| Take5 |
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| 12/05/2008 18:10 |
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Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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After missing out on some boating fun last week due to other commitments I decided to keep the kids off school Friday and head down the boat till Sunday night.
This is the first time we have all slept on the boat so didn’t know if it was going to turn into a nightmare for us.
As it happened it really did instil that this boating malarkey is definitely for us. We had a superb weekend both weather wise and fun wise with plenty of fishing to boot.
Saturday we had our first experience of "rafting up" I believe it's called? Well the couple we were alongside really helped (in fact they did everything I think) so we offered to meet up with them in the pub and buy them a couple of drinks. Really nice couple from Conwy Marina. I hope everyone we come across is as friendly.
Whilst in the pub I got a call from Kwaka who tells me he is en route to the pub with Tom aka Little Ship. What a sound bloke Tom is, really nice guy and a wealth of Nautical knowledge. I wished we could have stayed all night but the thought of getting two sub 10 year old kids onto our rafted up boat in the dark wasn't something I fancied. Anyhow, pleasure to meet you Tom.
We got back to the boat to find we are now sandwiched between two big yachty things. The new one belonging to the Conwy school of yachting. Great opportunity for me to spend an hour or two picking the brains of the skipper why his crew were out on a pub crawl.
Sunday we set off for my current favourite spot, LLandwyn Island. It was glorious sunshine and the kids were relentless in mythering me to let them go for a swim. No matter how many Jellyfish I showed them or how cold I said the water was they wanted to go in. They can both swim but as we are about 70 yards from Shore I won't let them go in without a lifejacket on. Thankfully there were two foam jobbies left in the locker from the previous owner of the boat so I stuck them on them.
Queue my lad jumping in and with every stroke he made an horrific hound like sound due to the coldness of the water, but he wouldn't come back he was hell bent on making the beach. Thirty minutes was all he had I told him.
This didn't deter my daughter until she actually jumped in and jumped out equally as quick.
Thirty minutes pass and I am having a slanging match with him as he will NOT swim back out to us as its "TOO BLOODY COLD & THERE ARE JELLY FISH". Ninety minutes later he is still on the beach. He wants me to come and get him on the boat (we have no Tender yet) and I want him to swim to us but it's not happening.................Welcome to Standoffsville.
In the distance I spot a Blue Rib and think it couldn't be Kwaka on the training school rib could it? So I ring him and sure enough he has 3 lads on board doing a PB2. I asked him if they had done there P.O.B yet......the what he replies? The P.O.B says I.......You mean M.O.B says he......No says I.
P.O.B - Pillock Over Board my son won’t come back to the boat could you come and get him for us.
He obliged me and collected him from the shore and all ends well. Thanks Rich.
(I told him I owed him a couple of pints for that but by my reckoning im about 47 in credit still)
The End.
Now I know how a Prawn feels.
Someone is really miffed it was too cold for her.
Stubburn as a Mule he is.
It couldn't be Kwaka on the training RIB surely?
P.O.B Recovered. I have to say this picture says it all for me. Five beaming smiles. That's what its all about. CHEERS.
| MartynK |
| (regular) |
| 12/05/2008 18:41 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales)
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Really nice pics, and a great story - specially the POB bit. Good old Kwaka, always there when you need him.
| Sneds |
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| 12/05/2008 18:52 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales)
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Great post, made us smile!
Looks like a nice place to, any jobs up that way?
| JamesTT |
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| 12/05/2008 19:27 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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I have had this problem with the kids in the same spot.
However one day at low water there were 3 or 4 large motor boats beached there for scrubbing off and cleaning.
Have a look yourself at low water one day?
The beach is quite steep and you can nose a small boat on if you are quick or on a rsing tide, keep the leg right up and stay in the middle of the small bay, there are submerged rocks to the right.
The other method that I have used is to nose up as close as you can/dare, cut the motor, step off the bow and hold and push the boat into postion on the sand, you will be wet up to your middle but you get to stay with boat and recover the POB!
| Take5 |
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| 12/05/2008 19:31 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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I was going to give that a go but was wary of submerged rocks. Kwaka told me more or less the same thing after he had retrieved the POB for me, as you say if I take a look for myself I will get a better idea of what im dealing with.
