Dublin to Isle of Man

Johnboy2004

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 Feb 2004
Messages
172
Location
cork
Visit site
hi folks....

i have a 21 foot beneteau first 211, RCD class B.
im planning to leave dublin early on a friday morning, and head to the IOM to arrive port st mary round 9pm that night. then return early sun morn to Dublin....

i havent done a trip like this before, so far from land.... i have done dublin to carlingford a few times. any advice greatly appreciated... i have gps, sat fone, charts, zodiac dinghy, flares etc....
i most likely will be travelling single handed,,,,, plan is for this weekend... any tips / advice greatly appreciated,,,

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Good luck John.

Make sure of your forecasts and have back-up plans if something unforeseen happens eg fog.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Keep a good eye on the sea cats, they come from nowhere.

Always clip on when leaving the cockpit, religiously, if you slip you die on your own!

Take strong coffee and pro-plus In case you start dropping off.

Mind the weather, it is a big place the Irish Sea and can get quite nasty, when I have crossed I have never taken a chance on the weather.

Oh always clip on.

Hope you have a really great crossing and I hope for all our sakes the piggin weather sorts itself out. I am starting to forget what that big yellow thing in the sky looks like!

If we go, I have never stopped at the IOM yet, seen it a few times but never actually stopped, it is going to be a few weeks away yet. I look forward to any recce information you come back with.

Fairwinds

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>
1.gif
</A>
 
Hi

As far planning goes I would do all the chart work before you go have all your
waypoints plotted and plot your position on the chart at least every hour and keep a deck log detailing trip,total distances course and bearing steered so in the event of your GPS failing you know exactly where you are. I would also look at where else you can run to if the weather turns bad and it is not possible to
make the IOM and would have all these waypoints plotted as well.
I would keep a very close eye on the weather as even a force 5 in the Irish sea can be quite rough.
Food wise its a good idea to have snacks etc ready so in the event of rough weather you don't have to go below to try and boil the kettle or cook.
Don't know how your are fixed for time but you could go to Carlingford,Ardglass then across to Peel/Port St Mary which would split the trip up into
shorter passages.

Hope this helps

Andrew

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
I did Howth to Port Erin a few years back two up in my Extravert, which is a similar sized boat at 7m. We had a light headwind all the way which meant that the water distance was well over 100 miles. It took us 22 hours, and was tiring even with 2 of us.

If you have winds that mean that you can get there or back without tacking, you should be able to do it in the time you suggest. However, if you have a headwind on either passage (sods law says that you will have headwinds both ways) then expect it to take considerably longer, and consider splitting the passage as already mentioned.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep tri-ing.
 
Hi John,

If you end up in Strangford lough, and need a swinging mooring, let me know, I've got a spare one in Portaferry.

Cheers,

Stu

<hr width=100% size=1>As with most posts here - my personal opinion - take it or leave it.
Stu
 
hi there thanks for the offer, from hearing the different advice , me thinks that it is a long trip indeed. and espically single handed....... i gonna keep a good eye on the weather,,,see what happens..... as i speak im trying to organise a second crew member... an extra set of eyes...

thanks for all the info

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Top