Clyde (and beyond?) early November?

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Amphitrite

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Family and job constraints only leaving a potential window in the first week of November.....
I am considering a charter on the Clyde for a week. Have done a few trips in the Irish Sea/Clyde in April/early May and enjoyed it (empty, generally good weather with usually one day of too much wind, days not too short), and the crew liked it as well. Did Dutch waters in November as well....

Now the question is how different would a week in early November be? Boat (charter) likely to be between 40' and 45', crew of 4-6, exploring the Clyde, potentially crossing to NI....

Thanks in advance
Holger
 
Weather wise, who knows this far ahead (late September / early October had some great weather up here last year).

But certainly the days will be getting shorter by then. Fine for short hops but a lot less daylight than May
 
I wouldn'the recommend it. You will be the only boat out. It will be cold and wet, temps possibly below freezing at night then there is the possibility of being storm bound for days in somewhere. It just won't be pleasant. You might think for a day or so if you are well prepared with warm clothing that it might be nice but the novelty would soon wear off. A lot of charter boats will be laid up by then. If it was me looking at charter for a week that time of year I'd be heading for eastern med.
 
Spyro said:
I wouldn'the recommend it. You will be the only boat out. It will be cold and wet, temps possibly below freezing at night then there is the possibility of being storm bound for days in somewhere. It just won't be pleasant. You might think for a day or so if you are well prepared with warm clothing that it might be nice but the novelty would soon wear off. A lot of charter boats will be laid up by then. If it was me looking at charter for a week that time of year I'd be heading for eastern med.
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We chartered for 12 days in Grenada/Grenadines last November/December. A good choice. SE Trades at 20-24Kts the whole time and never under 28C. Excellent sailing experience.
It can be nice for the odd day in November in the Clyde, but that is the exception. I've been out in the Clyde in January- it's a lonely environment. Other than ferries/fishing boats and timber coasters , you are unlikely to see a soul. Keeping warm is the biggest challenge, followed by trying to get anything dried!
 
I am surprised there is so much negativity in the responses most of us sail until late October so you are only stretching it by a week or two, of course the weather might be horrible, as it often is here in July. The clocks will have changed though so you might have to go to the pub at 17-30 but they will have the fire lit.
Can I recommend contacting Tony Bennett at Argyll Yacht Charters to see what he has at that time of year. From their base at Ardfern you can get to Tobermory or to Islay without venturing out of the lee of the Inner Hebrides, a lot more fun than just touring the Clyde marinas.
 
Thanks for the views - Ardfern sounds interesting, and we don't really mind being the only (sailing) souls out there.... going to the Grenadines would make SWMBO jealous, but a boys week still sounds not too bad for me!
 
Quandary said:
I am surprised there is so much negativity in the responses most of us sail until late October so you are only stretching it by a week or two, of course the weather might be horrible, as it often is here in July. The clocks will have changed though so you might have to go to the pub at 17-30 but they will have the fire lit.
Can I recommend contacting Tony Bennett at Argyll Yacht Charters to see what he has at that time of year. From their base at Ardfern you can get to Tobermory or to Islay without venturing out of the lee of the Inner Hebrides, a lot more fun than just touring the Clyde marinas.
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It might come across as negative but it I think most comments are based on experience. Yes you might get the odd nice day if you pick them carefully but planning a week's cruise and sticking to it is just not a great idea in November. Sailing is meant to be enjoyable and a big part of that is the weather. Cold and wet is just miserable. Warm and wet is just bearable.
 
Amphitrite said:
Thanks for the views - Ardfern sounds interesting, and we don't really mind being the only (sailing) souls out there.... going to the Grenadines would make SWMBO jealous, but a boys week still sounds not too bad for me!
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SWMBO came with me- we usually sail together, so jealousy sidestepped. We used a mooring on 2 nights - anchored all the rest. If you like good rum there is plenty to be had at sensible prices - on Carriacou in particular. Charter boats are about 50% huge Cats, and the rest monohulls almost all over 42ft. Size is no issue since anchoring is the norm. We went Sunsail bareboat, but Horizon yacht charters look good as well.
 
Spyro said:
It might come across as negative but it I think most comments are based on experience. Yes you might get the odd nice day if you pick them carefully but planning a week's cruise and sticking to it is just not a great idea in November. Sailing is meant to be enjoyable and a big part of that is the weather. Cold and wet is just miserable. Warm and wet is just bearable.
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I presume the OP lives in the UK and knows what to expect, I did not guarantee heat or sunshine. Perhaps my optimism is not my inexperience but based on memories of racing right through the winter when you went out in any weather, we must have enjoyed it or would not have done it for so long. Though I do always remember one Sunday morning in January driving past Ballyclare golf course on the way to Carrickfergus when one of the crew in the back of the car remarked 'Would you look at those eedjits, out playing golf a day like that, can they not see that it is snowing', the irony of our own mission was completely lost on him. Despite my inexperience, I also recall that sailing in November at the start of the series was reasonably comfortable compared to February and the OP is going for what to me is a reasonably large boat.
Winter sailing is like rugby or any other outdoor winter sport, short passages of a few hours at a time are enough and Ardfern would be a good starting place for that. If offered the chance I would go in early November if the alternative was not to go at all, but I agree that you might need not to be too ambitious. There are more hot showers and sheltered passages going north than south.
Myself, I would go for the warm climate option but surely the OP would have considered that first?
 
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