Has anybody sailed up the east coast to Cape Wrath ?

jpcarter30

jpcarter30

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If somebody did I'd be curious as to why many people avoid the Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh route. Is it notoriously difficult? What is it?

I'd like to head up to the Orkney's for my summer cruise, can anybody help?
 
Has anybody sailed up the east Coast to Cape Wrath?

jpcarter30 said:
If somebody did I'd be curious as to why many people avoid the Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh route. Is it notoriously difficult? What is it?

I'd like to head up to the Orkney's for my summer cruise, can anybody help?
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Yes, but I didn't find Cape Wrath on the East Coast.
 
'Yes, but I didn't find Cape Wrath on the East Coast. '

pedantic bugger. Over the top then to CW

'I take it you don't have much experience of Scottish fishermen, then?? '

Absolutely none, is that why?
Surely somebody has headed that way before?
 
Purely my own opinion, but a sail up the West coast will be much more interesting. There are also parts of the East coast with very few harbours, such as North of Inverness.
 
East Coast/Orkney/Cape Wrath

jpcarter30 said:
If somebody did I'd be curious as to why many people avoid the Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh route. Is it notoriously difficult? What is it?

I'd like to head up to the Orkney's for my summer cruise, can anybody help?
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No it's not notoriously difficult, once you get round Kinaird Head into the Moray Firth, take time to explore the Cromaty and Inverness Firth. Plenty places to 'hop' to when North bound again; Helmsdale has floating pontoon, lovely village beautiful surroundings excellent fish and chips. Lybster, safe harbour, stay afloat in the inner harbour if your long keel, buy a lobster for a few pounds from one of the fellas there, walk to the pub, lovely. Wick harbour/marina entry at all states of tide, nice Indian restaurant 200mts. away. Orkney 'fiddely' but fine, watch the route accross Pentland firth, DO NOT underestimate and absolutely pick your time well. If you are intending to go to Cape Wrath and down the West Coast via Orkney cruise stopping points on North Coast are few. 'Rabbit Islands' on the Kyle of Tongue is good, or Talmine bay as it only a short dinghy trip to shore then visit the 'Craggan Hotel' brilliant food. After here apart from Loch Eriboll you are exposed so just watch the weather.

I think any reputation is unfounded, through June, July and August (guess this will be your chosen time) plenty of lovely sailing, long days, no problems really Pentland excepted and this is o.k. if you plan and pick the time, anyone at Wick will help you out and make it easy.

I cruise my Westerly 33 (and horror of horrors it's a bilge keeler) here, my goodness it's a beautiful area to cruise. Relax, plan to take plenty of time because there is so much to enjoy.

Cheers.
 
Doghousekeeper said:
I take it you don't have much experience of Scottish fishermen, then??
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Idiotic and inflammatory comments like yours make me wonder if you ever go to sea!

The men who man the lifeboats to get stupid or unlucky yachtsmen out of trouble would probably just shake their heads in disbelief.

The east coast route is indeed less attractive in that there are few boltholes in east/northeast winds and the North Sea is no place for the fainthearted.

However---
EYEMOUTH -brilliant ,welcoming and bustling with fishingboats

Arbroath ----ditto

Stonehaven--ditto

Peterhead --ditto

Whitehills--ditto with bells on but no longer any fishing boats

Buckie-- good shelter and welcoming

Helmsdale--ditto

Wick ditto

Scrabster ditto

and if you can take the ground umpteen little drying harbours at VERY low charges--if any.


Most marinas and harbours are run by ex fishermen---they tend to have good local knowledge. UNLIKE SOME IDIOTS ON HERE
 
North East Coast

jpcarter30 said:
What's the problem at Pentland?
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As already said, very strong tidal stream/current. Also tends to be no 'slack' period, it changes from one direction to the other with NO SLACK to be worth calculating into passage plan. Overfalls, localised widely varying currents/streams that don't appear in sailing directions. Non of this is problematic if you pick the day, the wind and the route. I am overly cautious as a yachtsman (so I am told, though I am not convinced), the Pentland is really fine but I tend to transit East/West/West/East using directional stream, 'I always take the long way home'. Keep the engine ticking over and keep watch on your bearings!

