flaming
Well-known member
Yes, sorry, I mis phrased that. I should have said.
"The remote parts of Scotland aren't going to cut the mustard."
Best place in the UK to learn and build experience?
- Thread starter Passerine
- Start date
"The remote parts of Scotland aren't going to cut the mustard."
anoccasionalyachtsman
Well-known member
I'm honour bound to point out that Hamble River Sailing Club races dinghies, runs RYA courses and has moorings. I've lived in the village, and working there (or wfh there) solves the only downside - the already-mentioned traffic jam. You'd also be hard pushed to find a more welcoming community. Four pubs too.
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JumbleDuck
Well-known member
True, but from that point of view the Solent is in the arse end of nowhere for some of us.
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
Ta. Is there much fleet racing on the Forth and Clyde, do you know? I'm mildly interested but it's not my thing and I only dimly remember reading Clyde Week results in the Glasgow Herald as a child, when the big classes were Flying Fifteens, Etchells, Loch Longs and Pleiades.
capnsensible
Well-known member
The Solent.
Jungle Jim
Active member
+1 for the solent, it was brilliant for me when I was learning. If you base around Hamble you can potter about Southampton water if its too rough to go out further, there are many day sail destinations, and you can experience many different sailing conditions in a small area. When you get really brave the flesh pots of Cherbourg are reachable for a long weekend sail 
johnalison
Well-known member
The Solent is fine, and I have always enjoyed my visits, but it is expensive, and often rough in areas of currents. The East Coast gives several areas of variously sheltered water and although flat has its own beauties. It is also the driest part of the kingdom, with a varied racing and club scene and costs are about a half of those in the main South Coast. It used to be said that if you can sail the Thames estuary you can sail anywhere, though GPS has taken much of the sting from the navigation, but it still the case that any major trip around the area needs planning and seamanship.
Cantata
Well-known member
That's great, you lot stay away and let all us East Coasters enjoy our sailing paradise!
Gary Fox
N/A
The E.Coast / N.Sea has everything really, from creek crawling to the Arctic.
Skylark
Well-known member
The U.K. is blessed by having a lot of wonderful sailing areas (shame about the weather, though ?).
I had many enjoyable years exploring the coastlines of North Wales. My boat is currently in The Clyde but, as an Englishman, I’m forbidden from telling just how good a place it is.
Over the last four years, in my retirement, I’ve spent a lot of time in Lake Solent. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is a very good location to learn the art of sailing.
In such a relatively confined water, there are many challenges, for example, shallow waters. the bylaws of a military port, a commercial port, narrow channels, ferry traffic and so on.
Over the course of a season it’s possible to see day shapes, lights and hear sounds that, if based in other locations, you’d only see in a text book.
The down side is traffic density and cost.
With 20 years experience around North Wales, I’d never heard 5 blasts while on the water. Whereas within Lake Solent, it’s almost a daily occurrence during the summer ?
I had many enjoyable years exploring the coastlines of North Wales. My boat is currently in The Clyde but, as an Englishman, I’m forbidden from telling just how good a place it is.
Over the last four years, in my retirement, I’ve spent a lot of time in Lake Solent. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is a very good location to learn the art of sailing.
In such a relatively confined water, there are many challenges, for example, shallow waters. the bylaws of a military port, a commercial port, narrow channels, ferry traffic and so on.
Over the course of a season it’s possible to see day shapes, lights and hear sounds that, if based in other locations, you’d only see in a text book.
The down side is traffic density and cost.
With 20 years experience around North Wales, I’d never heard 5 blasts while on the water. Whereas within Lake Solent, it’s almost a daily occurrence during the summer ?
Laysula
Well-known member
As David says, the UK has many great places to sail, however you won't spend all your time sailing and it is more important to find somewhere that you both want to live. What may be a vibrant lively town in summer may well be closed up and deserted in winter and what may be somewhere idyllic most of the year could be an overcrowded hellhole in the summer months.
grandpaboat
Member
Now you have pointed out what a friendlier and better attitude there is in Scotland, oh and how much better you are at choosing a governments how welcome do you think someone from England will feel.
grandpaboat
Member
Ah and another friendly and welcoming Scot.
Stemar
Well-known member
OK, I'm biased, I admit it, as most of my sailing has been done in and around the Solent, but you'd be hard put to do better apart from, IMO (don't do H!) crowds and cost. If working from home means you can also work weekends and sneak off during the week, that'll take care of crowds on the water, though you'll never find deserted anchorages, and if you want a space in a popular marina in the school holidays, you'd better book ahead. As for cost, yes, you could get a mooring at Hamble Point, and your wallet will be walking with a limp afterwards, but a tidal mooring in Portsmouth or Chichester Harbours needn't break the bank and some of the smaller marinas are surprisingly affordable. You may have a glorious view of the local scrapyard but, if all you do is park your boat there, that needn't matter.
