How much better is sailing on the south coast compared to the north?

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pezza3434

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Hi all,

I've got completely obsessed with sailing over the past year, but continue to get increasingly frustrated with the lack of options where I live (Manchester).

I'm interested mainly in cruising on dinghies and yachts. But still have an interest in getting involved in some racing. There's a few clubs near me but everything is just incredibly slow to get started. I did my Dinghy level 1 & 2, but the club I did it at seems to be slowly dying as there's only ever a few boats out at a time. It also closes for 3 months over the winter. I looked at another club near me that seems more active, but I think they were unimpressed when I mentioned that I wasn't super bothered about racing. They want me to wait till some specific training day (IN APRIL) to get started.

I have Liverpool marina near me, but again, it's just all about racing.

Are things really massively better down south? I've seen clubs online with 1000's of members - just seems crazy compared to what we have up here.

I'm in a pretty fortunate position in that I can basically work from anywhere. Do you think a move down south could be worth it for the sailing opportunities?

Thanks everyone, really appreciate it.
 
Having sailed a few different areas ... I can honestly say that if you want variety and opportunity for literally anything boaty .. Solent just about has it.

But it all comes at a price if you want marina space. But if you are a self launcher down public slips etc. - its a no brainer in my view.

Where I live now in Latvia ... its DEAD !! Fantastic sailing in non tidal Baltic ... but its literally no mans land for boats other than people fishing on the river... or visitors stopping on way to another place !

There was a local joke a few years back - Nigel has half the Ventspils fleet at back of his house !!
 
Only in the Solent, where there are zillions of yachts whizzing about racing each other with added ferries and other big traffic. Elsewhere there are dragons, huge ship eating serpents and wide open seas. I've not met any selkies, but live in hope.

We sail the south coast of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, the Channel Islands and northern France, almost but not quite as good as the west coast of Scotland. Lake Solent is a lake with both ends open to the sea.
 
Your comment 'it just seems crazy' down south just about sums it up. In the Solent you can find facilitie for doing pretty any variation on boating. Trouble is everybody is trying to do it in the same place, and you will never, ever be on your own, except maybe in a January snowstorm, and even then there will be one or two other souls braving it. (I know, I've done it!)

Also, because of the crowding you will spend as much in a week here, as you do in a year 'oop north' and thats just for a mooring!

If you are a followerof the 'lonely sea and the sky', then dont come south! One thing you can guarantee: you will never be alone.
 
The east coast round Ipswich was on my list as somewhere vaguely close to places with jobs. I'm lucky enough to work remotely currently and dumb enough to want to live aboard (have inland for 8 years or so), but it's useful to be near somewhere with half decent salaries. Have settled on Brighton for now, doesn't look like the best sailing ground but I am far from the best sailor. Plan on working my way up the coast to Cornwall in summer.
 
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pezza3434 said:
Hi all,

I've got completely obsessed with sailing over the past year, but continue to get increasingly frustrated with the lack of options where I live (Manchester).

I'm interested mainly in cruising on dinghies and yachts. But still have an interest in getting involved in some racing. There's a few clubs near me but everything is just incredibly slow to get started. I did my Dinghy level 1 & 2, but the club I did it at seems to be slowly dying as there's only ever a few boats out at a time. It also closes for 3 months over the winter. I looked at another club near me that seems more active, but I think they were unimpressed when I mentioned that I wasn't super bothered about racing. They want me to wait till some specific training day (IN APRIL) to get started.

I have Liverpool marina near me, but again, it's just all about racing.

Are things really massively better down south? I've seen clubs online with 1000's of members - just seems crazy compared to what we have up here.

I'm in a pretty fortunate position in that I can basically work from anywhere. Do you think a move down south could be worth it for the sailing opportunities?

Thanks everyone, really appreciate it.
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Up North it rains.
 
ryanroberts said:
The east coast round Ipswich was on my list as somewhere vaguely close to places with jobs. I'm lucky enough to work remotely currently and dumb enough to want to live aboard (have inland for 8 years or so), but it's useful to be near somewhere with half decent salaries. Have settled on Brighton for now, doesn't look like the best sailing ground but I am far from the best sailor. Plan on working my way up the coast to Cornwall in summer.
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I spent a misspent youth in Brighton ... loved the place ... but as a place to sail from ? Its like Ventspils - where do you go to from there for a day sail ?

Despite some talking about Solent as crowded - yes it is if you follow the others ... but there are other places to drop the hook .. go that are not so crowded.
 
I'm not sure the OP would find the South Coast, even the Solent area, much more helpful for beginners wanting to cruise on dinghies and yachts. There are plenty of places where you can join in if you have your own cruiser and the budget for a marina berth, there are plenty of places to race a dinghy but few places where you can just turn up and sail.
What exactly do you want?

