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

[Quandary]

Like Duncan, I am baffled as to what the OP is seeking, If he does not want to get involved in racing, what does he need a club for? If he wants to just go out and sail about in his dinghy or small yacht surely he can do that anywhere that appeals to him without human intervention, and the less crowded the place the easier that should be?
I started with a dinghy, towing it to Loch Erne, camping and exploring at weekends, we soon got bored, joined a club and began to race a bit, it was only then that we gained the confidence and skill to feel safe and really enjoy it.
We had a dinghy club in our village a few years back, after a summer spent training loads of kids I tried to run a few races to maintain and develop their interest. The committee, involving mostly parents, took the view that competitive sport was bad because not every kid would win and their little egos would be crushed if they did not. The vote split along gender lines but the decision was to respect the minority wishes of the mums. The Picos are still in the yard have not been used for several years, they tried canoeing as a non competitive substitute but it only had one season. We have two St Ayles skiffs in the village but they only take one out at a time in case they should accidentally compete with one another. The world has gone mad!

 

[johnalison]

The elephant in the room has yet to be mentioned... The weather!

It is a lot better to be based in the Solent in terms of comfort while sailing and number of days during which sailing is rational when compared to most other parts of the UK. I grant that there must be some fantastic sheltered sailing in Scotland, but you'll want to have eaten your porridge before going on the water!

One New Year we abandoned the C16th Sussex cottage we lived in at the time for the boat, based at Hayling, because it was so cold the underground sewage pipe froze. The sailing was very pleasant and unsurprisingly quiet.

The Solent does have attractions re the weather. We have tended to be less lucky in the West Country, where it often seems to be wet and windy and sometimes cold in the summer. The East Coast is the sunniest and driest part of the kingdom and is reasonably sheltered, though easterlies can be a problem. The South coast makes France accessible, while the East is handy for the Netherlands and beyond, though some interchange is possible with the extra day or three.

 

[eddystone]

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.

Maybe true of Solent but it’s possible to find solitude west of Berry Head

 

[lw395]

Out of peak times parts of the Solent itself can be quite quiet. Even in school holidays, midweek it's not crowded.
You don't have to go far to get some space.
The back of the Wight is not crowded.
Swanage and beyond is usually pretty quiet, compared to being on land. What do you want? Are you going to be upset if there's another yacht in sight? Or just if they're so close you have take avoiding action?

It's always amazing how the water is deserted during Cowes Week, past about 5:30pm.

 

[laika]

Like Duncan, I am baffled as to what the OP is seeking, If he does not want to get involved in racing, what does he need a club for? If he wants to just go out and sail about in his dinghy or small yacht surely he can do that anywhere that appeals to him without human intervention, and the less crowded the place the easier that should be?

I don't think the OP mentioned owning a boat and I understood s/he was looking initially for opportunities to sail with others. Every time anyone asks on here "how do I get into sailing?", "Join a club" is the standard reply so it doesn't seem unreasonable that someone should want to follow up on that. Doubtless a good club could provide sailing opportunities, discounted training and advice which might be invaluable to someone with no sailing friends or family.

Unfortunately the only club I have experience of would be precisely what the OP doesn't want and never having bothered with any club which doesn't involve house music before or since I can't really comment. But I *can* say that there's really nowhere quite like the solent for experience. You have a huge number of boating challenges crammed into a tiny area. It tests more of your colregs knowledge than most places and whilst it may not offer solitude, you can still find somewhere to park midweek and off season. I haven't been berthed there for 5 years now but coming west through the boat passage in the submarine barrier still feels like "coming home".

 

[vyv_cox]

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.

Travelling distance is of great importance
Some of the suggestions in this thread are frankly ridiculous for someone who lives in Manchester. My club in Anglesey, based on Menai strait, has many members from Manchester and further afield. Travelling by motorway and A55 is mostly within reasonable time of being on board, barring holdups. One of the best cruising areas in UK, with a wealth of scenic destinations dependent upon weather.

 

[lw395]

Travelling distance is of great importance
Some of the suggestions in this thread are frankly ridiculous for someone who lives in Manchester. ...

I think you missed the point.
Living in Manchester is frankly ridiculous for someone who wants to sail in Devon...
I read it that the OP is open to the concept of moving to get better sailing.

 

[Tim Good]

“The south coast” is a bit vague... I personally don’t like the Solent.... far too busy. However from Torbay West is still lovely. HAd a boat in Dartmouth for a few years and would thoroughly recommend that area. You can sail all year round if u have a small cruiser. And harbour fees for moorings are way less than a marina. From Manchester also consider Pembrokeshire, North Wales and of course the Clyde... that’s the gateway to the UKs best sailing area... NW Scotland.

If you want the south coast personally don’t do the Solent unless you’re looking for racing and very active clubs.

 

[C08]

Having had a boat moored in Red Wharfe Bay, Conwy, Beaumaris, Portmadog, Mochras and Milford Haven over a period of 15 years and sailed the Irish Sea pretty extensively we moved to the South Coast only for the better weather in the South. The season on the south coast is about one month longer in the spring and autumn, and there seem to be fewer days of prolonged rain and high winds and temperatures about 3 degrees warmer. The amount of boating traffic is a shock at first but as is said it does keep you alert and the greater interaction with large container ships is also good for thinking about the use of ColRegs.
The number of dinghy and club racing fleets is enormous and from what I have seen gives lots of opportunities for crewing different types of boats. What has been a surprise to us is how much better as a cruising ground the south coast is compared to the north west. There is an abundance of safe and sheletered anchorages, big rivers to explore inland, large natural harbours such as Falmoth, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth and Chichester and marinas everywhere, if that is what you like.
The downside is the higher cost of moorings although many clubs have alongside and swinging moorings and of course trailing down the M6 from Manchester.

