Alistairr
Well-Known Member
On Tuesday i had some business to attend to in Dublin, so thought I'd contact SonVida(Mick) and tell him I'd be in the area if he wanted to meet up for a pint or something. Mick said great, can you come a day earlier and if the weather is nice we'll go out for a spin.
So we flew over on Monday, checked into the Grand Hotel where we were staying and then made our way to the marina.
Can you see Son Vida2??
True to his word, he and June welcomed us aboard and made us a cuppa, we chatted for about an hour, and then Mick jumps up and says, lets go out!! Yippeee i thought!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
We made our way out of the marina into the very narrow channel through the yachts,
Mick jumps out the helm seat and says, Its all mine, just steer with the throttles.
What a brave man he is, I told him, I'd never helmed anything so big, let alone anything with 2 engines!!! And there was plenty i could hit and do some damage!!! the throttle responce is strange, its take a few seconds before the EVC does any thing, but the engine responce is great, pulling the boat straight back into line.
We eased out into the sea, and Mick says throw the throttles full forward, as soon as the turbos kick in, pull it back to 1600rpm, so we did, and within 2 or 3 seconds we're on the plane, and i'm pulling back the throttles to 1600rpm, yes it was THAT QUICK!!!! Absolutely amazing!!!
Surprisingly, with me a the helm, Mick was able to relax!!
I told Neil to get a wake shot with Mick in it, and he took this, he isn't very good with cameras!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
We headed south don't really know where too, i still haven't been able to look at a chart, but we saw a couple of porpoises, first time for me. We heading across the shipping lanes into Dublin port, and soon were faces with this!!
Which way now skipper??? Mick??? Mick say, I'm just going down to check on June! No you're bloody not, i thought!!!! But calmly said, “WELL DON'T BE LONG!!!!!”
He soon came back up, sat beside me and said, he thought he'd make me feel at home!!
Nice one, Mick /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
We were soon past the racing yachts, and Mick said lets pull into Dun Laoghaire Marina for a quick look at the new pontoons, so in we went.
Portside entrance to Dun laoghaire Harbour.
We had a good look around, then Neil(my Brother) was handed the helm, You're a very brave man, Mick, I don't even let him play with my little Sealine!!!/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
We headed for Sorrento Bay, passing through dalkey Sound. dalkey Island ahead and Muglins island to the left.
Soon we arrived at Sorrento Bay, with some of Irelands most expensive property in the background of this pic.
A stunning little bay, and we were even more stunned when a local stripped off and decided to take a dip in the Sea.
Mick expertly anchored SV2, and we all settled into the main cabin for a drink and a good chat.
Mick talking a lot about the differences between Flybridges and Sportscruisers!!
Don't worry Trev, i blanked it all out, but did hear the bit where Mick said he might like to change to an Absolute 52 /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
After a while we headed back north again, this time Mick at the helm.
Passing Dalkey, taken from Dalkey Sound on the southern extremity of Dublin Bay,
with i think is Sinead O'Conners house at the very top of the pic.
Crossing the shipping channel into Dublin Bay, some big boats going in and out, this ferry, arriving from Holyhead i think with a mighty big bow wave!
Powering on we were soon passing the Baily Lighthouse on Howth peninsula which is the northern most extremity of Dublin Bay. With that big radar which is one of Micks creations./forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Next stop was The Stack off Ireland's Eye, quite an impressive site, and I thought Mick was mad taking us so close to it, but local knowledge is good and Mick knew it was perfectly ok, even saying he once edged right up too it, and his daughter being able to touch the rock face from the bow of the boat!!
The Stack is only a few miles from Malahide marina, and back upto 23knts, we spotted a S38 Sportscruiser coming round the other side of the Stack, so Mick puts full throttles on and chases after him back to the Marina.
A quick wake shot as we headed home.
And then we were back safe and sound in the marina.
Cricky, that is a bit too long, and maybe a bit too many pics, Sorry!
But i had a wonderful day, a great experience for me, I'd never been out on a Flybridge before, let alone a boat of that size(Fairline Phantom 50).
It was another world away from my little Sealine S24, firstly is was very quiet, very little engine noise when on the flybridge, and cruising around 24knts, seemed like we were hardly moving, compared to my S24 where its very noisey, you feel like you are thundering along when only doing 24knts, and anything other than flat calm, you feel as if you're riding rodeo, where as the Phantom 50 was so smooth, even crossing the wakes of the Seacat, ferries and the Sealine S38 when doing 27knts, it just ploughed through it!!!
Mick tells me its down to the weight of the boat, being a 20t boat, it takes everything in its stride. I asked about how a 39 sportscruiser/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif would ride in comparison, and he said very well, but likely to get a bit more slamming, cause its not quite as heavy.
I'm very glad my wife wasn't with us, as after a day like that on a boat like that, she wouldn't settle for anything else, other than big, Flybridge and Pario Doors. I on the other hand, loved the flybridge boat, but still love the thought of Sportscruisers, I'm glad i don't have £200k to spend as the desicison would be very difficult!!
Anyway, A MASSIVE thanks to Mick and June for entertaining us for the day, It was great to finally meet with you, and to spend an afternoon with a lovely couple.
I do hope you make up the Clyde next year, then you can meet Kirsty and Callum, and I can try and repay some of your generocity.
Before i go, I tried video for the first time, take a look and let me know what you think, Sorry about the sound.
Hope i didn't bore you all too much,
Cheers
Al.
