A Clyde cruising Alternative?

[steveeasy]

Ive just found myself based on the Clyde. Without too much knowledge I think its a very good place to base yourself and quite unique. It looks as if there are numerous sailing destinations within 2 hours and a greater sailing area than the Solent offers. Then there is easy and relatively close access to some of the finest sailing areas in the UK with the inner and outer Hebrides..
When and if I return to the Solent which wont be until 2024, it will be with some reluctance. Lets hope it does not rain too much though I really dont like getting too wet.

Steveeasy

 

[doug748]

I've been looking at Wales and Fleetwood marina but the weather is a little worrying... It would cut my 7 hour drive down to about 3 hours though

I love Fleetwood, Fleetwood is, or was, the place I would like to most be, in the whole of the world.

But if I was considering driving north for three hours to get there for sailing, I would drive sideways instead and base myself on the East Coast.

.

 

[Daydream believer]

You could go to the East Coast forum. Take your pick, but plenty of day sailing and goodish communications.

North of Lowestoft??????
But south of that I would agree. Where exactly & how far does the OP want -or consider acceptable-, to travel ? He has not said exactly what he means by "middle" England. To me, living in Essex, ? ,that is London. To a Scot, London may as well be in South Africa.

 

[Daydream believer]

Have a look at Northumberland. Stunning coast line.

No where to go though, so a pretty boring place to sail from due to lack of variable choice. As for the coast line it is little different to hundreds of miles of UK coastline & once one has seen one bit it gets a bit boring. Good round Eyemouth, St Abbs etc
I agree there is some interesting things to see but only once ie. Bamburgh Castle, Cheviot, Holy Island, Berwick. But further north & one is out of Northumberland. Blyth is a dump with limited facilities apart from being a port of refuge. Head south & one has Hartlepool & Scarborough but a slog.
I would discount anywhere N of Lowestoft.

 

[Daydream believer]

I've been to Grimsby!

No need to tell you then, that whoever put the "Grim" in Grimsby knew what they were doing.

 

[doug748]

We won't discuss Scunthorpe.

 

[seafox67]

Ive just found myself based on the Clyde. Without too much knowledge I think its a very good place to base yourself and quite unique. It looks as if there are numerous sailing destinations within 2 hours and a greater sailing area than the Solent offers. Then there is easy and relatively close access to some of the finest sailing areas in the UK with the inner and outer Hebrides..
When and if I return to the Solent which wont be until 2024, it will be with some reluctance. Lets hope it does not rain too much though I really dont like getting too wet.

Steveeasy

Steve, were you in the Solent before the Clyde? What type of sailing did you do (Day/weekend sails or longer)?

 

[seafox67]

North of Lowestoft??????
But south of that I would agree. Where exactly & how far does the OP want -or consider acceptable-, to travel ? He has not said exactly what he means by "middle" England. To me, living in Essex, ? ,that is London. To a Scot, London may as well be in South Africa.

I'm in Oxfordshire! The east coast area commute is definitely doable with lots of Dylan Winters type sailing... but... the MUD! and drying out areas might take a bit of getting used to

 

[Daydream believer]

I'm in Oxfordshire! The east coast area commute is definitely doable with lots of Dylan Winters type sailing... but... the MUD! and drying out areas might take a bit of getting used to

You would not have to dry out on our moorings
Moorings

 

[FWB]

No need to tell you then, that whoever put the "Grim" in Grimsby knew what they were doing.

