A Mooring In Frith Of Forth Area For 2 Weeks

alexrunic

alexrunic

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I'm looking for a mooring in the firth of forth or the coastal areas any were north of Berwick to leave my 22ft yacht that can take the ground. For two weeks before sailing to Norway next year and maybe the same on the way home.

It could do with having public transport links or short cheap taxi ride to train station. Cost is going to be the main factor I really need it to be as cheap as possible as need to factor in cost of transport home and back etc.
 
alexrunic said:
I'm looking for a mooring in the firth of forth or the coastal areas any were north of Berwick to leave my 22ft yacht that can take the ground. For two weeks before sailing to Norway next year and maybe the same on the way home.

It could do with having public transport links or short cheap taxi ride to train station. Cost is going to be the main factor I really need it to be as cheap as possible as need to factor in cost of transport home and back etc.
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I would suggest you consider either Eyemouth which is deep water and a short bus ride to Berwick or Anstruther which has pontoon berths for boats that take the ground. This has good bus connections and one of the best fish and chip shops in the land.

An alternative would be Dunbar which has much fewrer facilities but good bus and rail connections.
 
I've sailed a chum's Anderson 22 in the area, Dysart harbour might be worth considering, not luxury but has a good sailing club.

I didn't have to use public transport, think there's a reasonable bus service but I could ring my chum and find out - please PM me if it's of interest.

Burntisland is another option, narrow entrance and tight confines inside but a very good club, I'm sure they would help you if at all possible. Another PM if you feel like it.

I found the whole area distinctly short of user friendly harbours, but I'm probably a spoilt southerner used to the Solent !
 
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There are plenty of small harbours for small boats that can take the ground, but perhaps not places where you would want to leave your boat unnattended for two weeks. I would say Eyemouth as suggested above, or consider Arbroath (just north of the Tay) which has totally secure pontoon moorings in the old fish dock and is cheap. It is a short walk the the station, which has fairly regular trains to Edinburgh and further South. It is also closer to Norway than some of the alternatives!

If you call ahead to organise it perhaps Fisherrow could lend you an unnoccupied mooring if there is one. Short Bus ride in to Edinburgh. It dries to a muddy bottom.

Dunbar is handy for the train line, but I personally would not want to be too far away if my boat was moored there. Depending on the time of year there can be a bit of movement in the Victoria Harbour. North Berwick is unlikely to have space for you other than for an overnight.

bon voyages,
R
 
Many thanks for your suggestions eyemouth looks good, just expensive, I will have to look at the prices of the other suggestions.
 
The suggestions of Anstruther and Eyemouth are good ones; nearest railway station to Eyemouth is probably Berwick upon Tweed, Anster (what the Fife locals call it) will be a bit harder to get to by public transport but has a number of advantages. It is relatively cheap, and it has a very fine fish and chip shop. It's also a bit nearer Norway. Nearer still and with a railway station about 5 minutes walk from the harbour is Arbroath.
 
Why not go to Granton and get good transport links to Lincs.? At this time of year there are lots of spare moorings and even in high season you can get a mooring (especially if you dry out) from either The Royal Forth or The Forth Corinthians who share the mooring area.
I would however venture that at 22ft, it might be prudent to put it on a trailer and take the ferry!!
 
Ubergeekian said:
I think Dalgety Bay SC has moorings - maybe they could help you out short term?
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Yes, there are probably several unused swinging moorings available at the moment. Several yachts are now ashore and the moorings have not been dropped yet. Each mooring is owned by the individual boat owner. It should also be possible to have short term use of one at the begining of neft season.

My own one will be free in about a couple of weeks or so. and (if things go right) It should also be empty for three or four months next year.

I am sure one could be arranged for the original poster at a very nominal cost.

Perhaps a bit far up the river for your journey. PM me if you need one there.

There are busses and trains direct from Dalgety Bay to Edinburgh.

I would think that your best bet could be on one of the drying pontoons in Anstruther harbour. It has a tidal entrance but the boat would be well protected there. Contact the Harbour Master for availability and cost. There seemed to be a few gaps when I was in there against the wall a couple of weeks ago. The Stagecoach bus actually stops at Anstruther Harbour.

Arbroath is a bit more expensive but is also an option. It is fairly full however, again it is up to the harbour master.

Peterhead is also a good jumping off spot but perhaps too far north. Very cost effective and fairly well sheltered.

Iain
 
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Lying against the wall in the Inner harbour (dries) at St Andrews is pretty secure and should be cheaper than pontoon berths. However fife are pretty good at charging for anything, so not actually sure if it is cheaper. Should be plenty of space as most of the local sailors seem to have gone over to anstruther. Stagecoach to Edinburgh, or train from leuchars.
 
saltwater_gypsy said:
Why not go to Granton and get good transport links to Lincs.? At this time of year there are lots of spare moorings and even in high season you can get a mooring (especially if you dry out) from either The Royal Forth or The Forth Corinthians who share the mooring area.
I would however venture that at 22ft, it might be prudent to put it on a trailer and take the ferry!!
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Thank you for the suggestions, although I do take a little offence to the last comment. plenty of boats smaller than mine have made it around the world. I'm not going until next summer so hopefully lucky with the weather. If i'm not she is a very sea worthy yacht and she has got me through several gales before.
 
Don't take offense, it may actuay be the best suggestion from all the posts.
no messing around and worry about the boat on an unfamiliar mooring, unfamiliar harbour
no wasted weekends planning a trip up the east coast and then the logistics of getting back home/returning to the boat
Put the boat on a trailer & ferry across, maximise your time in Norwegian waters & if you need to / want to leave the boat there for a second season, just lift out onto the trailer and find a farm yard/barn to park it in for the winter
The only "loss" is the adventure of crossing the north sea in your own boat, but if you want to do a long open sea passage, then you can do that from your home base (skegness?): pick an oilrig/gas rig, sail out & back.
 
Ubergeekian said:
Sounds like a pretty major loss to me. Why do people insist on sailing across the Atlantic when they could send their boats across on cargo ships?
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exactly the main attraction is the adventure plus making land fall after longish passage in small boat in such a beautiful country. It will be pain getting transport home when I leave the boat but this far out ways the enjoyment and sense of achievement of doing such a trip. I would love to cross the Atlantic and compete in the Jester challenge but can't with having to go to work all I can manage is a two week holiday.
 
Elie

maxi77 said:
Another option could be Elie, you can lie alongside the harbour wall on the inside if you can take the ground.
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Not sure that the town would be keen on one of only two visitor's wall berths being taken up by an empty boat for two weeks though.
R
 
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