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alecsmart

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I am sailing a 8 mtr yacht from Den Helder to Whitby in June and then intend to go up to the Caledonian Canal. I need help relating to the passage plan. My boat has a fin keel of 1.5 metres. Most harbours dry out. I am planning the following ports but would like comments and suggestions:- whitby, hartlepool, blythe, eyemouth, stonehaven, Peterhead and what about whitehills? I would welcome suggestions and advice. I also intend to possible stop at either Holy Island or the Farne Islands.
Thanks
Trevor

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Hi,

I've done this trip . . . to your suggestions I would add Amble (between Hartlepool and Eyemouth) and Lossiemouth as a possible alternative to Whitehills. (Both have deep water pontoon berths).

- Nick



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Agree. Do stop at the Farne Islands, a bird sanctuary and very beautiful. There is a decent anchorage near the main island. The anchorage near Holy Island is also quite nice. Montrose and Tayport are also possible stopovers.

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Whitehills requires some tight manouvering to get in and out. Buckie is another one to consider, my preference would be for Lossiemouth - the 1629 restaurant being well worth a visit!

Steve_b

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Agree with webcraft - Lossiemouth is a good option - but watch out for pot markers on the way in (& out).

If you are looking for another stop before the Canal, Cromarty Boat Club have a couple of visitor's moorings just to the W of Cromarty harbour (good for SW winds).

Even closer, try Fortrose Bay (just round Chanonry Point). No visitors's moorings, but there could well be a club mooring free (phone George Taylor the HM on 01381 620861 to check). Good in NE winds, but a bit bumpy in SW breeze.


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from a dim and distant memory .. Burghead was a nice wee harbour ..

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
 
Whitby - Not many visitor's spaces, and entrance to the pontoons is very restricted times. You are limited by both tides and a not-too-frequently opening bridge. Attractive town when you get there though. Tesco right next door.

Hartlepool - Big marina in a huge old dock, some tide restrictions for entrance/exit, supermarket nearby, but otherwise not the most scenic area.

Blythe - Home of the Northumberland Yacht Club who run a virtual marina. Easy entrance. The town is nothing to shout about. You are stuck a bit out from town in the docks as well.

Stonehaven - A small attractive town made of stone, and a small harbour. You can stay afloat in the outer harbour, but shelter is not so good here in a strong Easterly. Town nearby, helpful harbourmaster, and a few facilities. Worth a visit in good weather.

Peterhead - Small but well equipped and modern marina at the side of a busy commercial port. Permission required to enter/exit and there are many shipping movements going on. The marina is stuck out from the town centre. There must be a supermarket somewhere nearby, but I couldn't find one when I was there.

Another suggestion I have not seen mentioned in this thread so far is the Tyne. Although busy with ships, it is an easy entrance, and there is a good marina a few miles in on the North side. This is near a Metro station which will take you into the centre quickly.

There is only limited shelter at the islands you mention. Great places in good weather, treacherous in bad Easterlies.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep tri-ing.
 
I'd agree with most of the suggestions, but I'd keep clear of Montrose. It's a commercial harbour, wit no facilities for yachts and the tide runs in/out at a fair old rate to a large basin behind the town. Tayport means entering the Tay and I wouldn't bother. There is word on new pontoons in Arbroath, but I would watch the depth here, as until they get a gate installed, you could touch bottom.

Stonehaven is nice, but the inner harbour dries a bit. You might be ok just inside, but you'd be ok in the outer harbour.

Peterhead is just as has already been mentioned.

Macduff is a bit of a run down fishing port, but could provide shelter if required.

Whitehills is a lovely quiet place, and there is no supermarket. Check it out here -
http://www.lossiecc.co.uk/

Also have a look here - <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.nsya.org.uk/>http://www.nsya.org.uk/</A>

I'll also send you a pm.

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I did the "full tour" from Whitby via Forth & Clyde canal, west Coast, Caledonian Canal and back round NE Scotland last year. It is a great trip.

