"All Four Corners"

[Robert Wilson]

I am with GJW & have unrestricted any length night or day SH sailing from the Elbe to la Rochelle- might be worth a try

No night sailing is no good Robert. What about unforeseen circumstances extending the day? What about the early start or late finish to use those favourable tides?

I'm with skipper daydream believer on this one. Ask insurer if an agreeable premium will fix it, or find another insurer and get your refund.

I fully agree. I'll try GJW for a quote, and go back to Towergate for another try.

I did explain that there could be "unforseen circumstances that require night sailing" - surely that is one of the points of insurance "for when things go wrong". e.g. breakdown, becalming, sudden weather change etc etc

I'll post the outcome.
Many thanks.

RW

 

[Babylon]

I fully agree. I'll try GJW for a quote, and go back to Towergate for another try.

I did explain that there could be "unforseen circumstances that require night sailing" - surely that is one of the points of insurance "for when things go wrong". e.g. breakdown, becalming, sudden weather change etc etc

I'll post the outcome.
Many thanks.

RW

I recall having this conversation with my broker, who was unequivocal that common sense and seamanship override restrictive clauses, ie if conditions are such that night sailing is the only safe thing to do, then do it.

On this subject, give Simon Winter Marine a call for alternative quotes for your circumcision: http://www.simonwintermarine.co.uk/

 

[Kintail]

Robert, your are only going to do this once so don't listen to those who suggest taking the short cut through the Caledonian canal. You will have travelled all these miles and not have achieved your objective. UK circumnav is right round. You will get far greater personal satisfaction doing the real thing. And when relating your tales it ain't near the same without Cape Wrath and the Pentland Firth in it!

 

[macd]

Robert, your are only going to do this once so don't listen to those who suggest taking the short cut through the Caledonian canal. You will have travelled all these miles and not have achieved your objective. UK circumnav is right round. You will get far greater personal satisfaction doing the real thing. And when relating your tales it ain't near the same without Cape Wrath and the Pentland Firth in it!

UK navigation is round Ireland, too (since there's no short-cut south of the Six Counties).

 

[Kintail]

UK navigation is round Ireland, too (since there's no short-cut south of the Six Counties.

Mac, to do full UK you would also need to include Scillies, Orkney and Shetland. Generally accepted UK circumnav is round British mainland with no shortcuts.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Robert, your are only going to do this once so don't listen to those who suggest taking the short cut through the Caledonian canal. You will have travelled all these miles and not have achieved your objective. UK circumnav is right round. You will get far greater personal satisfaction doing the real thing. And when relating your tales it ain't near the same without Cape Wrath and the Pentland Firth in it!

Very true, and unless something goes orf'ly awry I shall be going "Round the Top". How could I look the locals up here in the face if I didn't do the "Home Corners"?

UK navigation is round Ireland, too (since there's no short-cut south of the Six Counties).

OK, I shall rephrase my odyssey: A Circumnavigation of Great Britain and Part of Northern Ireland.

Much easier to say UK :ambivalence:

 

[Kintail]

Mac. In that case to do you would need to sail round Scillies, Outer Hebrides, St Kilda, Orkney and Shetland. Generally accepted UK circumnav is round British mainland with no shortcuts.

 

[Robert Wilson]

I recall having this conversation with my broker, who was unequivocal that common sense and seamanship override restrictive clauses, ie if conditions are such that night sailing is the only safe thing to do, then do it.

On this subject, give Simon Winter Marine a call for alternative quotes for your circumcision: http://www.simonwintermarine.co.uk/

Thanks, I'll try him/them.
And I agree, "common sense and seamanship override restrictive clauses," should not only over-ride restrictive clauses but it should be written in to the Policy - in the interests of safety for the boat, crew and other craft.

Pity I renewed my policy with Towergate on 1st February, before thinking about doing the trip!

 

[oldbilbo]

Good to hear this, Robert. Let me wish you 'fair winds' and sound sleep....

You'll have many fine dawns and fun days, meeting fine folk along the way. I reckon by the time you're entering Milford Haven, you'll be dog-tired, so don't forget the free-floating pontoon off Dale, on the LHS just inside, where you can easily moor up and get some soup and sleep, before heading further in to one of the marinas.

Lundy is a fair-to-good target for the next stage, as is Padstow. The HM is especially helpful and, if the tide rise is not yet high enough, you can anchor safely a wee bit outside the walls.

