Mad Dash to the TT

[Luckypants]

I was asked if I wanted to go on a day trip to the TT in a RIB. Naturally I said "YES!" and rounded up a few mates to make it happen. We got up at 4:30 am to travel to Knott End to meet the RIB at 8.00 for the trip across....

(Apologies for the size of the images, didn't realise what I had done!)

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/247801_10150202433968214_677353213_7155356_1902220 _n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc6.fbcdn.net/257090_10150202436098214_677353213_7155374_3171186 _o.jpg

As it was low water, the boat needed pushing beyond the sand-bar to avoid fouling the props.

http://hphotos-ash4.fbcdn.net/256180_10150202445548214_677353213_7155493_6952211 _o.jpg

Bombing across, note the use of the biking oversuit :cool:

http://hphotos-snc6.fbcdn.net/258415_10150202451273214_677353213_7155563_3577989 _o.jpg

It was glassy smooth to start with

http://hphotos-snc6.fbcdn.net/258906_10150202452143214_677353213_7155568_6598617 _o.jpg

Some photos of the racing, courtesy of Simon, the boat's skipper.

http://hphotos-ash4.fbcdn.net/258230_10150197992327916_26276122915_7050161_83230 68_o.jpg

http://hphotos-snc6.fbcdn.net/258744_10150197992032916_26276122915_7050159_78242 62_o.jpg

http://hphotos-snc6.fbcdn.net/256937_10150197940567916_26276122915_7049727_59746 71_o.jpg

After we got wet on the way over, folks got more seriously dressed for the return as the sea state had become choppy....
http://hphotos-ash4.fbcdn.net/240574_10150202484208214_677353213_7155859_4500323 _o.jpg


More pics here....
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150202433638214.308024.677353213&l=9913bec501


EDIT: Simon the skipper will be running these trips next year, as this year has gone quite well. I think he has spaces for trip to the Senior on Friday, PM me for details.

[Owenski]

you bucky lugger!

[kellyjo]

This is the first year ive really got into the TT and im hooked for life now. Im sooooooo jealous!! Nice pics :-)

[G]

Must have been an awesome trip... hell of a journey on a rib lol

[Luckypants]

Must have been an awesome trip... hell of a journey on a rib lolOh yes! I managed to get to drive the RIB for about quarter of the return trip. Apparently I had a MASSIVE grin on my face! :D Waiting for pics of that to be uploaded...

[Luckypants]

Forgot to say and have now updated the OP...

Simon the skipper will be running these trips next year, as this year has gone quite well. I think he has spaces for trip to the Senior on Friday, PM me for details. I'll be sorting out a trip with Simon next year as well.

[G]

.ORG trip out there? :D

What's the cost per person?

Does his business have parking spaces in the harbour

[Luckypants]

G yes I'm thinking an ORG trip....

Simon can be flexible about where to pick up. We left from Knott End jetty which has a free car park adjacent. He asked what we would think about Whitehaven as an alternative start point to save an hour on the crossing, which may be more suitable for folks from the north. Cost was £65 per person, so cheaper than flying or the Steampacket!

Originally we were planning on putting in to Ramsey and getting up the mountain to watch at the Gooseneck / Guthries, but the tides meant that we would not be able to get back on the boat after the racing. So we went in to Douglas and watched trackside and nosed around the paddock / grandstands instead. Simon had even arranged for some fellow RIB enthusiasts to come and ferry us up to the Grandstand in their cars.

[G]

£65 isn't bad at all really. Think the ferry was £270+ when I looked previously for TT week.

Whitehaven is a good trek north though compared to Fleetwood. We send crew out on fastcats from Barrow and it takes forever in comparison, whitehaven is even further. Nice drive though :P

[timwilky]

£65 isn't bad at all really. Think the ferry was £270+ when I looked previously for TT week.

