Boat selection for sailing around Britain

[Tranona]

Your example didn't mention wind from the wrong direction/too windy/not enough wind (Which I thought was pretty much expected sailing anywhere ), but a tale of broken electronics and fatigue from steering.
A bit of string and rubber could have easily steered the boat.

You really do not want to understand, do you. The simple fact that if you set yourself a plan of action that can only work if you have a certain capability, and you lose that you are doomed to failure. I had a voyage plan that depended on being able to maintain 100 miles per day (in the right direction) irrespective of wind direction and strength (plus a contingency). So when you lose that capability and you have lost most of your contingency and the "worst" ie most difficult, part is still to come you have to re-assess. Of course if you remove the key constraint (time) then you have a different set of options.

It does not matter whether it is a failure of electronics (actually mechanical failure in this case) or a failure of the person, the outcome is the same. The option of sailing and steering would not have given the required level of progress to meet the target. That is basic commonsense.

And, actually a "bit of string and rubber" as you suggest would not steer the boat.

 

[Seajet]

I was in Weymouth once when a chap singlehanding an early Southerly came alongside; I noticed the 'Grimsby' harbour dues sticker and was impressed, and we got chatting as you do.

I hadn't been prepared for what he said next though; he'd sailed direct non-stop from Grimsby, taking cat-naps as he tacked along the English Channel !

My toes almost curled out of my shoes when he said completely seriously, " I had this 250,000 tonner coming at me, you know he just wouldn't give way ! "

 

[Tommyrot]

You really do not want to understand, do you. The simple fact that if you set yourself a plan of action that can only work if you have a certain capability, and you lose that you are doomed to failure. I had a voyage plan that depended on being able to maintain 100 miles per day (in the right direction) irrespective of wind direction and strength (plus a contingency). So when you lose that capability and you have lost most of your contingency and the "worst" ie most difficult, part is still to come you have to re-assess. Of course if you remove the key constraint (time) then you have a different set of options.

It does not matter whether it is a failure of electronics (actually mechanical failure in this case) or a failure of the person, the outcome is the same. The option of sailing and steering would not have given the required level of progress to meet the target. That is basic commonsense.

And, actually a "bit of string and rubber" as you suggest would not steer the boat.

Now the fact that you set yourself an unattainable target (4kts minimum, 24hrs per day!) and failed, has little to do with someone else's plans.

"And actually", whatever your experience, you can always learn a bit you know...

http://www.jsward.com/steering/index.shtml

 

[Solent Joe]

This is how I predict your voyage will end up.

Everyone could speculate as to the outcome of the trip, but it's not really of much use. I'm going to go out prepared, and by doing so minimising risk. Obviously weather and, to an extent, mechanical failure is out of my control, but that's life. That's the risk I have to live with.

Joe buy a Hurley 22 or Archillies 24 or similar but nothing bigger, then just go sailing and then do more sailing. Once at sea you can identify the good and bad advice for yourself. After you have pushed your single handed sailing envelope to the point you can overnight from Gosport to Dartmouth with ease you will then be ready to make your own plan for the UK circumnavigation.

Thanks, I appreciate that useful advice.

 

[Seajet]

Gosport to Dartmouth singlehanded seems like a long trip to me; not sailing wise - though it's possibly heading into the prevailing SW winds - but it's a long way on ones' own to stay awake and alert.

I'd plan to stop at Studland for a meal and kip, though I appreciate the suggestion was possibly referring to the sort of trip one may expect if going around Britain...

 

[viejo gringo]

decent boats

I'm looking to sail single-handed around Britain via Cape Wrath in the next couple of years (still very much in the planning stage! ) however, I've planned on purchasing a boat in the coming months- most probably being the one that will take me around Britain, so I need to take appropriate features into account.

What should I look for in a boat to complete a single-handed circumnavigation? obviously overall build quality etc, but anything specific? also any boats in particular that I should keep away from/tend towards?

My budget for the boat is around £5K excluding refit.

While I'm here, other general tips from those of you who have completed this circumnavigation would be great!

how about a hurley 22 had one once great little mover, the other one i was thinking about would be a halcyon 27, especially with an original sabb engine

 

[Seajet]

My Anderson 22 once beat a Rival 34 in a slog to windward into a real solid F6+ from Bucklers Hard to Chichester; the Rival owner was not at all amused, but as an ex-Hurley 22 owner and also a past National Champion in the Enterprise dinghy class he commented " I can't believe it, the Hurley would have stopped dead in those conditions ! "

After that Ken always greeted me with " I hate that boat ! " and I got the idea he wasn't entirely joking...

 

[Lucky Duck]

My Anderson 22 once beat a Rival 34 in a slog to windward into a real solid F6+ from Bucklers Hard to Chichester; the Rival owner was not at all amused, but as an ex-Hurley 22 owner and also a past National Champion in the Enterprise dinghy class he commented " I can't believe it, the Hurley would have stopped dead in those conditions ! "

After that Ken always greeted me with " I hate that boat ! " and I got the idea he wasn't entirely joking...