The North Cornish coast, being 'ironbound', need a good offing at all times. That's 'Atlantic'. Give yourself distance and time to sort out any problems arising i.e. remaining just within VHF range. Rather than aiming for the Longships Reef, as a single-hander there I'd prefer to maintain a decent offing - buying time. The tide streams run hard and set across some of the many hazards there, and seafog is frequent.

Newlyn is a decent night-stop. The HM is very helpful, and can be relied on if you bear in mind it's a working port. There are also excellent marine eng facilities - good people - should you need. Quite a few of the lifeboatmen here are also yotties....

Getting around The Lizard can also be challenging. Again, you need a decent offing and a commanding wind. If the wind is in the east, wait at Newlyn - or go anchor at Mullion Cove. After that, the Helford River is a good night-stop. Should you need a break, Falmouth and its many facilities offers all you could want - including more good people. The Falmouth Boatyard at Flushing is worthy of more than a passing note. So also is the Royal Cornwall YC. But there are many other options, including the very fine anchorage in the little bay below Trelissick House, and the pontoons further up the river towards Truro.

I'd recommend plotting and logging the many National Coastwatch Institution's lookout/watch stations, with their phone numbers and also their new VHF facility on Ch65. http://www.nci.org.uk/map-of-stations I'm of the view they'll be of real help to you along the way.

Speaking of which, my own club - the Tamar River Sailing Club at Plymouth - welcomes single-handers like you.... as, no doubt, will many others along the way. Should you really need a hand, between us we'll probably be able to muster a few of those.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Good to hear this, Robert. Let me wish you 'fair winds' and sound sleep....

the Tamar River Sailing Club at Plymouth - welcomes single-handers like you.... as, no doubt, will many others along the way. Should you really need a hand, between us we'll probably be able to muster a few of those.

Thank you OB, that's all very much appreciated. I look forward to meeting up with you and many other folk along the way. The Forumites really know how to give a "first-timer" confidence and encouragement - and some wise warnings!

 

[Minchsailor]

Don't worry too much about Pentland Firth and Cape Wrath. Just follow the sailing directions to get the tides right - they can be very localised. With Pentland Firth, going west bound you can pop in to Scapa Flow and anchor off Walls, or Scrabster, although it is very much fishing port.

During the school summer holiday the bombing range off Cape Wrath is (or was?) inoperative. The knack is scoot round close inshore - max 200m off!! - to avoid the race. If the bombing range is active you have to go 5m off, which takes you out of the race anyway. I have done it several times. Loch Eriboll to Kinlochbervie is about 30 miles.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Don't worry too much about Pentland Firth and Cape Wrath. Just follow the sailing directions to get the tides right - they can be very localised. With Pentland Firth, going west bound you can pop in to Scapa Flow and anchor off Walls, or Scrabster, although it is very much fishing port.

During the school summer holiday the bombing range off Cape Wrath is (or was?) inoperative. The knack is scoot round close inshore - max 200m off!! - to avoid the race. If the bombing range is active you have to go 5m off, which takes you out of the race anyway. I have done it several times. Loch Eriboll to Kinlochbervie is about 30 miles.

I wondered about Scapa Flow. If the tide's right and I've time to go there I shall. Always fancied a visit. Scrabster was on my list - I won't be caring about the smell of fish or lack of any facilities by the time I'm that far round! Only 4 or 5 days left til home. Weather permitting.

I shall DEFINITELY check the bombing schedules - I walked from Sandwood Bay to Cape Wrath then onto Durness on 10th September. Bombing was halted because of 9/11 the day before, apparently, then half way across they started again - talk about brown underpants!!

Thanks for the tips.

RW

 

[Daydream believer]

Very true, and unless something goes orf'ly awry I shall be going "Round the Top". How could I look the locals up here in the face if I didn't do the "Home Corners"?



OK, I shall rephrase my odyssey: A Circumnavigation of Great Britain and Part of Northern Ireland.