Whitehaven is a good trek north though compared to Fleetwood. We send crew out on fastcats from Barrow and it takes forever in comparison, whitehaven is even further. Nice drive though :P



Dont go to Fleetwood if you want Knott End, tis a long way round. and the LMP is very nice at Knott End cafe

[Luckypants]

... LMP is very nice at Knott End cafe

Dunno what LMP is Tim, but the cafe was shut when we got there and shut when we got back. It was a long day... but well worth it!8-)

[yorkie_chris]

Giggity :)

[-Ralph-]

Great photos Mike. I'd be interested in this. Thread subscribed so can you post in here when the time comes? (EDIT: ie next year, not this Friday!)

Take it you were involved in those wind turbines then G?
PS: If there's anything of interest you want me to look at and report back on (?!) or any photo's you want taken whilst I'm riding alongside the wind turbine projects in Portugal then let me know.

[timwilky]

Mike

LMP = lemon meringue pie

[maviczap]

Ace, nothing beats wizzing along when its oily calm like that, although the RIB is a bit on the small side, some people I know use one this big ;)

No outboard mullarky, big inboard with water jet drive ;)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5620258078_712c209398.jpg

Lucky get, I fancy a week at the TT next year \\:D/

[dizzyblonde]

http://hphotos-ash4.fbcdn.net/258230_10150197992327916_26276122915_7050161_83230 68_o.jpg

Guy Martin.


I only know cause he just flew through the TV:)

[yorkie_chris]

And it's FOOOKIN BOOOOKED!!!! :mrgreen:

[Luckypants]

And it's FOOOKIN BOOOOKED!!!! :mrgreen:\\:D/ You'll have a blast mate.

Just spotted meself at the side of the road at the bottom of Bray Hill on the TV highlights :cool:

[davepreston]

he he i have a licence for one of them

[Luckypants]

Ace, nothing beats wizzing along when its oily calm like that, although the RIB is a bit on the small side

It was a 33ft Humber RIB, dunno if that is big or not :smt102. A link to Simon's website with the boat spec if you like that sort of thing.... ;) http://www.fynepioneer.co.uk/boat.php

[Bluepete]

I'll have a spot on next years trip please!

Pete ;)

[fenjer]

LP how long did it take to cross on the boat, and what time did you get back to the mainland?

[Luckypants]

We left from Fleetwood at 8am and got back about 8pm, with about 6 hours on the Isle of Man, its 58nm each way

To be more precise we left at 8:20 am from Knott End (across river from Fleetwood) after manoeuvring clear of the sand bar exposed by a very low tide. Trip there took 3 hours due to a head wind and lumpy sea approaching the IoM. The return trip was faster due to a calmer sea and more friendly wind condition, but more messing about to get in past the sand bar because of the low tide. The low tides were the reason we went to Douglas and not Ramsey in the end. He has spaces in the boat for Friday if you fancy it Jen ;)

[maviczap]

It was a 33ft Humber RIB, dunno if that is big or not :smt102. A link to Simon's website with the boat spec if you like that sort of thing.... ;) http://www.fynepioneer.co.uk/boat.php

10 metre RIB is pretty big, the photos are deceptive.

I'll probrably see the black beast on thursday and ask the chaps how long it is.

Can't be much bigger than 12 metres

Best thing about fast boats , no speeding tickets in open seas

One of my mums friends sons named his speedboat 'Fuzz Proof' :p

[yorkie_chris]

What an absolute blast. Proper writeup will be along soon :)


EDIT: Y-C's write up is here http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=167583

[minimorecambe]

Looks fun :puker:

So Im not starting a new thread for photos, here are a few of mine and Pops

On the mountain road

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/003-19.jpg

Down to the Cregg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/004-18.jpg

Guy Martin 3rd The Monster Energy Supersport Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/257261_10150216548159253_700014252_7021892_6389397 _o.jpg

Bruce Anstey 5th The Monster Energy Supersport Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/257261_10150216548164253_700014252_7021893_752000_ o.jpg