Even down here, a lot of clubs wind down from xmas to March. The inland clubs less so.
Lots of clubs have hundreds of members, but check out their race results to see what's actually happening.

There are many clubs in the North, including some very good ones.
Personally, I'd suggest considering having a go at racing, it's a good way to improve, it can be sociable and in many clubs it is the only time safety cover is really provided. You could buy a sound Laser for a three figure sum and have a go. Many clubs have people at the back of the fleet who are not too serious and it can be fun.
The trick is to find a club where you fit in with the people.
 
Refueler said:
I spent a misspent youth in Brighton ... loved the place ... but as a place to sail from ? Its like Ventspils - where do you go to from there for a day sail ?
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Round and round the windfarm until I get dizzy? Maybe the bright lights of Eastbourne. There's a bunch of other premier marinas on coast I can work my way up for free visitor berthing once I am less of a danger to shipping.
 
Several places on the Orwell (south of Ipwich) that might suit you. Ask on the East Coast forum. A much more interesting sailing area than Brighton and it is never manically busy and horrendously expensive like the Solent.
 
shaunksb said:
Before you go all that way, what about North Wales.

Conwy, Menai Straits, Anglesey all have clubs for cruising and a spectacular coastline in which to do it In.

You could be back home in time for tea.

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Or have a look at the Lleyn. There are several active clubs along the coast. We pay around £360 for the summer on a swinging mooring at Abersoch, and £200 for the winter at Porthmadog. It's a lovely area! IMHO better than the Solent! ;)
 
MoodySabre said:
Several places on the Orwell (south of Ipwich) that might suit you. Ask on the East Coast forum. A much more interesting sailing area than Brighton and it is never manically busy and horrendously expensive like the Solent.
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Might be better to just monthly and muddle my way about until I find somewhere I like. Brighton has other useful land stuff like a near by gym etc. Boat draws 1.5 and has legs so might be fun on east coast.
 
Surely wages in Essex & work opportunities should be OK. Links by train from to London Chelmsford Ok ( not tried them though) Then if you have a dinghy Stone sailing club on the Blackwater. We also have cruisers for cruising see-- Stone cruisers. A lot cheaper than the south coast. If you are into racing cruisers there is the local BJRC . If you are cruiser only then I hate to say it ( i am from Stone) You might prefer Marconi a couple of miles to the west . But Stone is far better for dinghies, & we are pushing to expand cruising in company
The area has loads of places to sail to including the continent, ( Boulogne, Calais, Dunkir, Nieuport, Ostend etc all within 14-16 hours sailing) & you will see from the website what we do. Bradwell marina is nearby & is not unduly expensive & access is not bad once one is used to it ( I draw 1.8 & have no hassle)
 
Refueler said:
I spent a misspent youth in Brighton ... loved the place ... but as a place to sail from ? Its like Ventspils - where do you go to from there for a day sail ?
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True and moreover the yacht club there had zero interest in anything other than racing while I was a member so probably not what the op is looking for. Sussex sounds like a great club but...shoreham. I'll argue that the yachting paradise of "the south coast" ends at Chichester.
 
laika said:
True and moreover the yacht club there had zero interest in anything other than racing while I was a member so probably not what the op is looking for. Sussex sounds like a great club but...shoreham. I'll argue that the yachting paradise of "the south coast" ends at Chichester.
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Shoreham has a great club for dinghies.
LA is pretty good too.
 
The Solent got its reputation as the best area of sheltered water for both racing and messing about. It still has a lot to be said for it, but I am content to have used it for visiting rather than as a base, as it is a bit of a madhouse and is now devoid of quiet water since the arrival of powerboats. The West Country has some of the finest scenery, with a selection of good places to visit, but is now crowded in season. The trouble with Brighton is that there aren't really any places to visit on a two-day weekend, except Shoreham I suppose. The East Coast is an alternative to the South Coast. It is devoid of rocks, but it is not without its attractions and challenges, but benefits from a large selection of places to visit, either tied up or at anchor, and is the driest part of the country. There is a large sailing community here and good number of clubs, but is not always appreciated by those sailors scared of mud.
 
A good friend of mine -sadly passed on - in Tudor Club when I was there ... we used to enjoy harbour 'cruising' as well as out into the Solent. Many people sailing Solent area do not enjoy their 'back yard' so to speak ... they cast off and out into the Solent amongst the Hooray Henry's ...
There are some amazing spots in those harbours and backwaters in the Solent area .. some you can anchor / beach at all day and be literally one ...

I do admit though - that East Coast always interested me as well ... but I'm not scared of a bit of mud bank !!
 
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