A Phenomenal Two Day Pasty Run

OCRDA bank holiday weekender @ RIBs ONLY - Home of the Rigid Inflatable Boat
Three of the fourteen participating RIBs – all photos by Aaron Squirrell and Tornado Tom

Fourteen RIBs and Two Jet Skis at the Pasty Run

The 14th Annual Pasty Run and Hunt took place during the weekend of 23rd and 24th May 2026 across Devon and Cornwall waters.

The event has grown significantly over recent years and is now probably the South Coast’s largest RIB gathering, outside Easdale in Scotland.

The event originally began after the Nacho Run, organised through Ribnet, where Hampshire crews enjoyed nachos while Cornish crews preferred pasties instead.

Over the years, RIBs of every size and style gathered together, cruising Cornish waters while searching enthusiastically for the famous elusive pasty.

For the first time, the 2026 event included an overnight stop, travelling east into Devon instead of remaining within Cornwall throughout entirely.

Fourteen RIBs and two jet skis travelled from Plymouth Breakwater Fort to Torquay, stopping overnight through Salcombe and Dartmouth during the social cruise.

The RIBs

The cruise was led by a Highfield Patrol 600, while an impressive Highfield Sport 700 followed behind, bringing up the rear.

Between the Highfields were RIBs of many shapes and sizes, including a 4m Tornado, Atlantic 21, and solid 7.4m Delta prominently.

Other boats included a Ribcraft, Ribtec, several Brigs, an Osprey, a Valiant, Avon Super Sport, and an X-Pro among the fleet.

Two Sea-Doos joined the adventure, although a third jet ski, a Yamaha, unfortunately failed to reach the starting location before departure.

Continue reading below the photo gallery.

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Boot 2026: Three Countries, One Boat Show

Boot 2026: Three Countries, One Boat Show @ RIBs ONLY - Home of the Rigid Inflatable Boat

How We Got to Boot 2026

Another post focused on boats already. This story concentrates more on the journey than the displays.

This is true unless you study the photographs.

Boot Düsseldorf is the iconic marine show where manufacturers launch boats, dive equipment, sailing yachts, ribs, superyachts, and marine toys.

It had been on our list for years, and this time the diary finally aligned, so we went.

Travel and Stopover

Flying Exeter to Amsterdam with KLM cost more than easy Jet from Bristol but was far more convenient and comfortable.

KLM offered great flight times, generous baggage allowance, and complimentary drinks and cheese sandwiches.

Parking at the Grange Hotel meant a front-door drop-off, avoiding a long walk from remote car parks.

An overnight stay in Amsterdam ensured a relaxed evening and an early, stress-free start.

The hotel was clean, affordable, kettle-free, and fifteen minutes from the station.

Tourist tax was payable by card at reception, despite rooms being prepaid.

Coffin-style accommodation tempted us briefly but was fully booked.

Boot Düsseldorf Experience

The intercity train quickly took us to Düsseldorf, followed by a short tram ride to the Boot 2026 exhibition station.

Our first stop was the Highfield stand to see the newly launched ADV9.

The ADV9 builds on the ADV7 and is Highfield’s first cabin boat.

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Cornish Gog Winter Series 2025 in Cornwall

Cornish Gog Winter Series 2025 in Cornwall @ RIBs ONLY - Home of the Rigid Inflatable Boat
Highfield Patrol 600

1. A Quieter November on the Water

After another great race season supporting powerboats, November sees a quieter approach to race support.

It is more relaxed, focusing on Cornish Pilot Gigs.

Bude Gig Club is organizing a 3rd winter series.

It made sense to invite the Highfield Patrol 600 again. It performed well in the first 2 years.

2. Clubs Gather for the Winter League

Clubs from as far away as Derby attended the first of this year’s winter league.

They joined 11 other clubs at Roadford Reservoir. It turned out to be the only dry day of the week!

They started early. This ensured a simple setup as they were on site when the sun rose.

This gave some great images and views across the lake. It promised a good day ahead.

3. Highfield Patrol 600: Three Roles, One Boat

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OCRDA Race Weekend Highfield Patrol 600 Stand-by

Ocrda Race Weekend @ RIBs ONLY - Home of the Rigid Inflatable Boat

OCRDA Race Primary Rescue Team

What a weekend afloat that turned out to be!

We headed off to Torquay for the final round of the OCRDA powerboat racing with a very sketchy forecast and three fleets of jet bikes, pro cats and OCR boat (website).

The Plan: A Media Boat Becomes a Rescue Unit

The Highfield Patrol 600 (see specs below) was originally planned to be a media boat with two for the country’s finest aquatic photographers on board, Anthony from Iceman Images and Will from Snap.

Soon, however with the conditions it was apparent that the Patrol 600 would be use das primary rescue boat with the paramedic aboard and they picture boys shipped off to another willing host!

The rear locker was soon filled with emergency medical equipment alongside the spare clothing and emergency kit and a long board stowed alongside the console.

It was held in place buy a couple of fenders.

Fully Equipped for Safety

The rear locker also has a shower unit within which takes up quite a bit of the space.

It may well be removed for next season as the locker is carrying more and more equipment at events.

Wind, Waves, and Jet Skis

The forecast wasn’t wrong and the promised F 4-5 wind arrived just in time to start the jet ski races, at least it stayed dry!

There are some great images below from the afloat photographers with skis aiming for the sky.

Photos

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The Great River Race 2025 on the Thames

Time lapse of the 2025 Great River Race.- shows the scale of the event

Have You Ever Heard of the Great River Race

No, nor had I until I was invited to attend as part of the safety fleet.

In effect The Great River Race is London’s River Marathon. It’s a spectacular boat race covering 21.6 miles from Millwall in the East to Richmond in the West.

The rules for this River Race are simple. There are fixed seats. Dragon boats are not allowed because they like to sink.

The rules are based on the Watermen principle. Each vessel must carry a passenger and a cox. It also needs a 3’ x 2’ flag.

The event started in 1988 with 61 local boats. It has now grown into a major international event.

Competitors from America, Australia, and many European countries are taking part.

It is the largest rowing race in the UK when you consider the number of people on the water at the same time.

This is where the RIBs come into play.

To keep this many rowers safe takes a herculean effort by the RIB community.

Northern Exposure Rescue work with the Port of London to assemble no less than 35 safety boats.

This is the largest grouping of RIBs in England. It beats the Annual Pasty Run into 2nd place.

Only the Easdale Rendezvous tops it as far as meet-ups go across the British isles.

(The story continues below the gallery. Click to enlarge the photo.

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