isle of man

SteveGorst

SteveGorst

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I am thinking of taking the boat up for a cruise around the isle of man this summer. I've had a look round the web and can't find much detailed info. Has anyone any experience of good ports of call and facilities for cruising yachtsmen. Also good places for a meal and a pint.

Our boat is a lifting keel with legs so we can take the ground if necessary.

Any comments would be welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Steve

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er....um.....it rains........ a lot.......thats about all. Oh! Peel harbour is nice..........er.....um and you must try the queenies (scallops) can't think of anything else.

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Hi Steve
We are off to IOM ourselves about the 7 July we have a couple of weeks to play with so may go further if weather ok. I think the new marina at Douglas is now up and running if you need a secure berth. its been years since I was last there so I will keep my eye on pubs grub threads. I have the new colour pilot if you need any info. Regards Dave.

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Ramsey dries and is a bit of a dump.
Port St Mary is my favourite place. You can stay afloat against the wall in the outerharbour and its really sheltered. The IOM yacht club is here - decent bar food and good showers. The steam train up to Douglas is good if you want to do the tourism bit.
Not been ito Douglas since the new marina was developed - have heard good reports but is quite busy.
The Peggy exhibition in Castletown is really interesting.
Calf Sound is a horror show in the pilot book but isn't in reality and there are often basking sharks around there.
The west coast harbours dry and as Colin says, Peel is a nice little spot.
Hope this helps. Have a good trip.
PS Clyde Cruising Club's guide is good.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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douglas

if you go into the marina there, don't take a berth on the right hand wall as that's where the drunks gather. the central fingers are more secure.

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Port Erin is sheltered from easterlies, and had 2 visitor's mooring buoys when we were there. Should be OK for anchoring too

<hr width=100% size=1>P J Bartlett
 
They were still there last time I went too. Here we are looking for one...

porterin1.jpg


and here we are on it...

porterin2.jpg


You can see the other mooring bouy between our boat and the headland. We were the only people there that day (bit of a contrast to what our Solent forumites have to endure). The walk up to that tower on the headland gives great views if there is a good sunset. If there's any west in the wind then move to Port St Mary instead.

<hr width=100% size=1>Adventures of the VAT unpaid <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.xrayted.fsnet.co.uk>Teddy Bear Boat</A>
 
Didn't know you could add pictures - first time I've ever seem them. Can you explain briefly how you post them?

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Re: douglas

Was over for the tt races a couple of weeks ago and would agree with the bit about the wall near the town. We were in the middle of the marina and found it ok. The noise we put down to the fact it was tt week and put up with the bike noise from early morning till the early morning!! Marina staff (alex + 1) are very helpful and get you in if possible. Lock staff are quite surly on the vhf however. Moor on the outer harbour pontoon if you arrive early, or outside the flap drop times. No problems there but it is a bit of a walk into town (10mins), marina (6mins) etc.
Marina is very handy for town, lots of cheap eating ang drinking establishments. Also a very good chandlers there too.

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Re: douglas

<Moor on the outer harbour pontoon >
Is this the original clangy and bangy contraption by the stone steps adjacent to the worlds smelliest urinal and the gas storage place?
I once spent a completely sleepless night on there in a North Easterly with the swell coming right along the wall and bouncing us around. The steel connecting device of the pontoons screeched and screamed tortuously all night long. Murder!

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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As someone who lives in, and sails out of Port St Mary, I definitely agree it's the best harbour, however, like most of the harbours on the Island, it does not offer complete shelter unless you can dry out in the inner harbour. Douglas harbour is fine, but access to the marina is via a flap gate and lifting bridge, and there are no dedicated visitor's pontoons - they may allocate you one if someone is away, but you are more likely to lie against the wall. There is also a pontoon in the outer harbour, but it's a fair walk to town and subject to swell in easterlies. All harbours have plenty of pubs nearby, most of which do meals. Showers are available at the yacht clubs; the smaller clubs like Peel & Laxey only open certain nights, but you can usually get the key from the harbour master.
Ian

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Thanks for all the advice guys, it looks like we'll be enjoying a trip to Port St Mary, Douglas Peel and Port Erin. I might see if I can persuade the wife to extend the cruise up to Scotland if the weather holds, it will be our first major cruise though so we'll err on caution
cheers
Steve

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