Mediterranean Raft-Up

[CLOUD9]

Well it took 9 months from seeing the 'Quadcopter' post from JFM, but yesterday the ambition of rafting up with friends in the clear waters of the mediterranean was realised. Thanks to all who gave us the encouragement and advice to get the job done!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mvqar_tlQr8

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Nice!

 

[jfm]

Good going! That must have been such a satisfying day after all the work you've put into the Med move:encouragement:
Es Trenc? - hard to tell from the photo
Is second from right (Targa 62) "HTL" with name blanked out? Give them best regards from Match and all her crew. Yellow Seabob looks nice - the Barkes can do you a good deal on one of those

 

[petem]

Yup, I'm 'well jel'.

Perhaps HTL is on a sickie and is lying low!

 

[BruceK]

I'm going to have to stop looking at these Med pics. That looks awesome. :encouragement:

 

[Nick_H]

Great pic. I can feel a "most number of boats in a raft" challenge coming on ....

 

[sprocker]

Fantastic photo. A fitting end to all the time and effort you put into getting there!

 

[andy59]

Great pic. I can feel a "most number of boats in a raft" challenge coming on ....

Is that a "med" versus " Solent " gauntlet being thrown down Nick ?

 

[AIDY]

Nice!

Don't think so.. Must be some where in Mallorca

 

[KevB]

even more reason not to contemplate a boat in the Med if it takes that much effort to meet up with friends. We raft bigger than that most weekend in the boating universe of the Solent...

 

[Cheery]

Yes, but you are huddled together to stay warm!

 

[Nick_H]

Is that a "med" versus " Solent " gauntlet being thrown down Nick ?

It's an Antibes posse vs St Carles vs Cala D'or vs Solent vs N Wales gauntlet, but it has to be an open water raft, rather than tied to a pontoon (if I throw down the gauntlet, then I get to write the rules )

 

[KevB]

Yes, but you are huddled together to stay warm!

:encouragement:

 

[NGM]

that looks great ....

love to try it, can someone explain the best logistics, I can imagine it's hard to get all bathing platforms aligned, get anchors dropped in right place etc, best for the biggest boat to drop first, or all pretty straight forward ?

 

[KevB]

that looks great ....

love to try it, can someone explain the best logistics, I can imagine it's hard to get all bathing platforms aligned, get anchors dropped in right place etc, best for the biggest boat to drop first, or all pretty straight forward ?

I'd imagine that with not much of a tide they'd just hang off one anchor and raft to the centre boat.

 

[Whitelighter]

It's an Antibes posse vs St Carles vs Cala D'or vs Solent vs N Wales gauntlet, but it has to be an open water raft, rather than tied to a pontoon (if I throw down the gauntlet, then I get to write the rules )

I accept on behalf of the Sant Carles rabble

 

[jfm]

Whats' the Mallorca posse's deal on courtesy flags Cloud9? Middle boat = sort of ok I think, two on the left have none, two on the right are both flying c/flag on the port side.

 

[BruceK]

Let me round up the pirates in N Wales and see if we can improve on the Med crowd. Getting that lot all together in a single rendezvous is bound to raise alarms.

 

[jfm]

that looks great ....

love to try it, can someone explain the best logistics, I can imagine it's hard to get all bathing platforms aligned, get anchors dropped in right place etc, best for the biggest boat to drop first, or all pretty straight forward ?

Pretty straightforward. Usually all the boats drop an anchor, and it is helpful if first boat can drop a long length of chain then others can drop a bit less, but it's not too important because you'd only do this on clam days anyway. Lining up swim platofrms and trnasoms is easy, as you ties the boats together using springs as well as breast lines. If any boats have zero speed stabilisation, it is better switched on (provide fin clashes can be avoided, which usually they can). If there is a stern line involved like in Cala Gran, then only one is needed (on 2nd boat from right in this video and 2nd from left in stills, hard to see, there is fender hanging on it). You can spot most of the Barke brothers in all the pics below

 

[NGM]

Pretty straightforward. Usually all the boats drop an anchor, and it is helpful if first boat can drop a long length of chain then others can drop a bit less, but it's not too important because you'd only do this on clam days anyway. Lining up swim platofrms and trnasoms is easy, as you ties the boats together using springs as well as breast lines. If any boats have zero speed stabilisation, it is better switched on (provide fin clashes can be avoided, which usually they can). If there is a stern line involved like in Cala Gran, then only one is needed (on 2nd boat from right in this video and 2nd from left in stills, hard to see, there is fender hanging on it). You can spot most of the Barke brothers in all the pics below

thanks