GliderIreland - Ireland RC Forum - Flying Model forum in Ireland
Gliders => Slope Sites in Ireland => Topic started by: Richard Boyd on October 19, 2010, 08:13:20 AM
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Off the North Coast of Northern Ireland is one of the most stunning magical places in Ireland, Rathlin Island.
For 2011 this is one of my places to fly !
I used to visit the island to scuba dive on the many deep wrecks around its coast line and after thinking about a road trip to the Isle of Man, I thought well Rathlin is on my door step and ferry crossings are £10 return so it is a cheaper alternative to Isle of Man lol.
The coast line of Rathlin is mainly cliffs and it is open to all wind directions !
Anyone that is planning a trip up North then this has to be a place worth visiting.
I am hoping some one will join me on the trip !
Andrew it is only a few miles down the road for you lol
By the way Andrew and his club mate flew a powered plane from Northern Ireland to Scotland and as far as I remember they pasted Rathlin on route !
All the money raised went to the RNLI (LIFE BOAT), there was a fantastic video made of the crossing, I have watched it many times and if anyone wants one than Andrew will I am sure help them out.
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Richard%20Boyd/Rathlin_island.gif)
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Richard%20Boyd/rathlin%20island.jpg)
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Richard%20Boyd/rathlin%20island%20rathlin%20island01.jpg)
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Hi Richard,
Is it the Island you see from the Giant Causeway ? :?:
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that's a good thought richard
maybe worth while going over for the day some time and take a glider and see what works
i know around May and June would be the busiest time on rathland cause thats when all the birds are about
the people of rathlin are lookin for the club to go over again in the future to raise some more money
we are thinkin about flyin the model round the whole island this time :D
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hi fred
yes that's the one
it takes about 15 minutes on the fast ferry and about an hour and a half on the car ferry from ballycastle :lol:
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Ah ok, I was wondering if there was a way to get to the island when I was flying at the Causeway!
Then I went to that stupid rope bridge thing ! :!: :-#
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Hi Richard
Sounds like a plan, count me in!
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ROAD TRIIIIIIIIIIIIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Thanks guys for the great response and encouragement.
Now to work out a date !
April /May are usually the winder months for us in the North,
This last few years May has produced Northerly winds !
Let us know your thoughts please.
Also it would be great to try some other brill slopes on the Coast like Torr head etc.
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Richard%20Boyd/white%20rocks.jpg)
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Richard%20Boyd/north%20coast.jpg)
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Richard%20Boyd/tor%20head%20and%20coast.jpg)
Richard
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I'm in ! :D
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By the way :D
Me flying at the Giant Causeway... (Well, you can barely see the glider... Need a better camera! :( )
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Fred/gcauseway.jpg)
And the map, location of the Island :D
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Fred/gcmap.jpg)
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Hi Fred, you will enjoy the trip !!!!!!
Thanks for joining us.
White Park Bay is one of my favourite parts of the coast.
In a North Wind you will find no better lift on the coast !
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Richard%20Boyd/DSC00930-1.JPG)
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Richard%20Boyd/DSC00882-1.JPG)
I always keep the DL50 in the car just incase I get a few minutes to fly.
Richard
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i would like us to set a date for next year so i can get it in my diary :D
maybe spend the weekend covering that whole area
i play in a band and play most saturday nights 8) so next year i'm for doing a good of flying because for the past 4 or 5 years i've missed so much :D
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Hi Andrew, next year I too intend to fly a lot more as 4 times a week just isn't enough lol.
OK , the only dates I see that would not suit the North Coast would be the North West Weekend of motorbike racing, usually this weekend is around the 2nd weekend in the month of May.
Slope feast on the Slopes of the Sperrins is in the events calendar for the 16th-17th April.
If we all state dates that suit us then we can get a common date to suit us all.
Richard
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What about the weekend after the North west?
Checked the web and the provisional date for the NW200 is 21st May 2011
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That date is good for me !
Richard
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Yes, so far O.K. for me
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:lol: :lol: that might be imac weekend
but i'll be gliding :D
i've it down in the diary :clap: so it's official :D
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fine with me.I'll put it in my diary and start praying to the wind gods :D :shock:
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Great !!!!!!
If anyone else is interested then your very welcome to join the expedition !
New time tables for the Ferry are issued in January, and we will need to sort out transport on the island.
I have full faith in the powers of prayer so be prepared for BIG WINDS !
Richard
it would be lovely for my mate Keith to join us !
Joe cancel all tours etc.
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Hmmmmm. Just looked the journey up on the AA web site. From my house to Port Stewart = 5.5 hours driving. :shock: Assuming no hold ups and that I travel at the max permitted speed limit.
Look, :!: I know nothing about the Giant’s Causeway apart from it’s where a Giant used to walk across to Scotland in a bygone era. Strangely, I don’t remember anything about it. :?:.......... (I must have been away at the time. :roll: )
Where exactly is it, on an island or on the mainland?
What are the landing areas like? i.e. are they “foamy” or “mouldy” landing zones?
Last question, for the time being,……Are the natives friendly?
K.
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Hi Keith, the natives are very very friendly on the North Coast !!!!!
Landing areas are grass !
Rathlin is an island, very famous place for its birds ! scuba diving as there are lots of German and British WW wrecks around the coast, also Spanish Armanda wrecks.
The late Tommy Cecil made the area famous by rescuing Richard Branson on his cross Atlantic voyage in a hot air balloon.
Branson built a visitors center / hostel on the Island as a thank you to Tommy !
2minutes into this video you will see Rathlin Island appear in the distance.
If all else fails we have penty of slopes to fly in the area.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/v/r84qwodsRIw[/youtube]
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That is why I love my wee country !
Sloper paradise ! went the sun shines lol
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"The coast line of Rathlin is mainly cliffs and it is open to all wind directions !"
ALL directions! HHHMmmmmmm :o :) :D
Let me see if I’ve got this right :?:
The natives are friendly. (check!)
The island has slopes facing in all directions (check!)
Grass landing areas. (check!) :D
Seems the only thing missing are the dancing girls!
Just to help me get this clear gents, …..
The idea is to fly over the weekend of the 21-22May?
Are you guys intending to stay on Rathlin island, or on the mainland and commute to the island each day?
Oh, one more thing, can we get to top of all the slopes?
( I’m thinking it’s no good having slopes facing all directions if we can’t fly off them)
I'm feeling myself geting drawn into this,.........Might not be able to wait until May 2011!
K.
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I was getting interested.... :D
Until I discovered that it's 605km and 7 hours 37 minutes driving from here (Bantry) :( :(
Ron
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All I can say gents is that the trip to Rathlin is an adventure !
What it has in store for us remains to be seen.
I understand about the distance,
It will be a fun trip for who ever wants to join us.
Richard
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Hi Richard,
Yes it will be a great trip.
Looking forward to hearing all about it even if I don't manage to get there.
And it's now on my list of places to see. And fly 8) :lol:
Ron