Thanks for this

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3545597&postcount=79

 

[robertj]

My Anderson 22 once beat a Rival 34 in a slog to windward into a real solid F6+ from Bucklers Hard to Chichester; the Rival owner was not at all amused, but as an ex-Hurley 22 owner and also a past National Champion in the Enterprise dinghy class he commented " I can't believe it, the Hurley would have stopped dead in those conditions ! "

After that Ken always greeted me with " I hate that boat ! " and I got the idea he wasn't entirely joking...

But to be fair, alot of very good sailors have fast boats, only to be found they're not so fast, when helmed by someone else.

 

[robertj]

Joe
sort a boat that's good to weather, as you'll find you will be doing that 90% of the time, or so it will seem.
Look over your buget, Husler/sadler etc and try stupid offers, you never know.

A local owner of a mevagissey tosher chatting to a young local apprentice shipwright
gave him his boat on the understanding that he looked after her.

 

[Seajet]

But to be fair, alot of very good sailors have fast boats, only to be found they're not so fast, when helmed by someone else.

Thanks ! I think...but it's the boat, not me; the Anderson 22 is not very good in light airs, but comes alive beating into the strong stuff, a couple of 'non - youngsters' in A22 'Aquila' beat off 70 odd competitors in the Nore race a few years ago.

 

[aslabend]

Worth an offer?

 

[Seajet]

Siri looks a nice boat which will be kind on her crew, though I rather doubt she'll break any speed records.

Personally I'd have liked to see mention of a boat of this age being dried out and gel-shielded, for fear of the big 'O' word...

 

[aslabend]

Personally I'd have liked to see mention of a boat of this age being dried out and gel-shielded, for fear of the big 'O' word...

Do many CO26's sink from osmosis?

Like most boats, Siri is as quick as the bloke who sails her.

 

[Chrissie]

I know the boat (Grayling) thats a bargain price, thousands less than she was up for sale at at Port Solent some years ago.

The engine type is a reliable one, if its been laid up properly and serviced you could still get years out of it.
Loads of these boats do circumnavigations let alone just trips round the UK, It was a fast boat, winning lots of races, and previous owners took it across the channel regularly. I have one of a similar vintage, mines 1967, no. 28 built.
I shouldnt think it will hang around on ebay for long, but they could have got a much better price via the Contessa 26 association for sale page.

 

[Chrusty 1]

I know the boat (Grayling) thats a bargain price, thousands less than she was up for sale at at Port Solent some years ago.

The engine type is a reliable one, if its been laid up properly and serviced you could still get years out of it.
Loads of these boats do circumnavigations let alone just trips round the UK, It was a fast boat, winning lots of races, and previous owners took it across the channel regularly. I have one of a similar vintage, mines 1967, no. 28 built.
I shouldnt think it will hang around on ebay for long, but they could have got a much better price via the Contessa 26 association for sale page.

Only if people are willing to pay it, it's very much a buyers market now, anybody that thinks otherwise is either out of touch with reality, or isn't serious about selling their boat.

The Contessas are beautiful boats though, and tick most of my boxes

 

[doug748]

I know the boat (Grayling) thats a bargain price, thousands less than she was up for sale at at Port Solent some years ago.....

.....I shouldnt think it will hang around on ebay for long, but they could have got a much better price via the Contessa 26 association for sale page.

Yes, 50% below the usual run of asking prices, bet she is sold as we speak.

 

[jonjo]

I'd plan to stop at Studland for a meal and kip, though I appreciate the suggestion was possibly referring to the sort of trip one may expect if going around Britain...

That was my intention, best suffer fatigue on a training exercise in Lyme Bay than elsewhere around the UK coast. There is not much to hit half way across at night.

but it's a long way on ones' own to stay awake and alert.

I find it possible to stay awake for 36 hours on a 12 minute catnap night sailing routine. If Joe is serious about getting around in 3 months he is likely to be forced to spend a night at sea.

 

[Solent Joe]

Certainly lots of cheap boats around- as Chrusty said, it's very much a buyer's market. I won't put in an offer on any boat yet though, I'm going to wait until September at the earliest when I have the time to sort it out.

 

[dylanwinter]

not always best to wait

Certainly lots of cheap boats around- as Chrusty said, it's very much a buyer's market. I won't put in an offer on any boat yet though, I'm going to wait until September at the earliest when I have the time to sort it out.

it is often beleived that boats are cheaper in the autumn than they are in the spring

however, at this time of year you do get blokes who have bought the next boat before selling the last - like me

some of them will be very keen to sell

so keep looking - the cost of keeping a boat is trivial compared to getting the right boat

and you could be sailing it this summer, doing the odd bit of weekend work on it and finding out ehat needs fixing by sailing it until it breaks.

the first two weeks on the slug had me breaking stuff every day

better tpo break stuff when not under pressure than when travelling

so my advice is to buy a boat when you see the right one and then set about testing it and yourself

D