Late season UK sailing.

[Garold]

I thought that early Sept would be a good time for a couple of weeks sailing. But its feeling a bit like we are out of step with everyone.

Last season at this time, we were in Weymouth Harbour and they asked us to move along because they were removing the visitor pontoons for winter.

This morning we are in Dartmouth and I can see the harbour guys already removing the visitors buoys in the middle of the river.

I'm not sure if every harbour regards mid Sept as the end of the sailing season but its feeling like they start their shut down pretty soon after the end of the kids school hols these days.

Weathers been ok and there are still boats out on the water. Beautiful here in Dartmouth this morning too.

Most other places that try to attract other types of visitors seem to try to stretch the season rather than curtail it.

Garold

 

[doug748]

I wonder if they will stop coming round to collect the cash? Only joking.

We have been a bit spoiled this year and the weather has continued to be kind. Last year it started raining at the end of July and stopped the following May.

September trips can be superb. I think I will head for Dartmouth myself for a few days, if the wind serves.

 

[Ru88ell]

If I get a new (to me) boat this month I'll be putting it in and hoping to sail around Plymouth through the winter. I hope there'll still be places to go.

 

[[70521]]

If I get a new (to me) boat this month I'll be putting it in and hoping to sail around Plymouth through the winter. I hope there'll still be places to go.

Oddles and oddles of places to go. I'll wave if I see you out.

 

[Sgeir]

Much the same most in places I'd guess, although with a more favourable climate I'd have expected the season to go on a bit longer in the south. Apart from one UK yacht. a new Contessa 32 on her first big voyage, we were on our own sailing up the west of Ireland in late August and early September 2005; visitor moorings were being lifted out. The Contessa was the only yacht we'd seen sailing from leaving Kerry to arriving back in Scotland.

Our experience, in the the north and west, has been generally that by about mid-August, the frequency of Atlantic lows increases, the wind strength intensifies and the temperature drops a fair bit. You can get some really great sailing days, as we've had lately, but the weather is usually pretty mixed. Tobermory (again....) was very quiet at the weekend.

 

[Ripster]

This morning we are in Dartmouth and I can see the harbour guys already removing the visitors buoys in the middle of the river.

I'm not sure if every harbour regards mid Sept as the end of the sailing season but its feeling like they start their shut down pretty soon after the end of the kids school hols these days.

Weathers been ok and there are still boats out on the water. Beautiful here in Dartmouth this morning too.

Most other places that try to attract other types of visitors seem to try to stretch the season rather than curtail it.

Garold

The Dartmouth visitors buoys maybe just the extra ones they put out for the Regatta the other week. We are based there and certainly some of the best days out locally can be in Autumn, you just need to gear up a bit.

 

[prv]

When we used to charter during and just after uni, it was always about this time of year because my (non-student) mate's work was seasonal over the summer and he couldn't get away till now. In four or five years I only ever remember the weather being fantastic, and we never had any worries about finding moorings in the various West Country harbours.

Pete

 

[Ru88ell]

I've can twice remember getting sunburnt feet whilst sailing in the UK in mid October. More of that please - but not the sunburn.

 

[dunedin]

We may do some late season sailing ....... in about 3 months time. Long time to go yet

 

[lustyd]

Normally Ok until January then picks back up in March. No need for visitors pontoons because loads of fools take their boats out for 6 months

 

[jac]

Normally Ok until January then picks back up in March. No need for visitors pontoons because loads of fools take their boats out for 6 months

I wonder if that is it. They know full well that many people will stop sailing so much as school holidays over and other demands on time (how many will be at SIBS) so if demand is lower, why not take some out and concentrate the visitors in one area where it takes less effort to collect money and can also use September to service the buoys etc.

 

[lustyd]

I wonder if that is it. They know full well that many people will stop sailing so much as school holidays over and other demands on time (how many will be at SIBS) so if demand is lower, why not take some out and concentrate the visitors in one area where it takes less effort to collect money and can also use September to service the buoys etc.

That and the fact that there are plenty of spare berths because berth holders boats are in the carpark. Also it's more pleasant to take these things in before the need for gloves and hats arrives

 

[Daydream believer]

Well right now i am sitting in Ramsgate with the wind howling outside
Forecasts have f 8's in them for a while
It is freezing b...y cold & i cannot wait to sail home
When i get there the boat can come out of the water until next year
Season is over as far as i am concerned

 

[lustyd]

Well right now i am sitting in Ramsgate with the wind howling outside
Forecasts have f 8's in them for a while
It is freezing b...y cold & i cannot wait to sail home
When i get there the boat can come out of the water until next year
Season is over as far as i am concerned

Yeah, November can be horrible for sailing too

 

[maby]

To a large extent it is down to the insurance companies - most expect you to be out of the water between October and March unless you are marina based. We sail the whole year round - beating down the river on a crisp January morning is a wonderful experience.

 

[Ru88ell]

Season is over as far as i am concerned

I've never looked at anything as having a 'season'. I don't really care how cold it is, so long as it's dry. I'll take a cold, crispy dry day anytime in preference to to a wet, muggy one. People do 'seasons' in cycling too. I've never understood that either. Until someone actually makes it illegal to sail in the winter I'll be out there doing it.

 

[jac]

To a large extent it is down to the insurance companies - most expect you to be out of the water between October and March unless you are marina based. We sail the whole year round - beating down the river on a crisp January morning is a wonderful experience.

But then many marinas will give you a good price for 6m afloat in the winter. Connect up a greenhouse heater and dehumidifier and why come out for any longer than a few weeks to do anti fouling.

 

[maby]

But then many marinas will give you a good price for 6m afloat in the winter. Connect up a greenhouse heater and dehumidifier and why come out for any longer than a few weeks to do anti fouling.

Definitely - that is exactly what we do - well, we are marina based the whole year round - but my answer stands - if you are not marina based, you will have to work hard with your insurance company if you want to stay afloat and have insurance cover between October and March.

 

[Suttle]

Definitely - that is exactly what we do - well, we are marina based the whole year round - but my answer stands - if you are not marina based, you will have to work hard with your insurance company if you want to stay afloat and have insurance cover between October and March.

Stayed afloat in the Medway on a swinger last winter no insurance issues.

 

[Ru88ell]

Craftinsure only requires boats in Ireland or Scotland to be ashore between mid Oct and March.