Much easier to say UK :ambivalence:

You either get all of Ireland plus northern island or nothing at all ( apart from a foray around Rathlin Island perhaps) I think you mean "part of Scotland"-- better brush up on navigation:encouragement:

I chose the Cally canal because of the problem of anchoring.
If i am single handed in some remote bay & in the middle of the night & need to move I cannot get the anchor up & be sure I will not have drifted onto rocks or shallow water.I feel the best options are harbours where 24 hours access is better then harbours that provide deep water but limited access times ie hartlepool or Arbroath.
I discounted places such as Padstow because after a long trip to miss the tide could be extremely tiring & effectively dangerous.
I went Newlyn ( for example) to Milford Haven to get the dodgy bit at Lands End over with early on when I would be more alert. Going to Milford there are lots of spare buoys & anchor spots with a fair bit of room if one misses the lock.
Dun Loaghaire was a long leg but it is a big harbour with 24 hour access
I also did the French coast because of the harbours plus a bit of "foreign" for interest
On both trips I got held up by bad weather. In Peterhead a single hander ( Extremely experienced & looked fit ) had come through the Pentland Forth in 45 Knts of wind & had been awake for 40 hours due to very bad weather. I do not think I could have handled that sort of situation for long. He left after 15 Hours sleep, heading for Holland. That is not the sort of sailing the OP wants

 

[roblpm]

You either get all of Ireland plus northern island or nothing at all ( apart from a foray around Rathlin Island perhaps) I think you mean "part of Scotland"-- better brush up on navigation:encouragement:

I chose the Cally canal because of the problem of anchoring.
If i am single handed in some remote bay & in the middle of the night & need to move I cannot get the anchor up & be sure I will not have drifted onto rocks or shallow water.I feel the best options are harbours where 24 hours access is better then harbours that provide deep water but limited access times ie hartlepool or Arbroath.
I discounted places such as Padstow because after a long trip to miss the tide could be extremely tiring & effectively dangerous.
I went Newlyn ( for example) to Milford Haven to get the dodgy bit at Lands End over with early on when I would be more alert. Going to Milford there are lots of spare buoys & anchor spots with a fair bit of room if one misses the lock.
Dun Loaghaire was a long leg but it is a big harbour with 24 hour access
I also did the French coast because of the harbours plus a bit of "foreign" for interest
On both trips I got held up by bad weather. In Peterhead a single hander ( Extremely experienced & looked fit ) had come through the Pentland Forth in 45 Knts of wind & had been awake for 40 hours due to very bad weather. I do not think I could have handled that sort of situation for long. He left after 15 Hours sleep, heading for Holland. That is not the sort of sailing the OP wants

Sounds sensible.

Do you have a blog or list of where you overnighted?

 

[JumbleDuck]

Robert, your are only going to do this once so don't listen to those who suggest taking the short cut through the Caledonian canal. You will have travelled all these miles and not have achieved your objective. UK circumnav is right round. You will get far greater personal satisfaction doing the real thing. And when relating your tales it ain't near the same without Cape Wrath and the Pentland Firth in it!

Have you noticed where he's based? If he takes the Caledonian Canal short cut he'll still do the Pentland Firth and Cape Wrath ... but miss out Land's End and the Straits of Dover.

 

[JumbleDuck]

You either get all of Ireland plus northern island or nothing at all ( apart from a foray around Rathlin Island perhaps) I think you mean "part of Scotland"-- better brush up on navigation ...

I presume that Rathlin is what he mean, or perhaps the Copeland Islands. Coo, I've just realised ... I circumnavigated part of Norn Iron last summer. Whoo me.

 

[Daydream believer]

Have you noticed where he's based? If he takes the Caledonian Canal short cut he'll still do the Pentland Firth and Cape Wrath ... but miss out Land's End and the Straits of Dover.

OOps!!!!! I am a fine one to comment about navigation !!!!

 

[Daydream believer]

Sounds sensible.

Do you have a blog or list of where you overnighted?

try http://samuelglongley.blogspot.co.uk/ & start near the beginning

 

[Robert Wilson]

The planning and logistics are coming together nicely.
Looking at the itinerary, I am trying to find a list/publication/source of good anchorages. I shall be stopping-off in marinas, inevitably, but it would be enjoyable (AND CHEAPER) to find safe and convenient anchorages too.

Any recommendations - personal preferences, pointers or sources of publications/web sites?

I would like target places for SW Wales and England, plus south coast and any up the east coast.

What are my options - PM me if you wish to keep your "specials" out of the public domain.:encouragement:

Many thanks,
RW

PS I have, or shall be acquiring, numerous Pilot Books for the whole trip, which may answer my question to some extent.

 

[Seajet]

Robert,

when you get near Chichester - which I'd say is well worth a visit - I'll happily show you the quiet bits - despite how it must sound to people from your neck of the woods, there are big and lovely areas of quiet - also any stores or kit you need, I'll happily be to hand with a car.

Best to do it there, the few ports East of here are not the absolute apex !

Will PM my details if you have a file of such things for your way round...

Andy