RogerRat
Well-Known Member
Finally- Brought New \'Rat Boat\' back today.
Well, as some of you already knew, especially the Wokingham group. There was a new 'Rat Boat' in the pipeline. Finally decided with some help from some friends, both on here and at Sparkes and agreed a deal over Xmas.
The new (to me) one is a Fairline Targa 40. As Jez let on last week, she is called 'Houston' as in 'Mission Control'. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You know, one of these...
There were a few things to be installed, like Genny and Eberspacher before collection but she was ready for last weekend but we were held up by the poor weather.
Eager to get her back, we were looking for a break in the weather to get down to Weymouth on 'Panache' and return in 'Houston'. Monday night, it blew F8 through Sparkes Marina until after midnight with the promise of a high ridge arriving for the morning. Surprisingly, it did and we set off at 9:00 am on Tuesday in company with Simon and Tracey who also have a Targa 40 called 'TYKO' and played a pretty strong part in our final decision to get one.
We set off in light airs from the North wondering if Christchurch Bay and St Albans head would be rough and messy from the winds that had been blowing for over a week. The Solent was flat as flat could be and the bay was quite good too, the overfalls of the the head were naff and we by-passed them about 6 miles out. The cute bit was making good time from St. Albans head and arriving for the 12 noon bridge at Weymouth.
After some formalities, we transferred our personal bits, spent the night in Weymouth and woke upto F5 S Westerly with rain and poor Vis. Still well left at 10:00 am this morning and made it back to Sparkes at around 13:15 hrs, taking it fairly gently at 22knots ish, lovely rolling sea across the bay and loads of spray, sorry no pics, I was too busy holding on and looking for wood! Didn't see any but there was loads of thick kelpy weed in the Needles channel and up towards Yarmouth.
When we got back to Sparkes, it was blowing F5 Westerly at high water, which makes it the toughest for me to get back in my berth...
Guess what? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I found out that I can't drive outdrives again, especially in a confined space and by taking it too carefully, got blown onto the lee shore, in this case the long wall about 25' from my berth! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Which is where I left her, no doubt I'll get more ribbing for that as well. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Anyway - she's a great boat with a performance to match, courtesy of D6 - 350s' and we're looking forward to as many happy miles in her as 'Panache'. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Well, as some of you already knew, especially the Wokingham group. There was a new 'Rat Boat' in the pipeline. Finally decided with some help from some friends, both on here and at Sparkes and agreed a deal over Xmas.
The new (to me) one is a Fairline Targa 40. As Jez let on last week, she is called 'Houston' as in 'Mission Control'. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You know, one of these...
There were a few things to be installed, like Genny and Eberspacher before collection but she was ready for last weekend but we were held up by the poor weather.
Eager to get her back, we were looking for a break in the weather to get down to Weymouth on 'Panache' and return in 'Houston'. Monday night, it blew F8 through Sparkes Marina until after midnight with the promise of a high ridge arriving for the morning. Surprisingly, it did and we set off at 9:00 am on Tuesday in company with Simon and Tracey who also have a Targa 40 called 'TYKO' and played a pretty strong part in our final decision to get one.
We set off in light airs from the North wondering if Christchurch Bay and St Albans head would be rough and messy from the winds that had been blowing for over a week. The Solent was flat as flat could be and the bay was quite good too, the overfalls of the the head were naff and we by-passed them about 6 miles out. The cute bit was making good time from St. Albans head and arriving for the 12 noon bridge at Weymouth.
After some formalities, we transferred our personal bits, spent the night in Weymouth and woke upto F5 S Westerly with rain and poor Vis. Still well left at 10:00 am this morning and made it back to Sparkes at around 13:15 hrs, taking it fairly gently at 22knots ish, lovely rolling sea across the bay and loads of spray, sorry no pics, I was too busy holding on and looking for wood! Didn't see any but there was loads of thick kelpy weed in the Needles channel and up towards Yarmouth.
When we got back to Sparkes, it was blowing F5 Westerly at high water, which makes it the toughest for me to get back in my berth...
Guess what? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I found out that I can't drive outdrives again, especially in a confined space and by taking it too carefully, got blown onto the lee shore, in this case the long wall about 25' from my berth! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Which is where I left her, no doubt I'll get more ribbing for that as well. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Anyway - she's a great boat with a performance to match, courtesy of D6 - 350s' and we're looking forward to as many happy miles in her as 'Panache'. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
