

Retired is it indeed?

Well, that's you bumped up the Expedition Roster Pool from "Keen, but Works" to "Probable - Unlikely to find a Decent Excuse"

[tonymac]

Originally Posted by willk

Retired is it indeed?

Well, that's you bumped up the Expedition Roster Pool from "Keen, but Works" to "Probable - Unlikely to find a Decent Excuse"

I'm always ready to find a 'decent excuse' to go boating

[The Gurnard]

Welcome to the promised land Tonymac..you will find Mondays are the best day of the week.. no crowds on slipways or marinas..and its always the best weather of the week day

PS..now Im home again..its started raining ..but I dont mind now