Bringing my new boat from Netherlands to Ireland next year

[paulheu]

Hello and Ahoy !

I am about to buy a 32 foot sailboat in The Netherlands (in great shape, certainly blue water capable and at a very good price as the owner is no longer able to sail her and wants her to find a good new home) which will likely stay there over winter (I am a Dutch Native living in Ireland), get her ready and then be sailed across to Malahide Marina, probably end March/early April.

I have been researching routes but could not find a "best/preferred option". My senses tell me that sailing down the Dutch/Belgian/French coast and then up to the SW UK coast and around into the st Georges channel/Irish sea towards Malahide is a good option as I see tides may benefit me on that route. Alternatively go across directly from IJmuiden towards Ramsgate and then "hug" the UK coastline may be shorter, but not sure about feasibility.

I guess in the end tides and weather will be a big factor in which routes to choose, but I'd expect there are a few established ones (depending on weather). I used to sail a lot many years back and am currently studying and dusting of the rust on theory, but would like to hear form anyone with some experience. I do plan to bring at least one crew to allow a non stop route (weather permitting)


Any ideas/suggestions are very much welcome.

 

[dunedin]

How much time have you got? The scenic route would be heading NW then round the top or the Caledonian Canal

 

[paulheu]

How much time have you got? The scenic route would be heading NW then round the top or the Caledonian Canal

The plan for now is to try and get it done within 14 days, get her over here and then start planning trips for weekends and an occasional week in 2026, then longer trips 2027.

 

[zoidberg]

I do plan to bring at least one crew to allow a non stop route (weather permitting)

If I were that crew and had even a modicum of sea-sense, I'd be ill at ease with the notion of doing that lengthy trip 'non stop'.

Certainly, I won't be the last commentator on 'ere to suggest you put together a Plan B which includes time and space for several stops. Weather and fatigue both will almost certainly force that on you.... then there are breakdowns and failures of equipment, which also conspire to 'throw a spanner in the works'.

While he was for a time an Exciseman, and it is not recorded that he spent much time at sea, Scots poet Robbie Burns' famous words have been translated into many books of seamanship...

'The best laid plans o' mice and men gang aft agley'

 

[westhinder]

End March/early April is very early in the season. Very likely to be very cold/wet for what is a long delivery. You will basically be sailing against the prevailing winds in that season. If you can afford to wait until May and pick your time, you are very likely to find a weather window of Easterly or NE winds and the temperatures will have risen significantly.
As far as the route is concerned, I would also stay on the continental side to Cherbourg and then cross towards the Scilly Isles. If the weather is OK you can either do it in one hop from there, or break it up and stop in the Scilly Isles or Newlyn.
I have done that trip on the English side of the Channel against a series of depressions and it was errr, depressing. I have also done Cherbourg-Ireland in better conditions in one go and that was much more fun

 

[paulheu]

Certainly, I won't be the last commentator on 'ere to suggest you put together a Plan B which includes time and space for several stops.

That is fair and in part why I am already looking into how to best plan this. Also, my final decision on this purchase has to take bringing her over into account. And I looked at getting her delivered, but from the rough estimates I did receive that would quickly end up north of a €5K cost. It would actually be a less expensive option to just have her trucked over..

Sailing her over myself just seems more fun and making it work with stops would be fine.

 

[lustyd]

End March/early April is very early in the season

Usually eastierlies at that time. This year we did Solent to Scillies on a run the whole way in shorts and t-shirt starting March 30th, and the weather didn't get bad until Isle of Man in May.

The only worry for me is the timeframe. 14 days is insanity in a new to you boat, especially something as small as that. Bluewater capable is meaningless, it's still a 32 footer and as such will sap the crews energy so you'll want to stop every 1-2 days. The trip is a full week of sailing without stopping, just Newlyn to Malahide will be 2 days non stop assuming you get the tides right and stay away from the Irish/Welsh coasts.
Personally I'd spend two weeks moving it to the UK south coast, probably Plymouth for ease of transport, then another two weeks a little later getting to Malahide via the Scillies, Kilmore Quay, and Arklow.

OP is Dutch though, so will likely do it in one and be home in time for a beer after a week

 

[paulheu]

End March/early April is very early in the season.

I was advised as much yes.. and going in May is certainly possible.. Combined with my response above, couple of stops towards Cherbourg, take a break there, cross, break and around the corner into Ireland, possibly stopping in Cork and then final stretch to Malahide.

Timewise I guess that would be possible to do in two weeks, but may well run longer.

 

[lustyd]

possibly stopping in Cork

Kinsale or Kilmore Quay are much nicer stops than Cork. I'd also stop at Arklow which is a very cheap marina and has the most welcoming sailing club I've ever been to. Personally I'd skip Cherbourg too unless weather comes in or the tide turns against you.