P.S, A quick note about a couple of pics, some of you sharp eyed people will see the odd wire hanging down, Mick was having some new electronics fitted, but cleared the workmen off the
So we flew over on Monday, checked into the Grand Hotel where we were staying and then made our way to the marina.
Can you see Son Vida2??
True to his word, he and June welcomed us aboard and made us a cuppa, we chatted for about an hour, and then Mick jumps up and says, lets go out!! Yippeee i thought!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
We made our way out of the marina into the very narrow channel through the yachts,
Mick jumps out the helm seat and says, Its all mine, just steer with the throttles.
What a brave man he is, I told him, I'd never helmed anything so big, let alone anything with 2 engines!!! And there was plenty i could hit and do some damage!!! the throttle responce is strange, its take a few seconds before the EVC does any thing, but the engine responce is great, pulling the boat straight back into line.
We eased out into the sea, and Mick says throw the throttles full forward, as soon as the turbos kick in, pull it back to 1600rpm, so we did, and within 2 or 3 seconds we're on the plane, and i'm pulling back the throttles to 1600rpm, yes it was THAT QUICK!!!! Absolutely amazing!!!
Surprisingly, with me a the helm, Mick was able to relax!!
I told Neil to get a wake shot with Mick in it, and he took this, he isn't very good with cameras!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
We headed south don't really know where too, i still haven't been able to look at a chart, but we saw a couple of porpoises, first time for me. We heading across the shipping lanes into Dublin port, and soon were faces with this!!
Which way now skipper??? Mick??? Mick say, I'm just going down to check on June! No you're bloody not, i thought!!!! But calmly said, “WELL DON'T BE LONG!!!!!”
He soon came back up, sat beside me and said, he thought he'd make me feel at home!!
Nice one, Mick /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
We were soon past the racing yachts, and Mick said lets pull into Dun Laoghaire Marina for a quick look at the new pontoons, so in we went.
Portside entrance to Dun laoghaire Harbour.
We had a good look around, then Neil(my Brother) was handed the helm, You're a very brave man, Mick, I don't even let him play with my little Sealine!!!/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
We headed for Sorrento Bay, passing through dalkey Sound. dalkey Island ahead and Muglins island to the left.
Soon we arrived at Sorrento Bay, with some of Irelands most expensive property in the background of this pic.
A stunning little bay, and we were even more stunned when a local stripped off and decided to take a dip in the Sea.
Mick expertly anchored SV2, and we all settled into the main cabin for a drink and a good chat.
Mick talking a lot about the differences between Flybridges and Sportscruisers!!
Don't worry Trev, i blanked it all out, but did hear the bit where Mick said he might like to change to an Absolute 52 /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
After a while we headed back north again, this time Mick at the helm.
Passing Dalkey, taken from Dalkey Sound on the southern extremity of Dublin Bay,
with i think is Sinead O'Conners house at the very top of the pic.
Crossing the shipping channel into Dublin Bay, some big boats going in and out, this ferry, arriving from Holyhead i think with a mighty big bow wave!
Powering on we were soon passing the Baily Lighthouse on Howth peninsula which is the northern most extremity of Dublin Bay. With that big radar which is one of Micks creations./forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Next stop was The Stack off Ireland's Eye, quite an impressive site, and I thought Mick was mad taking us so close to it, but local knowledge is good and Mick knew it was perfectly ok, even saying he once edged right up too it, and his daughter being able to touch the rock face from the bow of the boat!!
The Stack is only a few miles from Malahide marina, and back upto 23knts, we spotted a S38 Sportscruiser coming round the other side of the Stack, so Mick puts full throttles on and chases after him back to the Marina.
A quick wake shot as we headed home.
And then we were back safe and sound in the marina.
Cricky, that is a bit too long, and maybe a bit too many pics, Sorry!
But i had a wonderful day, a great experience for me, I'd never been out on a Flybridge before, let alone a boat of that size(Fairline Phantom 50).
It was another world away from my little Sealine S24, firstly is was very quiet, very little engine noise when on the flybridge, and cruising around 24knts, seemed like we were hardly moving, compared to my S24 where its very noisey, you feel like you are thundering along when only doing 24knts, and anything other than flat calm, you feel as if you're riding rodeo, where as the Phantom 50 was so smooth, even crossing the wakes of the Seacat, ferries and the Sealine S38 when doing 27knts, it just ploughed through it!!!
Mick tells me its down to the weight of the boat, being a 20t boat, it takes everything in its stride. I asked about how a 39 sportscruiser/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif would ride in comparison, and he said very well, but likely to get a bit more slamming, cause its not quite as heavy.
I'm very glad my wife wasn't with us, as after a day like that on a boat like that, she wouldn't settle for anything else, other than big, Flybridge and Pario Doors. I on the other hand, loved the flybridge boat, but still love the thought of Sportscruisers, I'm glad i don't have £200k to spend as the desicison would be very difficult!!
Anyway, A MASSIVE thanks to Mick and June for entertaining us for the day, It was great to finally meet with you, and to spend an afternoon with a lovely couple.
I do hope you make up the Clyde next year, then you can meet Kirsty and Callum, and I can try and repay some of your generocity.
Before i go, I tried video for the first time, take a look and let me know what you think, Sorry about the sound.
Hope i didn't bore you all too much,
Cheers
Al.
P.S, A quick note about a couple of pics, some of you sharp eyed people will see the odd wire hanging down, Mick was having some new electronics fitted, but cleared the workmen off the
Shall I mail you a Fairline jacket like the one Mick is wearing, to help you in your conversion? The Fairline bods gave me a load for free 
