Rathlin Island gliding site

[Richard Boyd]

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.








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[Fred]

Hi Richard,

Is it the Island you see from the Giant Causeway ?  :?:

[andrew wallace]

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  

[andrew wallace]

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:

[Fred]

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 !  :!:  :-#

[JohnPearson]

Hi Richard

Sounds like a plan, count me in!

[billscottni]

ROAD TRIIIIIIIIIIIIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Richard Boyd]

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.








Richard

[Fred]

I'm in !  

[Fred]

By the way  
Me flying at the Giant Causeway... (Well, you can barely see the glider... Need a better camera!    )



And the map, location of the Island  

[Richard Boyd]

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 !





I always keep the DL50 in the car just incase I get a few minutes to fly.

Richard

[andrew wallace]

i would like us to set a date for next year so i can get it in my diary  
maybe spend the weekend covering that whole area

i play in a band and play most saturday nights   so next year i'm for doing a good of flying because for the past 4 or 5 years i've missed so much  

[Richard Boyd]

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

[billscottni]

What about the weekend after the North west?

Checked the web and the provisional date for the NW200 is 21st May 2011

[Richard Boyd]

That date is good for me !

Richard