launching from Porthleven

[Ben]

Does anybody have any experience with lauching a Rib from porthleven? Few things i wouldnt mind having a look at in mounts bay on this side, its a lot closer drive than penzance , and a shorter trip at sea but people rarely seem to use it?

[Razorbill]

Iv` never launched at Porthleven Ben but I`m sure Gifford used to launch the Yellow Greenhouse there years back?
The contact I have is for Harbour Master, Mr Philip Ward 01326 574270
Give me a shout if you`re going especially if its the JR Park? I`ll be home in 2-3 weeks time.

[Popeye]

Ben, I lived in Porthleven for 15 years before moving up here so I know it well.
We used to regularly launch the club (7m) RIB there. There is plenty of room to launch (even when the gig is there). Transit time is a lot shorter to the Park/ Heidrun etc but the drawback is launch & recovery around HW. There are no hard & fast times it all depends on the state of the tide, obviously at springs you have greater leeway. If we were only doing one dive we would launch at least an hour before HW, dive & recover an hour or so after. if conditions were good and we did a second dive on the Anson or picked up a few gold coins on the dollar wreck (I wish!) we would drop someone off at P'leven to drive the trailer to Pz to recover. One thing is for certain, if you miss the tide at the slip on your return you have either got a very long wait or a trip to Pz.

[Ben]

cheers for that popeye, i will scope it out before hand and pick the tides, hoping to be out dived and back within 3 hours, not sure if it will work but its worth a try. My Rib doesnt need much water to recover. Else it will be a drive to Penzance! is there anywhere else along the way...?

Fancyied giving a few of the wrecks a go in mounts bay, JR park plus we once dived a wreck called the Ibis? that wasnt far out, around the 40m depth i think but it was a long time ago, fancied giving that another go.

Simon- i will give you a shout when im planning on heading out, but i cant dive till about 4 more weeks.

[Popeye]

Pz is really your only option Ben. If you go the other way Mullion is possible, but in my opinion is a nightmare, too tight, too steep & too much (dosh).

The Heidrun used to be known as the Ibis until about 5(?) years ago when someone recovered the engine makers plate. The Ibis is now further south and deeper - I haven't dived it. The Heidrun is worth a dive, though it has been flattened like most of them out there in that sort of depth. Check out wrecksite it will give you the numbers for both.

[Ben]

The wreck i dived was fairly flat and on a rough rocky seabed. 2 big boilers with one of them being opened up to expose the steam tubes inside.

Pity to have to use Pz as you have to drive all the way down there only to roar all the way back up in the bay.
I guess it could be done by launching on the end of the high tide, diving over the low then come back in on the start of the next high tide? could do some shallow stuff on the way back in as there would be plenty of time to kill!

[Divingtaz]

ben let me k when you are going out i will also come along with you

[Ben]

yep will give you a shout.
Just have to change wheel bearings and propeller on the rib and its ready. I have even bought an auxillary engine now so there wont be any paddling home!

[Divingtaz]

what size is your rib

[Ben]

its an avon 5.5m, its a bit of a state to be honest but it works!