Crinan to Lymington End Oct/Nov

gibo993

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Picking up a 34ft Yacht near Crinan, Argyll, and would want to sail her back to Lymington, timing would mean around the end of October/Early Nov. Anyone have any suggestions as best route, good places to stop, warnings. We will want to do this a fast as possible, but do of course want/need to stop a few times.

East coast of Ireland or West coast of Mainland UK, Equinoxal Winds?? have been late last few years

It’s around 590 nm

Main objective would be to get her to the South Coast and as far up as possible in 7-8 days.

I'm no expert not sailed for a while but we will have a very experienced Yacht master on board and a crew of 3 maybe 4
 

snooks

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Picking up a 34ft Yacht near Crinan, Argyll, and would want to sail her back to Lymington, timing would mean around the end of October/Early Nov. Anyone have any suggestions as best route, good places to stop, warnings. We will want to do this a fast as possible, but do of course want/need to stop a few times.

East coast of Ireland or West coast of Mainland UK, Equinoxal Winds?? have been late last few years

It’s around 590 nm

Main objective would be to get her to the South Coast and as far up as possible in 7-8 days.

I'm no expert not sailed for a while but we will have a very experienced Yacht master on board and a crew of 3 maybe 4

You may be lucky with the weather, but the last year in October we were getting 40 knots, November we were getting up to 50 knots in Largs.

We brought her down in spring, no wind at all.

Our plan was arrive on the Friday night in Largs, do shopping Saturday Morning, have a short shake down to Lamlash, leave very early the next morning to catch the tide south to Bangor, or if the weather was good Ardglass/ IOM or Howth /Holyhead then Arklow / Milford Haven, then Padstow / Newlyn then Falmouth, Dartmouth, Swanage, Gosport

Because we were planning so far ahead we really didn't know what to expect with wind directions.

There were three of us we did 2 hours on 4 hours off.

Tidal Stream Atlases NP222 (part of NP218) and NP256 helped us work out where we had to be and when.

If you're going down the East of Ireland get your tides right so you get past Wicklow head with some time to spare, we had over 5 kn of tide with us SOG 10.6 knots :D

In the end we had little wind so we went from Largs to Howth, Howth to Falmouth, Falmouth to Dartmouth, Dartmouth to Gosoprt. We spent 2 nights in Howth (Exhaust elbow cracked) and 2 nights in Falmouth visiting my family.

We did the trip in a total of 7 days and 13 hours
 
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Quandary

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Snooks route is fine and gives you the choice of mainland ports if the wind just happened to be easterly but I would recommend Gigha and Bangor to get you south from Crinan. If it is easterly do not use Ardminish Bay, Gigha, but then you may want to press on from Crinan to Bangor in one leg (18-19 hrs) . Plan to be at The Mull of Kintyre at LW , slack water is a benefit there in winter and the flood will push you quickly southward, Gigha sound is easier in daylight but the marks are lit now. I have not done so many passages south of Howth so I will leave that bit to others who have sailed there more.
If you are forced to use the Crinan canal it will add a day (short opening hours from now) but Ardrishaig to Bangor is about 13-14 hours with the option of a break in Carradale or Campbeltown. Tide is not to strong until Sanda, again Paterson rock at LW.
It can be a tough trip in winter so unless the crew has unlimited time, choose ports where you can leave the boat and return if needed.
 

gibo993

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Great stuff just what we need, part of the reason to use the UK Mainland coast would be easy access to the boat if we had to leave her, but the tides are more favourable on the Irish coast and hopefully more sheltered and more places to duck in??

How long did Howth to Falmouth take??
 

snooks

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How long did Howth to Falmouth take??

48 hrs at around 5 knots. Getting the timing right to get past lands end was a bit hit and miss, we arrived a little earlier than planned and caught the tide south, and basically stopped going west. We were aiming for Newlyn, but we had our tides worked out for different parts so because we were 3 hours early we kept going to Falmouth :)
 

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In november the days are getting very short and the nights very cold. It will get cold very quickly after dark. I pressume you will be sailing during the hours of darkness as otherwise it would take for ever. Be well prepared with plenty of cold weather gear, thermal undies, hats gloves etc. I've found a hot water bottle tucked into my clothing works wonders. As for the route I think the weather will dictate that but as others say getting the tides right are very important.
 

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For what it is worth when heading for the North Channel from Crinan,I have always made for Glenarm Marina just north of Larne. Then hopefully in the lee of the land worked my way down the east coast of Ireland - plenty of bolt holes. I haven't been past Rosslare though.
On a 500 to 600 mile trip at that time of year, you are almost bound to encounter BAD weather. Make sure that the crew know this and that sea sickness will not be tolerated!
Dave
 

Quandary

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For what it is worth when heading for the North Channel from Crinan,I have always made for Glenarm Marina just north of Larne. Then hopefully in the lee of the land worked my way down the east coast of Ireland - plenty of bolt holes. I haven't been past Rosslare though.
On a 500 to 600 mile trip at that time of year, you are almost bound to encounter BAD weather. Make sure that the crew know this and that sea sickness will not be tolerated!
Dave

Can't agree with that at all; Glenarm is a diversion across tide and so much slower, it adds at least four to five hours to the journey, and you are crossing the channel where the tides are stronger and the seas are bigger but wasting all the push of the flood. I prefer to steer straight for the Mull and pass it close to, inside the broken water, stay inshore until well below the light, when every thing is smoother then set course to pass east of the Maidens. It is likely to be wind against tide as you go down the Irish coast so stay well out from Ballygally Head and Muck Island. The direct route is east of them anyway.
Glenarm is a useful port of refuge or cruising stop over from Port Ellen, Rathlin etc. but since you can get from the Mull of Kintyre to Bangor in the six hours of a single flood tide why go by a route that takes twice as long.
Not tolerating sea sickness is a bit extreme, how do you do that, throw them overboard.
 

gibo993

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In november the days are getting very short and the nights very cold. It will get cold very quickly after dark. I pressume you will be sailing during the hours of darkness as otherwise it would take for ever. Be well prepared with plenty of cold weather gear, thermal undies, hats gloves etc. I've found a hot water bottle tucked into my clothing works wonders. As for the route I think the weather will dictate that but as others say getting the tides right are very important.

