July and August sailing strategy

[lustyd]

Hi all, I have just arranged to take July and August off to get some sailing done. Not terribly big sailing on this occasion, just pottering about in the English Channel and seeing the sights while living on board for a bit longer term than we've done. Leaving from the Solent and contemplating the best strategy to make the most of the time off, while also wanting to make sure we're nearer home towards the end.

It's obviously long enough time to sail harbour to harbour along the south coast, ending up in the Scillies and then back again. That said, while fresh at the start we could maybe do some bigger sails to gain ground to the west then turn and sail more leisurely back.
There will generally just be the two of us on board and first mate has never sailed more than a long day sail and never helmed alone overnight so we don't plan to do huge passages at first but will build her up to that if comfortable.

So, how do others approach this? I've never had the time to do such a leisurely trip before so although I've done big trips and long passages this feels like a different kind of trip!
Thanks

 

[TiggerToo]

Once you get to Dartmouth (westwards), the fun really starts. There are so many options, for all sorts of weather and wish, that you can just take it day by day and do what you feel like. In my experience, the problem with the Isles of Scillies is that you may not want to come away ( ). But there are plenty of combinations in between for short hops, and even in-water exploration in the amazing rias/rivers that are perfect bolt holes with opportunity to anchor, moor, or lie against the walls.

Sound idyllic? Yep, it is.

 

[Ningaloo]

Get west whenever the winds and tides are favourable. Portland, Torbay, Fowey, Newlyn, Scillies. Others may prefer a multi tide passage going outside Portland, but if you plan it right, the inside passage is very manageable.
It is almost always easier on the east bound return trip.

 

[lustyd]

the problem with the Isles of Scillies

My concern with the Scillies is we may burn weeks waiting on weather to get to somewhere we've been recently (in someone elses boat). We do want to go to Falmouth as I'm from around there so Scillies will be on the list if the going is good but if not we may skip it this time if the weather isn't looking great. We certainly have time to decide these things!

 

[lustyd]

Get west whenever the winds and tides are favourable. Portland, Torbay, Fowey, Newlyn, Scillies. Others may prefer a multi tide passage going outside Portland, but if you plan it right, the inside passage is very manageable.
It is almost always easier on the east bound return trip.

That was kind of my thinking too. I like the idea of a longer passage west if the weather is agreeable but don't want to push my partner too much early on. Weirdly I've never done a trip going east along the coast other than Brighton, and I'm not going there again!

 

[capnsensible]

Hi all, I have just arranged to take July and August off to get some sailing done. Not terribly big sailing on this occasion, just pottering about in the English Channel and seeing the sights while living on board for a bit longer term than we've done. Leaving from the Solent and contemplating the best strategy to make the most of the time off, while also wanting to make sure we're nearer home towards the end.

It's obviously long enough time to sail harbour to harbour along the south coast, ending up in the Scillies and then back again. That said, while fresh at the start we could maybe do some bigger sails to gain ground to the west then turn and sail more leisurely back.
There will generally just be the two of us on board and first mate has never sailed more than a long day sail and never helmed alone overnight so we don't plan to do huge passages at first but will build her up to that if comfortable.

So, how do others approach this? I've never had the time to do such a leisurely trip before so although I've done big trips and long passages this feels like a different kind of trip!
Thanks

I reckon your plan sounds good. Get west without kicking it to bits for your partner then slow bimble back.

 

[capnsensible]

With the experience building, a trip over to Cherbourg and back might end your cruise in style?

 

[owen]

If the weather is favourable, either go yourself or with a friend and do the westing in one go. Go well outside the headlands and just push on. When you get to either Falmouth Penzance or the Scillies just get your partner to join you for the leisurely trip back.

 

[sailingmartin]

I’d do a Channel crossing at the beginning of your trip rather than the end. The best thing you have on your side is time. So you never have to sail to someone else’s schedule. Pick the right time and the right weather. How about leaving Yarmouth/Lymington and go the Channel Islands - Alderney is doable in a day sail in July and would be a great confidence booster. On the return aim for Weymouth and then coast hop down the south west as others have suggested.

