British Isles yacht delivery recommendations

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Andrew E

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Hi. I'm looking to move a Westerly Griffon (26 foot bilge keeler) from the Solent to Northern Ireland by the end of August this year. I've looked at road transport and the best quote is around the 3k mark, so with the cost of unstepping and stepping the mast added, it's just totally unviable for me. So it looks like I'll have to go down the delivery route, and from what I can gather online, many skippers offer their services at around the £100 a day mark, but whether anybody would be interested in taking an old Griffon up the Irish Sea for 5 days is another question? The boat is in relatively good condition, but she's not equipped with radar, AIS, radar reflector, an anemometer or a liferaft. The engine is original.

I don't really have the necessary sailing experience required to make this passage myself, nor do I have the crew willing to assist me. I'm pretty sure I could port hop along the South Coast, but rounding Lands End and the jaunt across the Bristol Channel and onwards up the Irish Sea isn't something I'm willing to do without professional assistance.

Ideally I require a professional to skipper the boat for the entire passage and I'm more than happy to be relegated to deck hand.

Any recommendations or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.
 
How about you port hop as far as Falmouth or the Scillies. Take it easy as you gain the experience. Rope in crew as you can. Even try the crew seekers forum. It gives you a summer sailing in places you wouldn't otherwise get a chance to visit.

Then maybe get a professional to get you from there to Arklow or Greystones (I never really see the advantage of calling in at Kilmore Quay, but may be different in a 26' bilge keeler). Doubt a delivery skipper will be as cheap as £100pd.

Then port hop the rest of the way to NI. Should be easy to drag mates down from NI for the east coast legs.

Other option is Solent to Holyhead and sail the rest. Mate did that one winter to get a boat to Dublin when the English Channel weather settings got stuck on F8 W or SW for a few weeks. Cost him £1K I think to Holyhead. The boatyard and club were very helpful getting the boat ready to launch.
 
I doubt you will see much change out of 2k by the time its been delivered. By the time you have factored in stopovers for bad weather, breakages and the cost of a crew (minimum of two). As already said, do it in a series of day sails, and consider help when you get up the west coast of the uk.

If you can find someone, use it as a training opportunity and go along as crew.
 
Sell it and buy a new one already in NI. Much more cost effective. Unless you've just bought it then it's a bit pointless. paid delivery crews want a non stop trip or as quick as poss with fuel or weather stops. They also need a sound, safe boat. A liferaft is probably a must so you'd need to hire or buy. best bet is get the experience and do it yourself with a willing crew.
 
I brought my boat (a Moody 31) from the Clyde to Titchmarsh on the east coast last year. The actual distance to travel would have been much the same going down the Irish Sea or via the Caledonian Canal. I looked at the Irish Sea route, but discarded it for several reasons: 1) I am not so familiar with the Irish Sea and the South Coast of Britain, 2) It would certainly mean either large detours or several very long and exposed passages and 3) I couldn't identify so many good refuges in the Irish Sea - I have a fin keel, so taking the ground isn't something to do lightly.

Although the distance is greater for you, you might consider going up the East Coast, and through the Forth and Clyde Canal. The only really long gap between refuges is that between Lowestoft and Whitby (Grimsby would be a possible way of breaking that up, but it's quite a long way out of the direct path); otherwise it's reasonable day sails the whole way. I didn't use the Forth and Clyde Canal because the depth limit is right on the margin of what I draw; a couple of shopping trolleys and I'd be stopped! But you'd be OK - there are mast lowering and raising facilities at both ends of the canal, but of course you'd need a few lengths of wood to support your mast during the canal passage.

It's an easy day sail from the Clyde to NI.
 
Andrew E said:
Hi. I'm looking to move a Westerly Griffon (26 foot bilge keeler) from the Solent to Northern Ireland by the end of August this year.
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The crossing to Ireland is going to be hugely expensive in time and ferry charges. You should be able to get it moved by road to somewhere nearby for around a grand plus cranes, then you can sail across. Whitehaven? Maryport? Troon?
 
AntarcticPilot said:
I brought my boat (a Moody 31) from the Clyde to Titchmarsh on the east coast last year. The actual distance to travel would have been much the same going down the Irish Sea or via the Caledonian Canal. I looked at the Irish Sea route, but discarded it for several reasons: 1) I am not so familiar with the Irish Sea and the South Coast of Britain, 2) It would certainly mean either large detours or several very long and exposed passages and 3) I couldn't identify so many good refuges in the Irish Sea - I have a fin keel, so taking the ground isn't something to do lightly.

