Ireland-Scillies-Cornwall Cruise 2026

Dino

Dino

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Just got approved for 8 weeks unpaid leave next summer, my company offer something called Work Life Balance Time where you can take 6-20 weeks off work unpaid. I was 50 last July and I’ll be 25 years with the company this year so I thought it was about time to take an extended break.
We keep our Broom Ocean 38 on the River Shannon near Athlone but every few years we head out for a bit of Atlantic cruising along the Kerry and West Cork coasts along with 4 or 5 other boats.
I’ve always wanted to go further and get around as far as Kinsale and Cork Harbour. I lived in Cork for 5 years around 15 years ago and did lots of sailing in the area.
Over the last few months I’ve been thinking about going further and I’m now planning to cruise to the Isles of Scilly and on to Cornwall and maybe Devon.
I’ve bought the West Country Cruising Companion by Mark Fishwick and I’ve started planning on my winter jobs and upgrades.
I’m planning to fit a new Rocna Anchor and 50m of chain. An AIS Transponder is also on the list and a few other items.
Any time I’ve done sea trips before, it has been in short 2-3 windows but this will give me 8-10 weeks in total.
It’s all weather permitting of course and I will have a Plan B and C.
I’m looking to start from Kilrush in mid-May and spend 7-10 days cruising around to Cork harbour.
Then if I get a weather window, head to the Scillies and spend 3 or 4 days there.
Then on to Newlyn, Falmouth, etc. for up to another 3 weeks.
I really enjoyed reading the MBY series by @bluetooth and I have done lots of searching on this forum and elsewhere. I sent @kindredspirit a message asking him about his trip but I don’t think he saw my message.

So I have a few questions.
- What are the must visit locations on the South Cornwall and Devon coasts?
- Is there good availability of diesel and what can I expect to pay?
- Will I be okay to get berths/moorings in May and the first three weeks of June?
- Will I need to book berths in advance?
- Is it best to explore the Scillies by tender (Aluminium hull rib with 15hp Yam) and stay on a mooring if I get one?
- Are there any good online resources in need to check out? I use Eoceanic already.

Sorry for the long message but hopefully the forumites will be able share some wisdom with me.
Thanks,
Donie

PS I plan to do a good cruise report during and after the trip.
 
Berths shouldn't be a problem in May and June. Diesel available in most marinas and harbours. No idea of the cost though.

Invest in an almanac. Normally gives good details of most ports and anchorages, though web sites may be more upto date.

If weather is settled anchor in sheltered bays and use the dinghy to go ashore, etc.
 
On our trips to the West Country and Isles of Scilly (coming from Poole) we normally pick from Dartmouth, Salcombe, Newton Ferrers/Noss Mayo, sometimes up the Tamar past Plymouth, Fowey, Falmouth, Helford River and Newlyn (to stage the hop across to St Mary's in a sailing yacht). You can certainly get diesel in Dartmouth, Salcombe, Fowey and Falmouth, Newlyn was by arrangement/tanker last time we were there. And diesel is available on St Mary's if needed.

We often did our trips for 3 weeks in early June and never had anything booked/arranged.

For exploring Scilly, it depends how much you like shallow water, how many of the outer islands you want to visit and how good your depth navigation is! I hate the moorings at St Mary's as they are often very bouncy, we always anchored our Ovni in a drying bay (Green Bay) on Bryher, and would take the moorings between Tresco and Bryher over the St. Mary's ones in most normal conditions. Whilst 40' long our Ovni only needed 50cm of water with the centreboard/rudder lifted, so we happily moved that around all the islands anchoring at Old Grimsby Sound, Lower Town (St Martin's), Bull's Porth (St Martin's), Great/Little Bays (St Martin's), Great Ganilly, St Agnes/Gugh, Watermill Cove (St Mary's). We only carry a small Avon Redstart onboard though with 2hp, so with a bigger RIB and outboard in calm weather you could happily explore all of those places by tender.
 
Thanks Paul. There seems to be plenty of great harbours and rivers to explore. I’m keen to explore the Helford, Fal and Dart.
I think we should be good for moorings in May and June as it’s before the peak season.
We only draw 1.1m so we will have good options re depth.
 
Last year spent 4 months sailing south coast to lands end, padstow, dale, roslare, arklow, dublin, the loughs, N.I, w coast scotland .
Strongly rec Navily app, xcw, predict wind.
Diesel prices are alot cheaper THAN Eire & N.I.
If you are thinking or going anywhere near these areas, I may be able to offer some advice.
Have a great time.
Richard
 
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If new (old) boat purchase works out I'm also hoping to do a trip to the Scilly's from West Cork.
What is the procedure for checking into UK now, does the Common Travel Area mean we can just ignore any paperwork?
 
Be surprised if anyone checks. Had loads of visitors to Wales from Ireland last year. They just acted normal singing and drinking the bar dry.
You might need some ID if border force decide you look dodgy.
It works the same way for us going to Cork. A friend was boarded and had his and crews documents checked last year.
Reminds me I need to get my passport renewed!
 
There have been stories of Border Force boarding boats locally, Falmouth, and in quite a balshy manner. There is often one of their boats in and around the Falmouth area. Either their big grey offshore boat or a 35ft RIB. I guess that they head down to Newlyn and thence other harbours back up the coast to the east of us.
 
James L said:
If new (old) boat purchase works out I'm also hoping to do a trip to the Scilly's from West Cork.
What is the procedure for checking into UK now, does the Common Travel Area mean we can just ignore any paperwork?
Click to expand...
An online form called sPCR within 24 hours of arrival, same for leaving.
 
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