Well that’s somewhat unfair. I was born there and during the heyday of the fishing industry it was a very interesting place. Now somewhat ruined with the inevitable shopping precinct. It’s an out of the way place for sure, I’ve not been back for many years but this is definitely worth a visit….. https://www.fishingheritage.com/

 

[Daydream believer]

Well that’s somewhat unfair. I was born there and during the heyday of the fishing industry it was a very interesting place. Now somewhat ruined with the inevitable shopping precinct. It’s an out of the way place for sure, I’ve not been back for many years but this is definitely worth a visit….. Home - Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre

History is irrelevant. It is what the place is like now. The broken down harbour quaysides. with derilict warehouses. The concrete areas with grass growing through. When one leaves the harbour one is met by dilapidated buildings.
On my way to the boarded up shop windows in the high street I saw 3 sets of people arguing. 2 women shouting over a fence. 3 blokes squaring up for a fight & a bloke chucking a woman's shopping into the road so it all spilled out leaving her in tears.
The bridge was like something out of the old films. ie the type where dixon of dock green chases the young guy with a gun over the bridge, or Billy Liar shouts to his mates as the steam train goes under.
There was a notice on a shop- Only one child at a time- presumably to stop pilfering.
Yup! a really great place

 

[steveeasy]

No need to tell you then, that whoever put the "Grim" in Grimsby knew what they were doing.

God you have a big hang up with Grimsby. probably right in comparison to other affluent areas. BUT I can assure you it is really a nice vibrant place. Lots of work. a good mix of working people. Yes working people. I love going to work in the mornings at 6am watching everyone going to WORK. not shopping or drinking posh coffees. people working.
30 years ago Scotland was in poverty with areas along the clyde in absolute poverty. times have changed. Wealth has spread across the country and the the increase in wealth is greater in Grimsby than probably areas in the south. as the recession bites I suspect areas in the south will suffer far more than the north. Id still not keep my boat in Grimsby though!!

Steveeasy

 

[steveeasy]

Yep hes got it bad. The fishing industry was decimated and the old harbour is as it was. Its a truly fabulous interesting harbour still with historic buildings and the boat yards are full of really nice boats. The ports are the busiest in the country in terms of tonnage. so much work for working people. Lots of fishing busineses trading and supplying areas across the country. yes there is a deprived area. this is a total failing of our governments over the years. They have pored endless money in to schemes that create nothing but individual wealth, whereas investment in GRIMsby would be far better.
Ive lived in affluent areas such as Auchterarder and down south. Ive never been more content than living in lincolnshire for the last 10 years and happy to proudly say so. The people are honest hardworking and proud of their own achievements thru hard work. My so called PAL whome I do not refer too now always said hed not even consider travelling north of Buckinghamshire. That says far too much about him.

Not intended to offend DD, just giving a different perspective and opinion.

Steveasy

 

[steveeasy]

Steve, were you in the Solent before the Clyde? What type of sailing did you do (Day/weekend sails or longer)?

Well yes ive been on the Solent for 7 years. On the Hamble in a posh yard. I travelled 220 miles to the boat. so im between the clyde and the Hamble. I would do a mix of weekend cruising and day sailing and mainly the last two years attempting to race. (its a loose word that) I loved the hustle and bustle of lots of boats on the water. I struggled with maintenance due to prefering to sail.

What I realised is few actually ever head out of the Hamble. few people actually bother to participate in racing. the Regattas had no entries. The racing brigade would not even support the local Regattas. from my yard full of racing experts and I was the only owner to enter the local historic regattas in 2 years. I found the yard dead with no one interested in sailing and in seven years never ever even managed to get so much as a morning from the yard owners. The staff moaned about the boat owners who happily spent endless amounts on renovations but never go out sailing. How totally bizarre.
Good places to visit though in the solent and further afield. but nowhere is perfect.

Ill miss the hustle and bustle. Ill be back in 2024 as I want to compete in the RTIR in my new boat. But there was a distinct nice welcome and feeling heading back to Scotland. I felt as if I was heading back home. It put such a nice smile on my face. the yard is full of friendly people happy to talk. Good cafe with yes sailors chatting eating breakfast sharing their interesting stories. Sort of why I like Grimsby and why I feel at home on the Clyde. Ill talk and chat to anyone. As for my time at the Elephant. When I last went down I thought id pop in the office with some thank you gifts. wish id not wasted my money. oh apart from Julian, A true gentleman..