Although the distance is greater for you, you might consider going up the East Coast, and through the Forth and Clyde Canal. The only really long gap between refuges is that between Lowestoft and Whitby (Grimsby would be a possible way of breaking that up, but it's quite a long way out of the direct path); otherwise it's reasonable day sails the whole way. I didn't use the Forth and Clyde Canal because the depth limit is right on the margin of what I draw; a couple of shopping trolleys and I'd be stopped! But you'd be OK - there are mast lowering and raising facilities at both ends of the canal, but of course you'd need a few lengths of wood to support your mast during the canal passage.

It's an easy day sail from the Clyde to NI.
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+1 I agree that Lowestoft to Whitby is a long way but you can break the journey by going to Wells, then anchoring at Spurn Head or Bridlington or mooring up at Scarborough. I have no knowledge of the Forth/Clyde canal but met a Moody 31 owner who had done it s/h and said it was not a problem and, if the helpful staff on the Caley are replicated there, you should have plenty of practical advice and assistance.
I have cruised both coasts and in Summer, when easterly gales are rare, I think you have a better chance of making progress rather than beating up to Lands End and then facing the long hops to Milford or Cork. Rail connections are generally more frequent and easily accessible from the east coast ports, Whitby and Eyemouth excepted, than the Welsh ports and beyond Torquay rail services are very slow.
However sailing her yourself by either route will take quite a time because you are bound to have to wait for the weather in a 26'ft yacht. In a voyage to the Caley last year in a 37' ft boat we were stuck in Hartlepool for 10 days and Arbroath for a week because of strong winds. We just accepted the problem and went home until yachting was possible again. With the children we were once stuck in Fishguard for a fortnight, nightmare, and again Neyland for what seemed an eternity.
I think your choice is clear cut. If you can move her yourself over many weekends and holidays do so and get the experience, but it won't be cheap! Or pay a professional crew and that won't be cheap.
Welcome to the world of yachting!
 
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Kurrawong_Kid said:
+1 I agree that Lowestoft to Whitby is a long way but you can break the journey by going to Wells, then anchoring at Spurn Head or Bridlington or mooring up at Scarborough. I have no knowledge of the Forth/Clyde canal but met a Moody 31 owner who had done it s/h and said it was not a problem and, if the helpful staff on the Caley are replicated there, you should have plenty of practical advice and assistance.
I have cruised both coasts and in Summer, when easterly gales are rare, I think you have a better chance of making progress rather than beating up to Lands End and then facing the long hops to Milford or Cork. Rail connections are generally more frequent and easily accessible from the east coast ports, Whitby and Eyemouth excepted, than the Welsh ports and beyond Torquay rail services are very slow.
However sailing her yourself by either route will take quite a time because you are bound to have to wait for the weather in a 26'ft yacht. In a voyage to the Caley last year in a 37' ft boat we were stuck in Hartlepool for 10 days and Arbroath for a week because of strong winds. We just accepted the problem and went home until yachting was possible again. With the children we were once stuck in Fishguard for a fortnight, nightmare, and again Neyland for what seemed an eternity.
I think your choice is clear cut. If you can move her yourself over many weekends and holidays do so and get the experience, but it won't be cheap! Or pay a professional crew and that won't be cheap.
Welcome to the world of yachting!
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I decided against Wells because it is a tricky entrance if you don't know it, and I would be arriving after a long passage from Whitby, so couldn't be sure that I'd arrive at a good state of the tide. Fine if you know it, but I don't (yet!). Coming from the south, Wells might well be a good option for shortening the long hop, especially for a bilge-keel vessel. I personally discarded anchorages because it's nice to stretch your legs after a longish passage :). Further, the Spurn anchorage is nearly as far off the direct line as Grimsby is.

Concerning the F&C, the published depth is right on the limit for a fin-keel Moody 31, which have a reputation fof being somewhat deeper in the water than Moody reckoned! I also wanted to avoid the hassle of unstepping and stepping the mast, especially as it is a DIY operation at Bowling (they operate the crane but you have to do everything else). Further, I'd then be navigating the canal with an overhang at bow and stern, one end of which has a lot of delicate equipment mounted on it.
 
A few years ago I use RMS Transport to move my boat from Plymouth to Cumbria, they were very reasonable. Cumbria is just across the Irish Sea from N. I.
Edit: I had the mast unshipped at Plymouth Shore Store.
 