Do not forget Eyemouth and Dunbar. Eyemouth is a very good stop-over and its is probably best to plan to go from there to Stonehaven in a single leg. Both intermediate stops at Arbroath and Montrose are not recommended.

Dunbar is worth a slight detour with its magnificent entrance and proximity to Bass Rock which I stronlgy recommend you sail round.

I often stop over at Inner Farne and/ or Holy Island. The anchorage at Inner Farne is called "The Kettle" an amazing place but watch out for the srong tide passing through. The entrance to Holy Island needs attention but is OK if you follow the pilot - chart. I often struggle with getting the anchor to hold at Holy Island - seems bad holding ground but it is well worth stopping over and rowing ashore to the island.

The trip from Amble to Eyemouth can be done in a day - if you get the tide right - which is a must because the tide really rips round the Farnes. This is a great trip as you buoy hop round the various rocks such as Boulmer Bush, Swedman etc. I recorded 8 knots in my little bilge keeler and averaged 6 knots over the trip - due to offshore wind and massive spring tides.

I recommend Amble -lovely little marina, great boatyard and shops nearby.

Good Maina stopovers at Tyne (Royal Keys Marina) and Sunderland. Sunderland is easiest in/out and I usually get my first glass of red wine at the Italian restraunt within 15 minutes of tying up at the pontoon!!.

The sea life in the North Sea north of Amble is unsurpassed - you should be in for a great trip!

Martin of Seaesta of Whitby

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Anstruther is a possible stop-over if you are taking the inshore route. The harbour dries, but there is plenty of wall to lay alongside. There were over 80 boats in there at the annual Anstruther Muster there last August. An interesting town with one of the best fish & chip shops in Scotland!

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Hi Trevor,

I live in Fraserburgh. Stop off at Peterhead Marina and talk to "James" not only does he run the Marina he is Peterhead RNLI Coxswain (or was) he will advise you when to round our notorious "Rattary Head" to enter the Moray Firth, if you look on the chart you will see 2 Tidal Diamonds very close togeather. It makes for an interesting passage on a good day if you meet an ebbing tide!!!!!!!!!!

When in the Moray Firth Fraserburgh will welcome you (I hope)........Seamans Mission (if you need it is good) food is cheap and showers are much less than Marinas. Expect to pay about £10 (harbour dues) this is for the paper work , you may be unlucky and stay a week if the weather is rough and pay no more. (I have no connection with the harbour finances) + Fraserbourgh is the main illicit drug center of the North East, so secure your boat at all times, stay out of the harbour Pubs your accent may earn you a smack in the mouth, just for being there. Tesco is a 5 min. walk away. All Marine services are here but you need a local contact. (Me) . Or I can show you around the Castle that I am employed in (I am the Butler).

Macduff, If you are into seafood "Millos" can be seen from your mooring, the advert says "If you can find fish fresher than this then its still in the sea" again I have no finantial connection, but it is good and the prices are great.

Whitehills, now is a good little Marina, welcomes visitors and has a good seafood resturant, and a friendly Harbour Master. BUT...get there in day light, Whitehills is entered in the Red Sector at night!!!! By the time you see the Green you may be up the old lifeboat slip or on the rocks.

Next is Lossiemouth, its a long way across Cullen ,but in daylight again, the entrance is very obvious but in darkness it can be a bit tricky. I agree with those who have previously posted on "Lossie" good beer ,good pubs, friendly place to be and a good stop over for the canal.


To those (ports) I have missed out, sorry but you dry out and thus cannot be included. But Trevor if you can "lean against a wall" try Portsoy and be there for the for Small Boat Festival .



The best thing about sailing in this part of Scotland in May /June/ July/August is it does not stay dark for long. For those doing Coastal Skipper Practical this is the place to be, our "Night Passages" are in daylight!!!


Email me when you are coming, you can be sure of a welcome.


Mike.

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