Steveeasy

 

[Daydream believer]

Lovely Place- Just needs a few roses & it would be up for an award

 

[Daydream believer]

I will say one thing - the club members were very friendly. When I arrived they were having a committee meeting. No one else was there.I was invited to join the group after the meeting. They allowed me to buy a pint of diluted ""£$% called Bombadier for £ 1-50 per pint.
The committee meeting was interesting. One member related how she would have not renewed her membership due to having been insulted by another member. But she had allready paid the subs. Members were late paying subs. Members were blocking berths for which they had not paid & could not be contacted. Members were saying they would enter races & then not turning up. Only a few member contributed to running the club. It was a job to get anyone to stand for committee meetings. Social events not supported inspite of promises. It went on & on.
Not a single positive comment all through the meeting
I wondered how they managed the will to live, let alone run a club. Still in such a place I thought that they were doing quite well-- In the circumstances.

 

[Daydream believer]

Not intended to offend DD, just giving a different perspective and opinion.
Steveasy

Let's be clear here- no offence taken.
We are all entitled to an opinion.
(It is just that mine is better)????

 

[steveeasy]

Lovely Place- Just needs a few roses & it would be up for an award
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Funny Man!! Behind those derelict buildings is real industry going on. If all that floats your boat is rose beds then its not quite the place for you then. You have to look a little further than the end of your nose.

I will say one thing - the club members were very friendly. When I arrived they were having a committee meeting. No one else was there.I was invited to join the group after the meeting. They allowed me to buy a pint of diluted ""£$% called Bombadier for £ 1-50 per pint.
The committee meeting was interesting. One member related how she would have not renewed her membership due to having been insulted by another member. But she had allready paid the subs. Members were late paying subs. Members were blocking berths for which they had not paid & could not be contacted. Members were saying they would enter races & then not turning up. Only a few member contributed to running the club. It was a job to get anyone to stand for committee meetings. Social events not supported inspite of promises. It went on & on.
Not a single positive comment all through the meeting
I wondered how they managed the will to live, let alone run a club. Still in such a place I thought that they were doing quite well-- In the circumstances.

There you go again. Ive watched one of the most famous sailing boats of all time chained to its mooring!! wonder why. Your find bad payers anywhere and everywhere.

 

[steveeasy]

Let's be clear here- no offence taken.
We are all entitled to an opinion.
(It is just that mine is better)????

We won't discuss Scunthorpe.

I would have agreed with you on that years ago. There is more to life than rolling hills and colourful rose beds. Incidentally Scunthorpe has a wonderful park. Good shopping and great pubs to eat in. Last time I sat in a pub on the Hamble all I could here was the chavs swearing. No class at all.

Steveeasy

 

[Daydream believer]

Funny Man!! Behind those derelict buildings is real industry going on. If all that floats your boat is rose beds then its not quite the place for you then. You have to look a little further than the end of your nose.

You challenged my comments. I posted those to back up my experience of the place. I also told my story of my walk to the high street & the meeting in the club. I did not take pictures of the boarded up high street that you think denotes hussle & bussle because I did not want to get mugged for an expensive camera in an area that one sensed was rife with drugs etc.
So I am only showing what I saw in response to a counter opinion.
Just saying a place has hussle & bussle does not add up with the view of a druggie down trodden area. What do you mean, by it? Traffic jams. Bus queues, Courier vans driving about. cyclists?
Night clubs spilling into the streets at nights with drunks screaming & fighting.
I do not blame the people It just happens. I am not commenting on the reasons for or against. The locals may have had a bad break. That was not the point of my comments
I can only say what I saw. It is a Grim place.

I might add that my daughter went on a long weekend away to a place (forget the name) close to Grimsby. They toured the area & ate out every night. I asked her what she thought. She enjoyed the weekend. That being said, she really only drove through Grimsby, so was unable to comment. But in her view, the surrounding area nearby was not so bad .