Get it delivered to Ardrossan, close to where John Shepherd has his yard, if you are not in a hurry he will do it as a return load, the Marina will lift it off and in for you and you can keep it there (either afloat or ashore) until you want to take it over. To Belfast Lough will be about 9-10 hours on a nice summers day. If you are going to the N. Coast head for Campbeltown then nip across the N. Channel. Last week I brought a boat to here from Strangford Lough via Bangor on my own, the wind was always below 20kts and the sun shone on the second day, from Bangor to Ardrishaig logged as 87 miles(with tidal assist) Ardrossan must be around 50, I really enjoyed it, though I was ready for bed when I got in.
Other options are Troon or Largs even Kip.
As you say a trip from the South Coast might be long and tedious though you do not need to go anywhere near the Bristol Channel, the east coast of Ireland has better harbours, plenty of bolt holes, prevailing off shore winds and more straightforward navigation, boats from Belfast Lough going to race in the Solent head South before they go East.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I only purchased the boat last July so I am very reluctant to sell her. I just received a good quote on Shiply to transport her by road and ferry to N.Ireland which I'm very tempted to go with, but I have this horrible feeling the whole process will be riddled wth additional costs and problems.

I'm not at all comfortable to sail her myself (or with friends) any further than Penzance. I few months ago I made a very rough journey plan, but the Irish sea is a big expanse of water in a slow 26 foot boat no matter how many legs it's broken into.

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Solent to Northern Island must be around 700M. The fuel stop only time would be a little over a week but not an enviable task. Fair tide day sailing, say 35M per day, would take around 3 weeks. As others have said, the weather could easily scupper any plans.

I did a similar journey, as far as North Wales, a couple of years ago and it took 10 days to cover the 500M. I draw 2.1m so my longest sail was Newlyn to Dale/Milford Haven at about 110M. There are ports along the north Devon coast suitable for your boat.

It would be a great learning opportunity if you can get crew to help along the way but you would probably have to pay quite a lot in travel.

Getting it by road to any west coast port seems a good suggestion. Why not call the Road Transporters and ask if they have plans to pick up a boat anywhere from North Wales to The Clyde? May be a bit lower cost compared to running an empty trailer.
 
Can you hire a flat bed trailer somewhere.
Beg/borrow a 4 wheel drive vehicle & tow it yourself
I towed a 26 ft 2.5 tonne keel boat 250 miles behind my disco no problem. Just cruised at 40 MPH & did not go mad. Have towed bigger loads OK.

The trip from S coast is not that bad. It is all down to confidence. I have been surprised in my round UK SH trips how many single handed sailors there are wandering round UK in smaller boats than 26ft. They all seem to get on OK. Just make sure the engine is running OK , carry lots of spare fuel, spare filters etc & be prepared to motor a lot. Sometimes doing a longer leg, although daunting at first can really save a lot of time. The 2 I would be looking at would be Newlyn Milford Haven & M H to Arklow. ( I did MH-Dun laoghaire)Then it is not too hard.
 
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Andrew E said:
Thanks for the replies.

I only purchased the boat last July so I am very reluctant to sell her. I just received a good quote on Shiply to transport her by road and ferry to N.Ireland which I'm very tempted to go with, but I have this horrible feeling the whole process will be riddled wth additional costs and problems.

I'm not at all comfortable to sail her myself (or with friends) any further than Penzance. I few months ago I made a very rough journey plan, but the Irish sea is a big expanse of water in a slow 26 foot boat no matter how many legs it's broken into.

Screen_Shot_2017-04-25_at_10.44.01.png
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Wexford is of course very shallow, so you'd need to enlist local help to get in there. Rosslare is very exposed, so the first port up is effectively Arklow. Beware of conditions where there'd be scend from the NE, but otherwise fine.

Around Dublin there are four choices: Greystones, DL, Howth & Malahide (five if you count Poolbeg up the Liffey). All except Poolbeg handy for the DART and it has enough buses nearby.

Carlingford is a fair detour, and getting in against the ebb isn't all that easy. You do get to race the boat-shaped buoys though.

Ardglass is on the direct route. Rocky entrance but easily enough depth for you. Beware of heavy onshore weather. In which case Strangford can be a port of refuge BUT ONLY if you go in on the flood. Trying the same on the ebb would be suicide.

On the other hand, I guess a fair proportion of your costs are for the ferry over. Could you get the company to quote for somewhere on the Scottish side as Quandry suggested.
 
Andrew E said:
I only purchased the boat last July so I am very reluctant to sell her.
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I imagine you may not yet have used the boat in more challenging conditions. If so, do you know whether the boat was regularly sailed at sea right up to before you bought it? The reason for asking is that many people buy a boat which hasn't been used much for ages, then take it to sea, the motion stirs up the crud in the fuel tank, then before they know it the filter clogs and the engine dies. Unless you're fairly sure it's been recently and regularly used at sea, it would be worth rigging up a DIY fuel polishing kit to try to clean the tank.
 
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