Good bits are that the sailing is challenging enough to be interesting, but not treacherous, I'd have to see a serious gale before I wouldn't set out for home in my little Snapdragon, and if you don't like the weather, there are pretty good transport links if you can't just sit it out, though, being the poncy South, gales don't go on for weeks like some places (that's why those beautiful anchorages are deserted )
There are lots of friendly clubs, from mainly working class up to the Royal Yacht Squadron, though I'm not sure I, from my point of view of near perfect ignorance would call the RYS friendly. My own club, Hardway, has a waiting list, but there's a reason. There's always someone who'll take a line, give a hand with a job or offer advice (of variable quality!), a decent pint at sensible prices and a galley with decent food that won't break the bank There are even club moorings at giveaway prices, if you live long enough to get one. I'm sure members of many other clubs would say much the same about their clubs.
For me, though, it's the sheer number of places to go, from Chichester to Poole within an easy day sail, then further afield to Weymouth or Brighton, not to mention cross channel
Good bits are that the sailing is challenging enough to be interesting, but not treacherous, I'd have to see a serious gale before I wouldn't set out for home in my little Snapdragon, and if you don't like the weather, there are pretty good transport links if you can't just sit it out, though, being the poncy South, gales don't go on for weeks like some places (that's why those beautiful anchorages are deserted
)There are lots of friendly clubs, from mainly working class up to the Royal Yacht Squadron, though I'm not sure I, from my point of view of near perfect ignorance would call the RYS friendly. My own club, Hardway, has a waiting list, but there's a reason. There's always someone who'll take a line, give a hand with a job or offer advice (of variable quality!), a decent pint at sensible prices and a galley with decent food that won't break the bank There are even club moorings at giveaway prices, if you live long enough to get one. I'm sure members of many other clubs would say much the same about their clubs.
For me, though, it's the sheer number of places to go, from Chichester to Poole within an easy day sail, then further afield to Weymouth or Brighton, not to mention cross channel
DJE
Well-known member
My son lives in Plymouth and says that nobody lives there because of the city! But he is mad keen on anything outdoors: sailing, windsurfing, surfing, mountain biking, rock climbing, wild camping, etc. and it's all on his doorstep. Housing in the city seems to be fairly cheap too.
FlyingGoose
Well-known member
Come to Scotland and find out,
Much more welcoming than the stories of old, we no longer hang them from the castle walls
RJJ
Well-known member
Re Hamble - you might look at the other side (Warsash). Warsash sailing club is bustling for dinghies, including off-season, less traffic, and you have good access via the town quay for yachting. My suspicion (haven't checked) is that there are more choices of decent housing than on the Hamble-le-Rice side.
I love the Solent but it's hectic in the summer, which can be especially off-putting for novices. If it was me, and free of family ties that keep me in SE England, I'd definitely look to Plymouth or Falmouth, for natural beauty and other forms of outdoor pursuit on the doorstep, and more favourably-priced housing options. A drawback is that Brittany/Channel Islands becomes an extended passage, whereas from Solent approaches/Weymouth/Dartmouth it's of the order of 60-80 miles, often achievable for a long weekend in 10-12 hours. But then the West Country gives you the Scilly isles, gig racing, surfing, and Ireland, which seems a good trade!
If you're really determined to get time on the water in-company, you might want a vibrant "year-round" sailing club and community. The problem with places like Salcombe, Fowey, Helford is that they tend to be buzzing in July / August, and at risk of overcrowding, then dead the rest of the time. (somebody shoot me down or tell me the exception). Nothing to stop you going sailing, but you won't find anyone to race against. Some clubs are busy year-round, others not.
Bembridge is another place with an extended sailing season, but it's not everyone's cup of tea. I love it.
doug748
Well-known member
Fowey is another spot worth considering esp if you are fairly well placed financially. The town is just about hanging onto it's Cornish identity and it is fine sailing water
There is a lively dinghy and racing keelboat scene and you would be well placed to take up cruising opportunities from there itself, Falmouth or Plymouth.
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There is a lively dinghy and racing keelboat scene and you would be well placed to take up cruising opportunities from there itself, Falmouth or Plymouth.
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siwhi
Active member
Best for big boats - the Clyde (beautiful, perfect size, perfect mix of places) / There are good dinghy clubs in Helensburgh, Largs and Lochwinnoch but it's suicidally cold!
Best for small boats - the Solent (lots going on, decent clubs and scene, warmer water) / OK for bigs boats but can get dull and isn't as pretty
Best mix of both - the west country
Best for small boats - the Solent (lots going on, decent clubs and scene, warmer water) / OK for bigs boats but can get dull and isn't as pretty
Best mix of both - the west country
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
I'm famously friendly and welcoming. I'm just pointing out that remoteness is relative, and that the Solent is just as far from Scotland as Scotland is from the Solent.