6 month Winter passage from Scotland, ideas?

[jdc]

What's wrong with W Scotland?

There are people who enjoy complete solitude and privation - one guy even over-wintered in Antarctica on his own - but unless you're one of them, a consideration is probably what is there to do or see, and the possibility of occasional human interaction. That would keep me away from anywhere which is totally shut up for the winter, which is most of Scandanavia (where there's not a body around from mid August through to the following May in my experience!).

So you need:
(i) a permanent population,
(ii) some maritime activity, probably fishing, and
(iii) some tourism even in winter (so pubs and restaurants stay open).

You could do worse for all this than stay in the west of Scotland!

Lots of deep inlets to explore which one usually passes by in summer, and although more exposed places like Kyle take in their pontoons, most pubs are open, and there are villages and small towns and the weather is quite well forecast. Both Caledonian and Crinan canals still operate after a fashion. Lots of winter walking when the weather is too bad to sail.

This last point is a real consideration. It's damnably difficult to go for a walk in Sweden or Denmark, or most of France for that matter, whereas almost anywhere in Scotland can be accessed on foot from a boat, or by bus or train and thence on foot. Perhaps 50 Munros are accessible by boat with a reasonable walk-in, and the numbers of people on them will be perfect; that is to say few enough that you are no way crowded, but just enough that should you have an accident your bleached bones are not discovered only in spring (and, more pertinently, the pubs and hotels are still open in winter).

 

[spilt-my-tea]

Many thanks to all who have shared their thoughts and experience, much appreciated.
Uricanjack, great post on a great trip, the only thing that concerns me is being so close to the coast if, or rather when bad weather hits and also the cost, I'm on a bit of a budget (but not that tight to make bad choices because of), seeing as the northern reaches are out (unless I fit skates to the boat) I'm starting to review the Med, the only bonus will be that it's out of season so therefore slightly cheaper.

Scotland's always an option, hiding in the inlets and canals etc but I'd really like to spend days at a time at sea, so I'm guessing from most of the comments that my main options for a 6 month winter cruise are staying in Scotland, going down to the Canaries or going to the Med....

So much valid info has been shared and for that I thank you all.

Spilt-my-tea

 

[NormanS]

My experience, for what it's worth, was that winter cruising, (not marina hopping), has good and bad points. When I first got my previous boat up and running, I kept her in commision for the first three years. We have a swinging mooring not far from Oban, so there is lots of "sheltered" water around. What we found was, that in the depths of winter, yes there are some beautiful days for sailing, but they are short, and by the time we got to our anchorage, it would be getting dark. We weren't going to towns and civilisation, just normal sheltered anchorages, where to go for a walk ashore, daylight is quite useful. The result was a lot of sitting around.

After that three years, which I'm glad we had, circumstances changed, (aged parents), and we arranged to winter in the Caledonian Canal. We then did that for many years, and it was great. We could step on and off without the thought of a dinghy trip, we were able to get shore power, and to a certain extent became a part of the local community. I think that it actually increased our enjoyment, knowing that the boat was totally secure, and making us look forward to sailing again in the Spring.

If it ever came to a choice again, I would choose the canal. You can always venture out, at no extra charge.

 

[obmij]

Also the Mediterranean is not the promised land in the winter - in fact it can stink, especially January and February, (although you do get some beautiful days) Jan & Feb can be cold, wet and very windy. Much better to be in UK close to decent pub and roaring fire imho.

To be honest, in your position, I'd go backpacking..

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Here is a wee book that you can download on single handed sailing. While its race orientated the tips are very useful for cruising as well. http://www.sfbaysss.org/tipsbook/

I would head to the east coast as advised in Dylan's post. The west coast and FOC will not fulfil your desire to avoid "wet pin ball on speed".

 

[spilt-my-tea]

NormanS, thanks for sharing your experiences on the Caledonian Canal, I've been thinking a fair bit about that option, it would provide a peace of mind if we really got slammed with some bad weather, but, and here's the shocker, it looks like I'm going to have to compromise with my desires, budget, time and capabilities of both me and my boat.

Thanks to BlowingOldBoots for the link, another fine site to add to my arsenal.

I'm researching all the options put forward in all the posts here and I'll spend the summer bobbing about the Hebrides mulling it all over and slowly build up a plan....then watch it all go to pot as mother nature does her thing and end up making it all up as I go along....no change there then, lucky I write all my plans on rubber paper as you can stretch it any way you please.

at least I have a wealth of experience at my fingertips in the forum of YBW

spilt-my-tea

 

[Sybarite]

If you want to be reasonably confident of good weather in winter, the Canary Islands might to a choice base.