Needless to say, stay away from the coast at night, the whole place is littered with pot markers. We also caught a very large piece of rope between Scillies and Kinsale which was just a 10m floating piece of 3" thick rope.

Also, if you hit the UK try to avoid filling with diesel. Not only is it red marked, but these days is full of black crud that'll block your filters. EU white is generally clean and trustworthy, and you won't get fined if someone checks (which they never seem to do!)

 

[Supertramp]

Check out where you can anchor to await tide or wind and take a rest. Riding the favourable tides makes a lot of sense in lighter winds. Plan alternative routes to deal with different wind scenarios. And make sure you have road tested the rig and engine before starting.

 

[dgadee]

My past route would be Newlyn to Arklow then up the coast. If you go to Kilmore Quay you have the opportunity to feast on the best fish and chips in Ireland. But the negative is that you then need to get around Carnsore with its awkward tides. Not sure why Malahide is attractive to you. Dun Laoghaire or Howth would be usual stop offs.

Edit: you are more likely to get easterly winds in the spring, I think.

 

[dunedin]

Best plan is probably not to have a fixed plan. Could get a great Easterly at that time of year and make lots of progress. Alternatively may not.

If you stay flexible and accept that at the end of your two weeks you may need to leave the boat somewhere part way, then that is the best “plan”. Equally stops in England or France also depend on the weather.
Perhaps briefly research places you could leave the boat safely and return home.

PS. When we departed Sweden last time I told my crew our target destination was Scotland - which gives a 300 mile or so range from Eyemouth to Shetland! When reached Peterhead roughly in the middle it was a bonus.

 

[lustyd]

Howth would be usual stop offs.

Howth was completely full a month ago and we were the only visitor as far as I could tell so it may well not be an option.

 

[dgadee]

Malahide, so far as I remember, hasn't got the ease of travel to Dublin or the airport. Could be wrong.

 

[lustyd]

Malahide, so far as I remember, hasn't got the ease of travel to Dublin or the airport. Could be wrong.

Its on the Dart and OP seems to be based there so probably knows that

 

[Finbar]

I bought a Malo 36 in Workum on the Ijsslemeer and sailed it back to Dublin in early June a decade or more ago. It took 16 days, mostly day sailing, with a weather delay of one day. Coasted to Cherburg, crossed to Dartmouth, on to Newlyn then Kilmore Quay and Dun Laoghaire.
Planned each day based on weather and tides on the basis of arriving somewhere in time for dinner, except for the overnight sailing.
A smooth enough cruise, although the bewly fitted Raymarine auto helm was not calibrated and we were seen motoring in circles in many ports. Finally the Dartmouth dealer put us right and all was well.
A nice cruise, three up and enjoyed by all.

 

[ylop]

Have you worked out the cost of a “summer berth” in Malahide and compared that to the cost of spending the whole summer slowly moving it round - perhaps in a series of long weekend trips every few weeks with flights or ferries back to Ireland? Ive not priced up either but it feels like that could be quite a fun journey with opportunities to deal with any snagging rather than a long slog of a delivery, hoping nothing big breaks?

 

[Thrownaway]

I bought a 30 foot boat in the Netherlands and sailed her back to Dublin over 8 days in August 2023. In hindsight, we were naive/lucky in that we had no major issues with the boat and had good weather (mainly for motoring) until Wexford (where we took a pasting).

I looked at both sides of the Channel beforehand, but ultimately opted to cross at Calais/Dover and follow the English coast. The main consideration was being able to regularly pull in on a foul tide and rest. I haven't done the passage on the French coast so can't comment if that was the right decision, but my impression is that the French side entails longer passages, more nights and foul tides. We didn't regret our decision!

We were lucky with the weather and we had nothing westerly until the Lizard and mostly light airs and sun. I would give yourself plenty of time in March/April because you're likely to get foul/strong winds along the way. Waiting for the right time to cross from the Scillies to Ireland could also take time (or else cut short your time in the Scillies, as happened to us).

We had a great passage and there's a huge amount of interesting and varied ports along the way. It is a long way for a small boat and, in the wrong conditions, the challenges involved with currents, shipping, etc. could make it into a bit of nightmare. But you could get lucky like us.

 

[paulheu]

Not sure why Malahide is attractive to you. Dun Laoghaire or Howth would be usual stop offs.

I live in 15-20 minutes from there
Also Malahide Marina fees are well below either Howth or Dun Laoghaire.


As it stands, for now and provided the sale goes through, is to plan for a month, travel Friday-Monday and work from the boat the other three days on anchor or at a Marina as I will get Starlink installed as part of getting her ready. Already have the OK from my employer for that if everything works out. But it's early days so things may change again as we get closer

 

[lustyd]

Starlink and laptops use quite a bit of battery so plan for a marina for that unless you have a significant solar installation.