Weather is important, the seas can be very confused indeed if there is or has recently been any kind of 'stiff breeze'

Take heed and it will be fine, it is a beautifull sail for the scenery, I love it.
 
jpcarter30 said:
If somebody did I'd be curious as to why many people avoid the Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh route. Is it notoriously difficult? What is it?

I'd like to head up to the Orkney's for my summer cruise, can anybody help?
Click to expand...
Here's the Bishop's recommended 4-day route to the Orkneys up the East coast: Eyemouth direct to Stonehaven, just over 60nm, and you are 60nm offshore at the mid-point. Stonehaven is OK against the wall if there is not too much swell but the inner harbour dries. Aberdeen is totally non-yacht friendly, they simply won't let you in, so next stop from Stonehaven is Peterhead, a decent marina in a rather industrial situation in a depressing town. From there again the direct route is another long day sail straight up to the new marina at Wick. You could detour into the Moray Firth to Whitehills or Lossiemouth but why bother?

All easy entrances, three long day sails in Summer, just a passage chart required, gets you there quickly - there really isn't much to see on the way. From Wick the Orkneys are an easy hop and then you are in a decent cruising ground.

BishopT
 
I have done this route 3 times and all these ports are interesting places. Aberdeen will let you in. I have frequently noticed yachts in the basin during the summer months. I have berthed in Aberdeen for 2 nights and a colleague about 2 months ago over nighted in Aberdeen. It is busy 2 hours each side of the high tide as the large rig supply vessels depart / arrive. So Aberdeen is a port that can be considered. It is a busy port though. Peterhead is a much better bet.

All three times for me was beat into a short steep chop and that forms my impression of Scottish East Coast sailing. The pubs and people I have always found to be friendly.
 
Aberdeen???

Bishop Terrorchoke said:
Here's the Bishop's recommended 4-day route to the Orkneys up the East coast: Eyemouth direct to Stonehaven, just over 60nm, and you are 60nm offshore at the mid-point. Stonehaven is OK against the wall if there is not too much swell but the inner harbour dries. Aberdeen is totally non-yacht friendly, they simply won't let you in, so next stop from Stonehaven is Peterhead, a decent marina in a rather industrial situation in a depressing town. From there again the direct route is another long day sail straight up to the new marina at Wick. You could detour into the Moray Firth to Whitehills or Lossiemouth but why bother?

All easy entrances, three long day sails in Summer, just a passage chart required, gets you there quickly - there really isn't much to see on the way. From Wick the Orkneys are an easy hop and then you are in a decent cruising ground.

BishopT
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Sorry to disagree with you, Aberdeen more than happy to accomodate yachties, as I found out this year....Facilities lacking, but cost @ £20. for 5 nights cheapest of the lot!! in the old fish harbour. Thoroughly agree with previous poster re: Eyemouth, Arbroath, Peterhead, Whitehills, Lossie, not forgetting Findhorn ( a real E.Coast river) & Inverness.
 
Bishop Terrorchoke said:
Here's the Bishop's recommended 4-day route to the Orkneys up the East coast: Eyemouth direct to Stonehaven, just over 60nm, and you are 60nm offshore at the mid-point. Stonehaven is OK against the wall if there is not too much swell but the inner harbour dries. Aberdeen is totally non-yacht friendly, they simply won't let you in, so next stop from Stonehaven is Peterhead, a decent marina in a rather industrial situation in a depressing town. From there again the direct route is another long day sail straight up to the new marina at Wick. You could detour into the Moray Firth to Whitehills or Lossiemouth but why bother?

All easy entrances, three long day sails in Summer, just a passage chart required, gets you there quickly - there really isn't much to see on the way. From Wick the Orkneys are an easy hop and then you are in a decent cruising ground.

