Boating area snobbery

MoodySabre

MoodySabre

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I have been re-reading a recent thread of mine which including the idea of a boat swap - my Moody 31 on the east coast for similiar on the west coast of Scotland. Ken McC replied "I am not sure how many West Coast cruisers would want to swap with a boat based in Essex or thereabouts"

Clearly some preconception at work here (unless he has actually sailed on the east coast). The east coast is a delight as many will testify and those who haven't been here but have seen Dylan's vids will hopefully have seen its charms. Saltmarsh and shallow creeks compete equally with Ken's mountains.

Ok, I wouldn't want to sail all the time in the Solent as it is too busy by far but good sailing and fair winds to you all I say. There is a real sense of fraternity amongst (most) boating people - long may it last. Wherever you are - enjoy it.

P.S. I'm going to Scotland at the end of June so watch out for Southern jessies worried about all that deep water :eek:
 
MoodySabre said:
I have been re-reading a recent thread of mine which including the idea of a boat swap - my Moody 31 on the east coast for similiar on the west coast of Scotland. Ken McC replied "I am not sure how many West Coast cruisers would want to swap with a boat based in Essex or thereabouts"

Clearly some preconception at work here (unless he has actually sailed on the east coast). The east coast is a delight as many will testify and those who haven't been here but have seen Dylan's vids will hopefully have seen its charms. Saltmarsh and shallow creeks compete equally with Ken's mountains.

Ok, I wouldn't want to sail all the time in the Solent as it is too busy by far but good sailing and fair winds to you all I say. There is a real sense of fraternity amongst (most) boating people - long may it last. Wherever you are - enjoy it.

P.S. I'm going to Scotland at the end of June so watch out for Southern jessies worried about all that deep water :eek:
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All these Essex girls-----:rolleyes:

Each area has its merits,but when you sail in deep water right up to to the cliff foot,you get a bit worried about sailing on damp mud!
Don't think it's snobbery.
 
I sailed on the East Coast last summer, in the Orewell and at Southwold. I thought both were delightful and I would be happy to further explore that area.

It is a bit scary though. Very, very little water,bars at river entrances and very busy. I did like the weather though and Adnams was a good pint
 
We all have those sort of prejudices. For example, I live in South Wales. Now what's your image of South Wales? Derelict pit buildings? Slag heaps? Rows of delapidated jerry built miners houses? Sure you can find those if you look hard ( as you can in most areas) but south wales has every bit as attractive countryside as Devon and Cornwall as you logically might expect since its geographically next door.

Similarly what would you think about sailing the Bristol channel?

I've sailed the east coast and would love to go back some day. I've sailed the west coast of scotland and enjoyed that too, but the rain and the midges and the cold would discourage me from returning there. Each to his own
 
Bosun Higgs said:
You've been to Swansea on a Saturday night, havent you? Lots of big girls in small clothes. :D
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Alas, no. We've got an event running in Cardiff at the moment, and reports I'm hearing back are amusing. I've never been to South Wales myself, though keep meaning too.

Also, to go back on topic a little, the east coast is a beautiful place to sail. There some cracking anchorages, some of the best marinas I've ever visited, some sheltered play areas in rivers, and a Europe thing across that big river that runs between England and Belgium.

Great people around there too.
 
MoodySabre said:
Boating area snobbery
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Not sure why you've interpreted Ken's comment like this. I read your original thread and thought the same as him but for the reason suggested by Ludd and nothing to do with snobbery.

I come out in a nervous rash with less than 10m below the keel and begin to whimper with fear in less than 5m. I certainly wouldn't want to be responsible for someone else's pride and joy with 2m to spare. :eek:
 
Bosun Higgs said:
Now what's your image of South Wales?

I've sailed the east coast and would love to go back some day.
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My son has a boat on the Milford Haven so I am familiar with a beautiful and generally unknown area. Most people I talk to have never been to Pembrokeshire and don't know what they are missing.

A trip on the east coast could be arranged :)
 
Scotland sounds wonderful for sailing BUT it's a long slog from
The south and when driven away from anchorages, victualling, harbour dues and chances of prolonged rain sound even higher than the solent!
For traile sailing at v short notice given Sn excellent forecast it sounds ideal....
 
Expressing a preference is not snobbery, it's an opinion (IMHO :)). I'm sure there is great fraternity and companionship in Essex; the swatchways and muddy creeks have their charm, and I for one have enjoyed Dylan's videos. But would I really want to swap the mountains, lochs and islands for Essex? I'd rather not, and I'd guess that most who sail The West probably feel the same. Not snobbery but preference.

MoodySabre said:
Saltmarsh and shallow creeks compete equally with Ken's mountains.
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Sorry, but that's an opinion not a fact. Incidentally, I wouldn't worry too much "about all that deep water", it's the other stuff you need to think about. There are probably fewer "soft landings" in The West.........
 
toad_oftoadhall said:
Totally agree with your sentiment, each to their own. None the less some people prefer some cruising grounds to others - it's a fact. I know I have areas I never want to see again and areas I like to go to over and over.
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I know a certain east coaster that gets vertigo if he looks over the side in more than 3 fathoms!

That's right I said fathoms, proper measurements, I don't hold with all this Johnny Foreigner stuff!:D
 
machurley22 said:
I come out in a nervous rash with less than 10m below the keel and begin to whimper with fear in less than 5m. I certainly wouldn't want to be responsible for someone else's pride and joy with 2m to spare. :eek:
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We East coasters have the opposite fears.

If we go aground, it is only sand or soft mud. You have nasty rocks to seriously damage your boats
 
I am not sure how you get from my speculative thought that you might not find many takers, and that a charter might be a better plan, to making claims about my own attitude to or knowledge of particular areas. I have nothing against what English yachtsmen call the East Coast (my own east coast runs from about Coquet Island to Fraserburgh), indeed I would love to get to know it better.
 
KenMcCulloch said:
I am not sure how you get from my speculative thought that you might not find many takers, and that a charter might be a better plan, to making claims about my own attitude to or knowledge of particular areas. I have nothing against what English yachtsmen call the East Coast (my own east coast runs from about Coquet Island to Fraserburgh), indeed I would love to get to know it better.
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That's just how I read it Ken - no offence meant. Better come here before you need a passport :D
 
I must say the a Dylan/£200 millionaire (or was it £500?)type of sailing does have appeal. A snugg anchorage,warm stove and some bird song sounds nice. The mud doesn't ..Unless I was running aground on it.

But the lochs and islands will keep me busy for a long time yet.
 
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