Midge safe distance??

[Arcady]

We're thinking of heading up to the West of Scotland this year, but won't be there until early July at the earliest. From my reading on this forum and elsewhere I get the impression that July/August is probably the worst time for midges. There's lots of advice about repellants, and various anecdotes of just how bad they can be (I remember some horrendous camping experiences in Skye as a teenager). What I can't find - other than a few fleeting references - is a discussion about whether anchoring off is an effective avoidance strategy. Just how far can the little b*****s fly?

I appreciate windspeed has much to do with it, but on a still evening, is there a safe distance off beyond which one is unlikely to get mobbed? Advice from those who regularly brave such terrors would be appreciated!

 

[Sandy]

I understand the reason for the three mile limit was...

Seriously, I've always found that 50 metres is more than enough.

 

[Minerva]

Aye, you don’t need much offing to be safe. A few years ago I was anchored off Loch Harport / the Talisker distillery. We were sat in shirt sleeves in the cockpit enjoying the late afternoon sunshine and the folk ashore a couple hundred meters away were getting driven demented by the wee buggers.

 

[[2574]]

My stock answer for safe distance would be “the Solent” but more pragmatically I agree with the above 50m limit.

 

[mainsail1]

I have recently spent 3 years sailing my boat all over the West Coast of Scotland and never found a problem with midges whether anchored or in a marina. Even going ashore for a few hours did not result in a midge problem. Now I know that when I climbed mountains in Scotland in my younger years we had midge problems in tents at night but from my experience I don't think you will be troubled while on your boat. Have a great trip!

 

[Concerto]

Last sumer when I sailed through the Western Islands during the second half of July, I did not encounter any midges much to my surprise.

 

[ProMariner]

You might occasionally get a freak gust that can carry a cloud out a couple of hundred meters, otherwise boats are usually pretty safe. They can't survive for long inside a boat, so even if you find yourself under attack, you can take refuge below. If it's very light winds, overcast, and damp, pick an anchoring.stop or mooring with a little wind blowing through, they can't handle even 5 knots of wind. They can't deal with sunlight either, so if you pick a spot that has open skies to the west in the evening, you'll have a little more time for sundowners before you get chased inside. You can use brimmed hats with bee keeper type nets to keep them out if you have to go ashore, Avon Skin so Soft works well to keep them from biting. If you find yourself ashore when they start to congregate, even walking swiftly is usually enough to stay comfortably ahead of them.

 

[ctva]

If you are on a pontoon, they will get you. Anchoring is always ok as you are never close enough to shore. We will burn a citronella candle in the companionway when we encounter the more adventurous ones.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

If rambling in the gloaming check yourself for ticks and be aware that tick-borne encephalitis virus is now a low risk in the UK. Keep tick removing tools on the boat.

 

[Scomber]

If rambling in the gloaming check yourself for ticks and be aware that tick-borne encephalitis virus is now a low risk in the UK. Keep tick removing tools on the boat.

Yep , plenty of ticks about hitching a ride last few yrs.

 

[Arcady]

Thanks all: sounds better than I thought it might be. Very much looking forward to escaping the crowds of south Brittany we usually put up with!

 

[MisterBaxter]

I camped by a beach on Mull last year for a week and midges were not a problem at all - even a slight onshore breeze was enough to keep the beach clear (and there was always at least a slight onshore breeze...)

 

[capnsensible]

Summer sailing wear on the Clyde.

 

[Martin&Rene]

But if you start to miss the "midge experience" then either head to Tighnabruaich, there are always some there, or stop overnight in the centre section of the Crinan Canal. Agree with the others, anchoring is ok. Buy Smidge for when you are ashore.

 

[mm42]

Got ridged to death at anchor in Loch Scresort on Rum one year, wind must have brought them out to the ship.

 

[rotrax]

I find Surrey is pretty safe.............................................................

Got pretty badly 'Midged' in the Clyde a couple of times when ashore.

Not a pleasant experience.

 

[SaltyC]

Hmm. Far better to stay South of Lands End! No ulterior motive for our quiet anchorages!

 

[Minerva]

Summer sailing wear on the Clyde.

View attachment 154580

FAKE NEWS!!!!

How am I supposed to eat my deep fried pizza whilst wearing that monstrosity?!

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I find that sailing in the Adriatic is pretty midge free. So I would say a safe distance is about 900 nautical miles as the crow flies.

 

[st599]

Just do what the lads of His Majesty's Special Air Service do, buy some Avon Skin So Soft.