Thanks for the heads up.
| LittleShip |
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| 12/05/2008 19:38 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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May I take the time to direct you to
This
or I wont buy another round.
Good to meet you and yours on Saturday.
Tom
| Searush |
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| 12/05/2008 20:50 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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If you can manouvre slowly, Pilot's Cove is OK for Mobo's to beach at around HW. Station a body on the bow & creep in. You can generally see at least 6' & often 10' deep.
Keep a boat hook handy for pushing off or controlling turning & you should be OK. But an experienced skipper in a largish yacht was badly holed hear Llandwyn over the BH weekend.
| kipper |
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| 12/05/2008 21:10 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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Fantastic pictures although we would say you were technically in cheshire as you are so close to chester.
Never been to Llandwyn Island but it looks stunning so would love to know the details on how and when.
Gary
| Take5 |
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| 12/05/2008 22:37 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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Thanks to all the above posters.
I will have to leave the "How & When" info to someone a bit more knowledgable than myself Kipper. It is a lovely place though and im sure it'll be worth the trip.
Are you going on the "Weekend Thingy Majjig" that Little Ship is arranging?
| landlockedpirate |
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| 12/05/2008 22:40 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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Looks like a great idea, can us stinkies go, or is it strictly Rag and stick only
| MajorCatastrophe |
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| 12/05/2008 22:48 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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Quote:
I have had this problem with the kids in the same spot.
However one day at low water there were 3 or 4 large motor boats beached there for scrubbing off and cleaning.
Have a look yourself at low water one day?
The beach is quite steep and you can nose a small boat on if you are quick or on a rsing tide, keep the leg right up and stay in the middle of the small bay, there are submerged rocks to the right.
The other method that I have used is to nose up as close as you can/dare, cut the motor, step off the bow and hold and push the boat into postion on the sand, you will be wet up to your middle but you get to stay with boat and recover the POB!
Be careful of the rock platter on the left of the beach. These pics were taken Easter weekend last year - remember, hot, sunny and no wind?
This chap thought it would be a good idea to beach on the nice soft sand and didn't realise his mistake until the tide went out. The grinding he took as the tide came in was enough to make one weep.
| longjohnsilver |
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| 13/05/2008 03:23 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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What a beautiful place.
Sounds like a good time was had by all. That's what boating is all about.
| Take5 |
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| 13/05/2008 12:50 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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Thanks for that info (and illustration) Major , mucho appreciated.
LongJohnSilver - It is indeed a very nice place. Beautiful scenery.
| itsonlymoney |
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| 13/05/2008 13:08 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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Quote:
Saturday we had our first experience of "rafting up" I believe it's called?
A guide to rafting
ahem...
First bloke (ideally the biggest) drops anchor then deploys lots of fenders on preferred side. 2nd bloke comes along side at great speed. Wives, daughter’s girlfriends etc all climb onto bows and hang over stern and or sides grappling for ropes which are being badly thrown by other people’s wives daughters etc.
Wives, daughters etc then tie all the ropes including springs and make fast. Blokes then re tie all the ropes which have been deemed to be a total cock up, some to tight some to slack some on wrong cleats,
3rd bloke then decides if he likes 1st bloke or 2nd bloke the best before deciding which boat to come alongside asking via vhf or very loud (and optional) wife, daughters etc. When offer accepted 1st or 2nd bloke puts loads of fenders out and the steps above are followed again.
At the end with 3,4,5 or more boats successfully rafted a meeting of the blokes is called for in order to decide who has the biggest fridge with the most beer, who has the most nibbles onboard and most importantly who is the designated "smoking" boat.
The kids and the blokes then go for a swim and mess about in dinghies, canoes etc until its bbq time when copious amounts of food, beer and wine is consumed. The blokes do blokey things like drink beer, the kids do kiddie things and the girls do girlie things like moan about the fact that the wine (that you chose cos it was £2.99 from wall Somerfeild is shite.
