A convoy of big RIBs on wheels, in Dorset

Greenheart

Greenheart

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Driving across Dorset today in hideous weather, I saw at least ten very big RIBs on trailers, being driven westward...

...does anybody have any idea why? It occurred to me that they might be for press/media coverage of the Olympics at Weymouth, or loaded with 'bouncers' to keep interested parties at a distance from the racing.
 
dancrane said:
Driving across Dorset today in hideous weather, I saw at least ten very big RIBs on trailers, being driven westward...

...does anybody have any idea why? It occurred to me that they might be for press/media coverage of the Olympics at Weymouth, or loaded with 'bouncers' to keep interested parties at a distance from the racing.
Click to expand...

Rib raft based in Yeovil had a large order to supply RIBs for the Olympics, maybe some of those being delivered?
 
Much more mundane I suspect. The Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta currently on in Weymouth/Portland. Good luck to em in this weather!
 
It occurred to me after posting, that it's still six weeks till the Olympics start. Renting at least ten thirty-foot RIBs for such a long run-up, would cost plenty. Though they might recover some costs by racing the RIBs, with paying passengers, signing safety-waivers. :rolleyes:

Could be more entertaining than sailing...

Either way, it was quite a convoy on the road. Not just a handful of friends. These were big RIBs.
 
a) Were they identical?

b) What direction were they going, on what road?

Lots of ribs needed for the Olympics. Race committee work (mark laying), spectator boat control, security patrolling, etc etc.
 
SWMBO was driving; I was snoozing through the mesmeric effect of windscreen-wipers and the foggy green view beyond.

I'm fairly certain it was the A35 or A31, between 11a.m. and 3p.m., and they were definitely westbound.

All (apparently) identical - a central row of dual seats for passengers - probably they were ten or twelve seaters, with (I think) one gigantic outboard each.

Looked like enough kit for an attempt on the Falklands!
 
Then my guess would be spectator control. Anything race committee related would have been there already for SfG.

6 weeks extra rental (assuming rented) is a drop in the bucket in the scheme of things - sad, but true. Means plenty of time for some rehersal.
 
Having been based at WPNSA for a couple of years and sailed around and through the Sail for Gold regattas this week I would think that WPNSA have enough RIBS to cover all eventualities. They also have employed the local fishing charter and dive boats for committee boats.

That said they may be for the press and media as there was a press briefing for the Olympics sometime over the last couple of days at WPNSA - I saw the notice when trying to dry out yesterday having come in from sailing and feeling just like the dinghy sailors - soaked to the skin despite the waterproofs.

BTW the Sail for Gold regatta was a fantastic sight; dinghys of all classes spread across Weymouth Bay and out into the Channel as far as they eye could see. And the marshalls were great at getting us through what appreated to be total mayhem of race courses overlapping and visibility so poor that you could not see the marks!
 
We stopped for fish and chips in Weymouth yesterday. A chilly, umbrella-wrecking minute or two on the promenade was as much as we wanted - lots of dinghies just visible offshore, fighting hard against a fresh breeze and what my dad would call 'pissistent rain'...

...as I remarked to SWMBO, it's the sort of rotten weather that Ainslie will be accustomed to, but which won't gladden Olympic teams from Australia and Southern California!

I've not yet established how far offshore the racing is likely to be. Anybody know?
 
RIBs

My guess is that they were to be used for the olympic yacht racing.
We just had the world championships in Fremantle last December the qualifying events but somewhat larger than the olympics in terms of competitor numbers. 1000 competitors.
The government kicked in to buy 22, 6metre RIBs with 70 HP 4 stroke OBs on licensed road trailers. These were mostly used for umpires and judges. Another 250 private power boats were borrowed for the occasion. Starting with 6 big 40+ ft power boats used for starting crews 6 largish boats used for pin end boats (there were 6 courses). Plus for each course a rescue boat a pin laying boat a finish boat and 2 course marshalls. (to chase off the spectators) Not that they were needed. Add to these about 20 police, port authority and sea rescue boats.

6 different clubs and or pairs of clubs provided the volunteer race management people. About 50 from each club. For the 16 days of events. The pay off being that some of the RIBs were donated to the clubs some getting 2. Others went to other state yachting associations. Overall about 1000 volunteers were involved.
Just as a matter of interest. Some of my new found friends from the worlds have already moved to Weymouth to help run the olympics. olewill
 
Without going into any details (for obvious reasons) the security at Weymouth and in other parts of the country is large and complex. The RIBS could easily be part of the Weymouth security as a LARGE number of boats with various people with various bits of expertise will be involved. All this requires training and this started some time ago. I only know because some of my people are involved.
 
dancrane said:
Driving across Dorset today in hideous weather, I saw at least ten very big RIBs on trailers, being driven westward...

...does anybody have any idea why? It occurred to me that they might be for press/media coverage of the Olympics at Weymouth, or loaded with 'bouncers' to keep interested parties at a distance from the racing.
Click to expand...

If I were a betting man....either Sail for Gold or returning from the Thames Pageant as there were shed loads of RIBS on rescue duty
 
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