A year off - where would you go?

[PhillM]

So, it looks in view of their postponement, my plans to join the Clipper race are going to be put back a year or more. However, I still have a year off work, starting July 2021. So, lets assume I decided to take that and just sail off in my little 24 footer (wooded Cheverton Caravel MK2 - for those who don't know me). She is fairly basic but pretty well equipped for single handed sailing. I have a windvane and assuming I am not paying £50K to Clipper anytime soon, I could afford to upgrade anything that needed it.

So, my question is, where could I go? How far could I get and how do I time it so as to make the best of the weather?

 

[Star-Lord]

It depends where you are allowed to go! Unfortunately in light of our current situation I would probably potter along the South Coast. There are many amazing spots and you would be paying very little with a small yacht. And find a nice marina for winter. If this was a normal year I would say sail to Azores and then Galicia. Galicia is just perfect IMO. And close enough to sail home. And if you feel less adventurous... you sound like the go getting type! Why not circumnavigate Great Britain....

 

[[70521]]

Looking at all the information from the Ocean Cruising Club I am receiving it looks like a non-stop circumnavigation is the only option!

I have just heard that my favorite French marina, Roscoff, is closed until further notice!

 

[Pete7]

Did you mean 2021 or this year? Well if the Azores are on the cards, how about departing UK in July for The Algarve. Then down to the Canaries and on to spend winter in the Cape Verdes. Up to the Azores and back home in the early summer.

Pete

 

[burgundyben]

Mid July, I'd transport the boat to the far north, head for Shetland, then keep drifting my way south, past Orkney, round to the outer Hebrides, then south into Irish sea, Milford Haven, then Scillies and South Coast.

 

[PhillM]

I mean I would set off July 2021 and have to be back by September 2022. So up to 14 months continuous cruising time.

 

[[3889]]

Leisurely circumnavigation of Iberia then back up the French canals

 

[dunedin]

With a 24 foot boat I might be tempted to head for the Baltic, via the Dutch and Kiel canals. Fantastic cruising grounds, with thousands of anchorages and harbours - with short distances between.

 

[PhillM]

With a 24 foot boat I might be tempted to head for the Baltic, via the Dutch and Kiel canals. Fantastic cruising grounds, with thousands of anchorages and harbours - with short distances between.

What time of year would I have to head back home? If I do this, I will be away all through the winter .... I must admit I'd prefer warm than frozen. Or are you thinking go there first, then head south?

 

[burgundyben]

With a 24 foot boat I might be tempted to head for the Baltic, via the Dutch and Kiel canals. Fantastic cruising grounds, with thousands of anchorages and harbours - with short distances between.

That is a lovely plan.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Get lost in Bangkok and see what pops out in a year.

 

[jdc]

Rio de Janeiro.

Go via la Coruña, Madeira, Canaries, maybe Cape Verde, across to Salvador. Arrive around 1 Nov. Thence to Rio de Janeiro and Isla Grande (a bay with 365 islands). Then turn north around end Jan. Visit French Guyana and/or Surname and arrive Carribean (Grenada say) in early March (best time to be there). Work up to St Martin and set off in early June. 3 weeks to Azores. As much time (2 weeks is better than 0 weeks) as poss in the Azores and so home in 10 days... it's exactly what we did, except we took 2 years...

24 foot makes it a little hard work, but we did meet a delightful Swedish couple in such a boat who had no loo and couldn't even stand up below deck yet were on the way to Cape Horn!

 

[PhillM]

Rio de Janeiro.

Go via la Coruña, Madeira, Canaries, maybe Cape Verde, across to Salvador. Arrive around 1 Nov. Thence to Rio de Janeiro and Isla Grande (a bay with 365 islands). Then turn north around end Jan. Visit French Guyana and/or Surname and arrive Carribean (Grenada say) in early March (best time to be there). Work up to St Martin and set off in early June. 3 weeks to Azores. As much time (2 weeks is better than 0 weeks) as poss in the Azores and so home in 10 days... it's exactly what we did, except we took 2 years...

24 foot makes it a little hard work, but we did meet a delightful Swedish couple in such a boat who had no loo and couldn't even stand up below deck yet were on the way to Cape Horn!

Thank you, that does sound like an adventure!

 

[JumbleDuck]

With a 24 foot boat I might be tempted to head for the Baltic, via the Dutch and Kiel canals. Fantastic cruising grounds, with thousands of anchorages and harbours - with short distances between.

I will be retiring in June 2024, and my plan is to head off at once for at least six months on the boat. Baltic for me.

 

[newtothis]

I will be retiring in June 2024, and my plan is to head off at once for at least six months on the boat. Baltic for me.

Sailing the Baltic in November is going to be interesting. Is you boat ice-classed?

 

[Joker]

There's been no ice at all in Baltic Germany. The temperatures have been above zero virtually every day in Stralsund, and no snow.

 

[dunedin]

I will be retiring in June 2024, and my plan is to head off at once for at least six months on the boat. Baltic for me.

Best find some way to get an EU passport, or you will be going to the Baltic for 90 days max, thanks to our Brexiteers (taking control of your retirement)

 

[JumbleDuck]

Sailing the Baltic in November is going to be interesting. Is you boat ice-classed?

Don't intend to be there in November. Either head straight off with the presentation clock, or maybe move the boat to Sweden the year before.

 

[Daydream believer]

Get lost in Bangkok and see what pops out in a year.

Warts , probably

 

[johnalison]

Baltic summer weather is broadly like ours but tends to have more settled periods. We used to get there middle or end of May. At that time it was usually pleasant but cool in the evenings, occasional cold until mid-June. Most of the summer is pleasant, and in the south where we usually went seldom prone to periods of foul weather. About one summer in three is very hot, even scorchingly so, sometimes breaking suddenly to autumnal weather. We lost very few days to bad weather.