 

[vyv_cox]

I think you missed the point.
Living in Manchester is frankly ridiculous for someone who wants to sail in Devon...
I read it that the OP is open to the concept of moving to get better sailing.

No, not missed the point. Far more sensible to investigate good places close by before the trouble and cost of upping sticks, perhaps to somewhere that turns out not to be as good as he thought.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I learned to sail in the superb cruising ground of West Cork and subsequently kept my boat there, but due to the practicalities of maintenance and possibly more frequent sailing, decided to relocate to Malahide Marina, near where I live, in Dublin. The problem with this area is that it's not particularly interesting for cruising, and most sailing clubs on this coast appear to be more focused on racing. My solution is to plan trips to the Welsh coast for Bank Holiday weekends and longer periods cruising in the Summer. It would take me approximately 10 hours to get to the likes of Carlingford or Wicklow while Holyhead is only a couple of hours further and would open the gate to a highly regarded area.

 

[alan_d]

I was hoping someone who knew about it might tell us about the North Coast. It has always seemed to me that it would be rather challenging, with Cape Wrath at one end and the Pentland Firth at the other.

 

[Mud]

The problem with the south coast, is there’s too many Southerners! Lol

Just an hour away, you have N.Wales, or clubs around Fleetwood that give you access to the Irish Sea.

 

[Minchsailor]

I was hoping someone who knew about it might tell us about the North Coast. It has always seemed to me that it would be rather challenging, with Cape Wrath at one end and the Pentland Firth at the other.

I've been there! Its a pity its so isolated as there are some great anchorages. Loch Eriboll, Talmine and the islands off the Kyle of Tounge,, and in suitable weather its possible to anchor in the bays off the villages between there and Scrabster.

Don't expect too much in the way of 'facilities' though, but scenery great, and few other boats around.

 

[steve350]

South coast is busy and congested. Lots of people all looking for a quiet anchorage. I recall a glorious sail to Salcombe. I ventured well up stream and anchored in a pool just north of The Bag. I settled in to enjoy the end of a lovely day, the plaintive call of roosting birds, a farmer ploughing a field in the distance, the scent of the land on the evening breeze. Wonderfull untill a huge slab sided, twin screw vessel anchored almost on top of me. I could reach him with my boat hook! For my pleasure he started his generator and ran it all night. Absolute zero consideration.

 

[Birdseye]

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.

Sailing activity in the UK is mostly in clusters. Yes the biggest is probably the solent but there are clusters in north wales, the bristol channel, falmouth, plymouth, the crouch and no doubt others that I have not been to. Club life is not that healthy - with the change of generations has come less interest in joining clubs and more inclination towards marinas and charters. So a lot of clubs struggle membership wise and dont have as much activity as they used to do. That said, racing is club based.

 

[TSB240]

I dont understand what the ops problem is. He either wants to cruise in dinghies or yachts?
He has qualified to level 2 so he can rig and handle a dinghy in settled conditions and has some training in safety. He doesn't want to go racing.
Crewing opportunities on cruising dinghies are pretty rare . I would think this would apply wherever you are in the UK. I dont know of any highly organised clubs that offer this in the NW. Inland clubs like Carsington or any on the pennines around Manchester might be a good chance. Most active clubs will however be race orientated. My first step from pottering around a tiny pond in Shropshire was to sail the length of Bala lake. You can hire boats there or at Llyn Brenig out door centres. BOTH would offer nearly the same challenge as sea sailing on a windy day. Get some experience then go it alone by buying boat.
If you fancy a bit of crewing on cruising boats try out a taster weekend with one of the north west sailing schools. A trip out around Anglesey or to the IOM would be better than any Solent pond sail. Look up Sail training plenty based Conwy or Port Dinorwic including Plas Menai. Most yacht clubs will put you in contact with any of their members offering day sail , weekend or longer distance cruising. There is absolutely no interest in our membership for racing! The op would probably have to get used to a group of largely retired grumpy old gits though!The growing face book groups also offer a non club orientated contact for crewing opportunities on cruising boats.

 

[zoidberg]

I was hoping someone who knew about it might tell us about the North Coast. It has always seemed to me that it would be rather challenging, with Cape Wrath at one end and the Pentland Firth at the other.

That's truly Hard Core stuff for a wee boat. Back in the day I did 'quite a lot' of dinghy camping - Catapult, 3 sails , and camping ashore..... in some really out-of-the-way areas. I discounted the north coast of Scotland as there were so very few boltholes which, in a wee, wee boat, you really need. Always.

Might the OP consider The Orkneys?

 

[rszemeti]

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.

__________________________

+1 on this! We have our boat in the Straits, some of the best sailing in the UK in my opinion around there. Easy to get over to Ireland, up to IOM and Scotland, or just bash "around the island" ... and half the price of the Solent!

 

[Minchsailor]

That's truly Hard Core stuff for a wee boat. Back in the day I did 'quite a lot' of dinghy camping - Catapult, 3 sails , and camping ashore..... in some really out-of-the-way areas. I discounted the north coast of Scotland as there were so very few boltholes which, in a wee, wee boat, you really need. Always.

A few years ago I got into Loch Eriboll after quite a long sail from Stromness in the Orkneys; anchored N of the Ard Neakie, along with 3-4 other boats. It was blowing a bit and all of us started dragging (loads of weed). One of the boats was an old plywood cruiser (Silhouette?, 17ft) with 4 people on board of what appeared to be 3 generations (parents, daughter, grandfather) and an outboard on the stern. I really felt sorry for them as we all motored down in the gathering gloom to Camus an Duin for better shelter.

I left the next morning to get round Cape Wrath, but they were nowhere to be seen. Often wondered where they went...............