At the end everyone except kids under 16 are pissed, someone falls in and in the morning you hope you are still where you anchored and not drifted 1/2 mile onto rocks.
This is a typical rafting technique I hope you found it informative and hope you feel ready for rafting.
Very Important Note
It is advisable to raft with at least one yacht of about 32' in length, therefore if you start drifting in the night his keel will hit before your outdrive does.
It is generally considered that one "sacrificial yacht" is good protection for up to 3 proper boats.
| Take5 |
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| 13/05/2008 13:17 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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buhahahahaha, great post. Thanks
| LittleShip |
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| 13/05/2008 13:54 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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T5 don't listen to him, you should never buy SWMBO cheap wine!
Anyway he's only a pond skipper.
Tom
| MajorCatastrophe |
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| 13/05/2008 13:58 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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Quote:Oh yes. That is so good.
It is generally considered that one "sacrificial yacht" is good protection for up to 3 proper boats.
| itsonlymoney |
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| 13/05/2008 14:07 |
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Quote:
Anyway he's only a pond skipper.
Tom
Yes thats true
The "Guide to rafting" as above, is a slightly ammended (for generic use) version from my original "Guide to rafting" previously posted some time ago which relates specifically to "Pond skipping" and if anyone is interested here is the original.PS- Never heard the term "Pond skipper" before ......... but I like it
A guide to rafting
ahem...
First bloke (ideally the biggest) drops anchor then deploys lots of fenders on preferred side. 2nd bloke comes along side at great speed. Wives, daughter’s girlfriends etc all climb onto bows and hang over stern and or sides grappling for ropes which are being badly thrown by other people’s wives daughters etc.
Wives, daughters etc then tie all the ropes including springs and make fast. Blokes then re tie all the ropes which have been deemed to be a total cock up, some to tight some to slack some on wrong cleats, he then drops anchor (ideally 2nd blokes anchor should be dropped then reverse onto 1st bloke etc therefore setting anchor correctly but hey its Windermere and we don’t necessarily do it right)
3rd bloke then decides if he likes 1st bloke or 2nd bloke the best before deciding which boat to come alongside asking via vhf or very loud (and optional) wife, daughters etc. When offer accepted 1st or 2nd bloke puts loads of fenders out and the steps above are followed again.
At the end with 3,4,5 or more boats successfully rafted a meeting of the blokes is called for in order to decide who has the biggest fridge with the most beer, who has the most nibbles onboard and most importantly who is the designated "smoking" boat.
The kids and the blokes then go for a swim and mess about in dinghies, canoes etc until its bbq time when copious amounts of food, beer and wine is precariously loaded onboard dinghies. Then everyone including the wives, girlfriends etc (who are pissed by now) row to the shore.
The blokes do blokey things like light fires and drink beer, the kids do kiddie things like scavenge for wood for said fire, and the girls do girlie things like moan about the fact that the fires to big and the lake warden might see it and bollock us (oooh scary) and that the burgers are no where near done and the wine (that you chose cos it was £2.99 from Somerfield is shite.
At the end everyone except kids under 16 are pissed, someone falls in on the way back and in the morning you hope you are still where you anchored and not drifted 1/2 mile onto LDNPA (lake district national park) car park.
This is a typical rafting technique and a typical weekend on Windermere.
I hope you found it informative and hope you feel ready for rafting.
Very Important Note
It is advisable to raft with at least one yacht of about 32' in length, therefore if you start drifting in the night his keel will hit before your outdrive does.
It is generally considered that one "sacrificial yacht" is good protection for up to 3 proper boats.
| Searush |
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| 13/05/2008 21:13 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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Quote:
Looks like a great idea, can us stinkies go, or is it strictly Rag and stick only
I think this got missed in the general fun. But YES! The whole point is to get everyone involved, Raggies, MoBo's, NoBoats, Yotties, everyone! Even have a go at rafting perhaps?
| landlockedpirate |
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| 13/05/2008 22:08 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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Have put my name down, and I've ordered some really cheap wine for wifey
| Kawasaki |
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| 14/05/2008 04:59 |
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Re: Long Weekend On The Water (North Wales - Photos Attached)
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