Gary Johnson 1st The Monster Energy Supersport Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/257261_10150216548169253_700014252_7021894_1732206 _o.jpg

Ian Pattinson at 19th The Monster Energy Supersport Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/257261_10150216548179253_700014252_7021895_7772805 _o.jpg

James Hillier 9th The Monster Energy Supersport Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/257261_10150216548184253_700014252_7021896_4641689 _o.jpg

John McGuinness 2nd The Monster Energy Supersport Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/252521_10150216553854253_700014252_7021925_4756547 _n.jpg

Michael Dunlop at Quarterbridge DNF

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/254116_10150216556529253_700014252_7021937_7574274 _n.jpg

Keith Amor 4th The Monster Energy Supersport Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/254274_10150216559589253_700014252_7021975_2450607 _n.jpg

Michael Dunlop at QB

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/254853_10150216562254253_700014252_7022008_47127_n .jpg

Roy Richardson 8th The Monster Energy Supersport Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/253503_10150216565254253_700014252_7022055_5850513 _n.jpg

Russ Mountford 11th The Monster Energy Supersport Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/257477_10150216566584253_700014252_7022080_929613_ o.jpg

Tim Reeves/Gregory Cluze 4th The Sure Sidecar Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/243540_10150216567514253_700014252_7022089_2606218 _o.jpg

Tony Elmer/Darren Marshall 3rd The Sure Sidecar Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/257839_10150216569014253_700014252_7022114_6185041 _o.jpg

Conrad Harrison/Mike Aylott 2nd The Sure Sidecar Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/253441_10150216575879253_700014252_7022275_909916_ n.jpg

Hillberry

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/256704_10150216577664253_700014252_7022301_8326629 _o.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/256907_10150216579379253_700014252_7022325_5533951 _o.jpg

[Luckypants]

I have some more photos from another member of the trip...

Leaving Fleetwood, gives an impression of the speed...

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247981_10150209135993214_677353213_7223616_3053990 _n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/253519_10150209136418214_677353213_7223623_4011986 _n.jpg

But it got a bit rougher and wetter later in the trip..

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/260200_10150209137503214_677353213_7223640_5003538 _n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247193_10150209137598214_677353213_7223642_8077750 _n.jpg

There were bikes too

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/259811_10150209137958214_677353213_7223648_3615446 _n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/248620_10150209138088214_677353213_7223650_4756106 _n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/260305_10150209138153214_677353213_7223652_4104483 _n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248245_10150209138238214_677353213_7223653_6680899 _n.jpg

I got to drive the boat on the way home... it ROCKS!! (eh Y-C?)

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/255634_10150209138338214_677353213_7223655_7447539 _n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/260181_10150209138393214_677353213_7223656_2578974 _n.jpg

But it was getting chilly by the end of the day...

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/253566_10150209135748214_677353213_7223613_5138902 _n.jpg

[sv4me]

Great pics Helen :)


Conrad Harrison/Mike Aylott 2nd The Sure Sidecar Race 2 at Quarterbridge

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/253441_10150216575879253_700014252_7022275_909916_ n.jpg


WTF is that guy doing, practicing twister!?


http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/littlehelen_2006/256907_10150216579379253_700014252_7022325_5533951 _o.jpg

Guys stood up on the right haven't got the hang of this spectating lark have they :D

[minimorecambe]

WTF is that guy doing, practicing twister!?

There is one passenger - cant remember who, that actually straddles the back of the outfit going round Quarter Bridge

[theboatman]

I'll have a spot on next years trip please!

Pete ;)

Spaces are starting to go now Pete is you still want a space in 2012, so far from the forum, PunnyXpress and his mate are going....

Simon

[Luckypants]

I'll have a spot on next years trip please!

Pete ;)

Folks, if you have not booked yet, spaces on Simon's boat trips to the TT are filling up. Book now if you want to avoid disappointment. http://www.fynepioneer.co.uk/TT/