BishopT
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Have to say, Moray Firth, Cromarty & Inverness are really quite lovely and I think worth the detour just to 'chill'. Lossiemouth is a nice Marina with relaxed atmosphere and 'berthside' cafe/coffee bars, my wife likes it, she isn't so much a sailing person so finds such places 'fun' to stop over instead of my preference for quiet anchorages with lovely backdrops.

Maybe I am biased, but if you like cruising then to take in places like Lossiemouth, Cromarty and the anchorages on the Firth, then Helmsdale whilst on the way to Orkney, well............... I enjoy it.
 
boathead said:
Have to say, Moray Firth, Cromarty & Inverness are really quite lovely and I think worth the detour just to 'chill'. Lossiemouth is a nice Marina with relaxed atmosphere and 'berthside' cafe/coffee bars, my wife likes it, she isn't so much a sailing person so finds such places 'fun' to stop over instead of my preference for quiet anchorages with lovely backdrops.

Maybe I am biased, but if you like cruising then to take in places like Lossiemouth, Cromarty and the anchorages on the Firth, then Helmsdale whilst on the way to Orkney, well............... I enjoy it.
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OP asked for a route to Orkney. Of course if you are an Eastcoaster then you know all the good places. Lossie and Whitehills are both great, and the Moray Firth is a worthwhile cruising gorund - but even if you know and love it you can't describe it as somewhere you had to sail before you died. If you have a limited time to spend aboard and you want to cruise Orkney then you need to concentrate on getting there ASAP surely.

BishopT
 
Ludd said:
Idiotic and inflammatory comments like yours make me wonder if you ever go to sea!

The men who man the lifeboats to get stupid or unlucky yachtsmen out of trouble would probably just shake their heads in disbelief.
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And that's why we have smilies, so that we can indicate when comments are tongue-in-cheek.

I accept that the nature of the forum means that my years at sea, my knowledge of this particular area, of fishermen, and of lifeboatmen are hidden by the anonymity of a user name - but the unintentional irony of your remarks did make me smile, and I'd like to thank you for that.

For what it's worth, by the way, I agree with Boathead.
 
what smiley?

Doghousekeeper said:
And that's why we have smilies, so that we can indicate when comments are tongue-in-cheek.

I accept that the nature of the forum means that my years at sea, my knowledge of this particular area, of fishermen, and of lifeboatmen are hidden by the anonymity of a user name - but the unintentional irony of your remarks did make me smile, and I'd like to thank you for that.

For what it's worth, by the way, I agree with Boathead.
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Point took ! BUT the post I responded to had no such beastie!
 
More than helpful comments on here fellas. I shall now start drawing up the plans and 'probe' the east coast in anticipation of a fine wind and the haul up to Scotland.

Boathead, I've pm'ed you as you're a denizen of the deep from up that way. I was poring over the chart and both Cromarty and Inverness look wonderful, I've been that way before but never sailed it. I'll head that way and over to the Orkneys, particularly want to look at Scapa Flow as do my two boys and then I'll be flexible as to what I do next.

I do ,however, feel that the entire East Coast, both England and Scotland, is criminally ignored and catered for and so that appeals to me.

Doghousekeeper, I did take your comments with a pinch of salt so no offence taken. My worry about Aberdeen is that Aberdonians are the 'tightest of the tight' are they no'?

Once more, thanks for the help fellas and if there's a bit of knowledge you wish to share on any part of the route keep it coming.
 
jpcarter30 said:
Doghousekeeper, I did take your comments with a pinch of salt so no offence taken.
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Well done - always a good approach with me

jpcarter30 said:
My worry about Aberdeen is that Aberdonians are the 'tightest of the tight' are they no'?
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What a shocking thing to say ... Aberdonians are noted for their generosity (just as long as it doesn't cost them anything, of course)

Hope you have a good trip, there are some fabulous places to visit, and I'm glad to see you're heading into the Moray Firth. Keep an eye out for the dolphins
 
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