Fermanagh

[corp0193]

Hello,
I'll try againto post as it didn't appear before, so apologies if it then comes twice.
I'm new to sailing but plan to buy a boat this year. We are in Fermanagh - anyone else on here from Fermanagh or have experience of sailing on Lough Erne?

 

[Tremlett 15]

Hello,
I'll try againto post as it didn't appear before, so apologies if it then comes twice.
I'm new to sailing but plan to buy a boat this year. We are in Fermanagh - anyone else on here from Fermanagh or have experience of sailing on Lough Erne?

Hi corp0193,

I spend most of my w/es in Fermanagh & work around the area too, have NEVER sailed on L Erne in a sailing boat, all my boating now is mobo, rib & speedboating on L Erne, based around Bellanaleck but I am a member of L Erne Yacht Club, a good club, you should consider joining if ur going to sail on L Erne & its a good training club too.

Remember that you will need to drop your mast to get below the bridges in Ennislillen when using larger saiiling boats.

 

[Quandary]

Yes, I would second the idea of calling in to Lough Erne yacht club, even if you intend staying on the upper lough. They will tell you which boats suit the water and about getting about the different parts of the lough. I could put you in touch with a member who keeps a boat there but he may not be around the Club just at the minute.
Many years ago when life was simpler we used to cruise the lough in a mirror dinghy camping on the islands at night, lovely place but even wetter than the W. Coast of Scotland though not quite as many midges.

 

[jhr]

My experience of boating on Lough Erne is limited to a blast out in a small mobo belonging to a cousin of Mrs jhr. On the strength of this trip, I'd echo Tremlett 15's comment about not sailing - many of the channels between the stretches of open water are narrow and winding and I think you'd find sailing very frustrating. You'll also need lots of grunt (once you've lowered your mast ) to get through the Enniskillen bridges against the current when the water levels are up, so if you go for sail, don't skimp on the iron topsail.

Beautiful part of the world but lends itself more to motorboating than sailing, imho.

 

[Tremlett 15]

My experience of boating on Lough Erne is limited to a blast out in a small mobo belonging to a cousin of Mrs jhr. On the strength of this trip, I'd echo Tremlett 15's comment about not sailing - many of the channels between the stretches of open water are narrow and winding and I think you'd find sailing very frustrating. You'll also need lots of grunt (once you've lowered your mast ) to get through the Enniskillen bridges against the current when the water levels are up, so if you go for sail, don't skimp on the iron topsail.

Beautiful part of the world but lends itself more to motorboating than sailing, imho.

Sorry.. I did not mean that I would not sail on L Erne, just I have NEVER sailed in a "sailing boat/yacht" on L Erne.

but as jhr says it would be a bit restrictive, Lower L Erne is the "best" ( largest areas ) waters for sailing, I assume thats why the "sailing" club is based at Gublusk.... one would not see too many on Upper L Erne apart from aroung the "Share Centre".

corp0193, what type/make of sailing boat are you considering ?


see

http://www.leyc.net/

 

[corp0193]

thanks

Thanks for your replies. Its good to feel welcome. We are thinking about a 25-27 foot boat as have 2 young children so want a safe cabin, and also lots of friends and family who want to come sailing too. So we need a boat that can take 6! I have a friend at the yacht club, and am signed up for the next learn to sail course (my husband is very into sailing but I've only done a few weeks on the broads)

Will a saloon or a 4x4 pull a boat of this size? We may take it out to Mullaghmore but I want to get experience on the relatively safe inland waters before going to sea!

Nice to 'meet' you all

 

[Lady Campanula]

You and your family are very welcome here, and we'll look forward to seeing photos of some of your sailing, in the fullness of time?

There's a huge resource of knowledge and experience available to you here, and lots of people who've very specific know-how. Most are only too pleased to 'put something back in', but as in other walks of life, you'll need to separate the wheat from the chaff.

I believe you'll find most folks at most sailing and/or yacht clubs ( there's a difference! ) similarly keen to be helpful to you, but you'll need quietly to ask - or hint - for the same folk won't want to be intrusive.

Good luck with your sailing.

 

[WindyOut]

I was born and raised near Goblusk and had my very first sail at LEYC (interestingly there's a sign to it on the main road, and visiting Americans used to think that's how we spelt "lake"). Hmm.

The Lower Lough offers superb sailing - island dodging around Killadeas when the northwesterly's blowing - and long tacks down the "broad lough" (the open part north of Rossclare) when it's not. The broad lough is 11 nm long (approx., from memory), and the fetch can present 2m waves, so Lough Erne's a great introduction to seafaring as well as freshwater pottering in beautiful surroundings.

You'll have so much fun on the Lower Lough that you'll not want to bother dropping the mast to go through Enniskillen. In any event, the Upper Lough beyond Enniskillen is much more shoaly, and if you're drawing more than 1.3m you'll find it a bit restrictive.

Oh, and the yacht club at Goblusk also offers racing experience - see if you can get a ride on one of the J/24s some time!

 

[SAMYL]

I was born and raised near Goblusk and had my very first sail at LEYC (interestingly there's a sign to it on the main road, and visiting Americans used to think that's how we spelt "lake"). Hmm.

The Lower Lough offers superb sailing - island dodging around Killadeas when the northwesterly's blowing - and long tacks down the "broad lough" (the open part north of Rossclare) when it's not. The broad lough is 11 nm long (approx., from memory), and the fetch can present 2m waves, so Lough Erne's a great introduction to seafaring as well as freshwater pottering in beautiful surroundings.

You'll have so much fun on the Lower Lough that you'll not want to bother dropping the mast to go through Enniskillen. In any event, the Upper Lough beyond Enniskillen is much more shoaly, and if you're drawing more than 1.3m you'll find it a bit restrictive.

Oh, and the yacht club at Goblusk also offers racing experience - see if you can get a ride on one of the J/24s some time!

Why not try a real yacht, one of the Lough Erne Fairies

 

[gi7kmc]

You'll also need lots of grunt (once you've lowered your mast ) to get through the Enniskillen bridges against the current when the water levels are up, so if you go for sail, don't skimp on the iron topsail.

We once hired a wee electric powered boat and we just about got through the bridges but we were almost going backwards at one point. (It did give the police who were manning a checkpoint on one of the bridges at the time a good laugh)

Jonathan

 

[WindyOut]

SAMYL,

Right. In fact, that first-ever sail I mentioned was on a Fairy. I was about 7, and I remember getting a fair bit of spray up as my dad and the owner pushed her well over on a series of big tacks off Inish Davar. No engine, but boy could she move.

Fair winds,
WindyOut