 

[ashtead]

Lymington to cherbourg then a trip to jersey then on to st Malo or st cast ,down to lezardrieux or indeed further given you have months to enjoy and then back to whichever location in west takes fancy - I would aim for Portland on return mainly to avoid bridge and have more space than Weymouth.

 

[lustyd]

I guess it does make sense to do the channel at the start if we're coming back along the coast, it might make it easier to do a long passage to the Westcountry. I'm also quite fond of the simplicity of a channel crossing so might make a good early trip. I think Cherbourg-CI's-St Malo might be a lot of admin these days though so may consider CI's as the finish, working up from St Malo instead.

 

[ashtead]

Hi interested in your concern re admin - can you clarify worries ?

 

[James_Calvert]

Sometime in that period away you'll be portbound for the best part of a week because of bad weather.

Have some thought about where you'd like to be spending it.

Falmouth is good. You have walk ashore berths, provided you get there before the weather breaks, and there are good train services to local Cornish attractions and beyond.

St Peter Port is good. It does become a local port of refuge in SW gales. And if you'd originally planned to stop off at Alderney or Cherbourg on the way home, but get held up there, a passage direct to the Solent when conditions moderate is not too far.

 

[ashtead]

Even cherbough can pale after a while but as you say has advantage of proximity . I could happily be held up in jersey but st PP can become rolly on those pontoons in a breeze such that they cease to be walk ashore almost. As for Alderney it’s an acquired taste rough weather as the waves crash over the breakwater.

 

[lustyd]

Hi interested in your concern re admin - can you clarify worries ?

Check in Cherbourg, check out Cherbourg, check in CIs, check out CIs, check in St Malo, check out St Malo, fill in stupid UK form and call pointless number. All of these need to be done while someone is there to do said admin, and only work because those ports happen to be on the special list. Kinda spoils that feeling of freedom and "world is your oyster" having to report in every 5 minutes. Alternative is check in Cherbourg, check out St Malo, Check in CI's....fill in stupid UK form and call pointless number.

No, it's not hard, but it's hard enough that it doesn't feel like two months off work

 

[PhillM]

id be tempted to do Solent to Cherberg then back over to Dartmouth with the store cupboards filled with cheese and wine. Then more gentle port hopping around to Falmouth. Remember you can always treat the return as a delivery ... Falmouth to Dartmouth is doable in a long day. Dartmouth to Yarmouth in less than 24 hours. The recover.

 

[lustyd]

id be tempted to do Solent to Cherberg then back over to Dartmouth with the store cupboards filled with cheese and wine. Then more gentle port hopping around to Falmouth. Remember you can always treat the return as a delivery ... Falmouth to Dartmouth is doable in a long day. Dartmouth to Yarmouth in less than 24 hours. The recover.

Oh for the days when it was legal to import cheese!

 

[lustyd]

I have to admit I was expecting more disagreement. Seems most of us are in the get west fast in good weather camp which is reassuring! Perhaps I should have mentioned I'm not planning to even take an anchor

Really appreciate the feedback from everyone, we've never tried living aboard but this is very much practice for retiring at sea in a couple of years so I want to get it right or I'll be forced into buying a farm and selling the boat

 

[Robin]

Oh for the days when it was legal to import cheese!

we used to stock up on Comte, St Agur and various cookable goats cheeses, cases of Amora Dijon moutarde either mi forte or fin et forte as well as the wines and even French or Spanish Gin . All this even in the days before the common market When as I recall we left empty and returned with permitted amounts plus a bottle or 2 that were in use open and could be argued were so before we left outbound.

Do they have sniffer dogs for cheeses now ?

 

[lustyd]

When the punishment is never returning to Europe I'd rather return with no cheese and start fights with the people who voted the wrong way.