Part of the reason I'm buying a yacht with a duel inside helm as well, lot of people (well my father) is very worried about the Mull as he grew up in Glasgow and has heard stories of how bad it can be.

Just wish I was going this weekend!! So I think I have the start of the journey sorted, Crinan to Gigha as a shake down and depending on wind direction are there mooring buoys here or is it just anchor, then onto Bangor, then on to Howth or Dun Laoghaire, then pick are way down the Irish Coast or across to Millford, any suggestions for good stops down there and either from Wexford across to Lands End and into Falmouth, or Milford, Lundy and around that way (I know Lundy is out of the way but I have always wanted to visit)
I know it’s a silly question but can you get a phone signal all the way through the Irish sea? as one of the guys may have to do something called 'work' part of the time.

Thanks for the info so far it really helps
 

Quandary

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Gigha has visitor mooring buoys in the east facing Ardminish bay but if there is wind from that direction it is rolly, however it is close to the pub, there are alternative anchorages both at the north and south end of the island. You should get a mobile signal in the North Channel and most of the Irish sea, I hope you get the weather your crew who intends to work on the passage is expecting.
 

lenseman

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We where starting to try and aim for next weekend, but this may put paid to that idea Hurricane OPHELIA heading across the Atlantic

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?5-daynl#contents

I know its hard to say how long till that clears through.

I predict the remnants of hurricane Ophelia, which currently has wind speeds of 115mph and likely to decrease and lose its identity by Tuesday 4th October, will arrive northern UK on 5/6 October.

I have been assisting Paul Hardaker on his yacht Zuma for the past two months with his challenge, Sailing Around UK for the Crohn's and Colitis Charity:

http://www.zuma-paul.blogspot.com/

FACEBOOK
http://www.facebook.com/groups/155426681180180/
 

gibo993

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Wow, Is Paul the guy who had his African Grey stolen and then got him back??

I have an African grey too but not sure I would trust her to come on the boat (just yet).

Sounds like he is having a tough time getting to the end, looks like a bit more sponsorship is needed to help him on his way!!!
 

lenseman

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Wow, Is Paul the guy who had his African Grey stolen and then got him back?? . . . .

Yes, we had a difficult week or so trying to locate Findlay and keeping Paul's spirits up but we were successful in the end, :)

. . . . Sounds like he is having a tough time getting to the end, looks like a bit more sponsorship is needed to help him on his way!!!

It is getting difficult as he has been delayed by the weather and as a Crohn's sufferer, he feels it more than most. He must not take any risks during these last final days of his journey.

If you feel like sponsoring him, I am sure he would be very appreciative. :)
 

pagoda

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Gigha has visitor mooring buoys in the east facing Ardminish bay but if there is wind from that direction it is rolly, however it is close to the pub, there are alternative anchorages both at the north and south end of the island. You should get a mobile signal in the North Channel and most of the Irish sea, I hope you get the weather your crew who intends to work on the passage is expecting.

Quite.
However easterlies are not thick on the ground at Gigha, fortunately. The stretch from Gigha to the North Channel can get a bit exposed to SW weather, and that - combined with the Mull requires some respect - and as Spyro says ..get the tides right. If you arrive at the appropriate time you can get a huge boost down towards Belfast/Bangor. Crossing the North Channel is unlikely to take very long in October!
It is very likely to be lumpy, of the 1.5 to 2.5m league, but as long as whoever is on the helm has their wits about them it should be do-able.
You might be better to hesitate in Gigha - or maybe Campbelltown for an approaching wedge of higher pressure, rather than get battered by strong SW winds on the outside of Kintyre?
It will take longer than you allow- since the chances of at least 1 low pressure system geting in your way are high.
 
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At this time of year and with a crew of 4, I would chose my weather window and go non stop. You are quite likely to get a couple of good days but you wont get 7 in a string. So you need to make progress and the best way of doing that is what I suggest.
 

starboard

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Stick it in Ardfern for the Winter then enjoy the sail next spring.....one thing for sure the North Channel is a **** hole most of the time and not a great place to be in October November!! :)
 

Spyro

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Stick it in Ardfern for the Winter then enjoy the sail next spring.....one thing for sure the North Channel is a **** hole most of the time and not a great place to be in October November!! :)

That's the best advice so far. Or take her through the canal and leave her somewhere on the Clyde.
 

Quandary

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I am not as concerned as some by your plans, if you have the right crew it should be manageable as long as you pick your weather and you will only be in the rough part of the North Channel for an hour or so. It settles rapidly as you get away from the narrow bit.
However if you are attracted by the idea of leaving it until the spring you also have the choice of afloat or ashore in the Crinan Canal at Bellanoch or Cairnbaan, much cheaper than in the Clyde Marinas if a bit harder to get to. The lift out at Cairnbaan is scheduled for 13-14 Oct. there will be a crane riggers etc in attendance and there are plenty of spare cradles (BW bought twice as many as they have room to set up), shore power water etc. and I am fairly sure there is still space. The weather in March is usually at least as bad as now and it will be colder so you are talking about April at least before it improves on October.
PM me if you need contacts.
 

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