Paper Chart and 3 months from the Solent

[onesea]

First off a paper planning chart/ map for the UK, one for dreamers showing prime harbours and anchorage’s. Any suggestions? Something we can write notes on and plan stops on.

Second off if you had 3 months cruising from the Solent where would you go? Sadly Europe/ Ireland will be challenging because of dogs.

I will be mainly Solo with a dog, my misses will join me for weeks here and there depending on what her work allow.

My misses wants to do the longer passages and with dogs that just not going to happen.

We have 2 one will be mainly with her (he enjoys the boat, but not to much). The other loves the boat (often refuses to leave at end of day) but is can be reactive. We really don’t know how she would manage on a ferry, she is coming sailing with me.

I have considered go round the uk however: @ 2500’. At 4 knots that’s 26 days non stop or 52 days of 12 hour days. It leaves little for time ashore.

Is the west coast of Scotland realistic?

Where would you recommend for mini cruises on the way? Milford? Scilly isles? Anglesea? IOM? Channel Islands?

 

[Refueler]

Have a look at "Keep Turning Left" on Youtube .... the creeks and holes he finds / explores are amazing ... and his photography is brilliant ... well he is a professional TV cameraman ...

He starts from Bembridge IoW .... so pretty relevant ...

 

[lustyd]

Did it last year, you’ll be surprised how little distance you’ll cover if you want to see anything, and if you don’t you may as well stay local. We did CIs, St Malo, West Country and back up the coast and that took two months. We did spend a week each in St Malo and Falmouth to see family but even just the CIs was two weeks and felt rushed.

 

[lustyd]

He starts from Bembridge IoW

I watched a lot of these when he started but never realised the irony of where he started!

 

[Refueler]

I watched a lot of these when he started but never realised the irony of where he started!

I know Coombes yard well ... they repaired my Snap 23 quite some years ago .....

 

[Refueler]

Did it last year, you’ll be surprised how little distance you’ll cover if you want to see anything, and if you don’t you may as well stay local. We did CIs, St Malo, West Country and back up the coast and that took two months. We did spend a week each in St Malo and Falmouth to see family but even just the CIs was two weeks and felt rushed.

Tudor Club, Langstone, used to do a West Country trip and many actually didn't make it all the way due prevailing winds - or had a dog of a job getting back !!

 

[GHA]

not paper but there's lots of up to date info about anchorages & marinas etc in www.noforeignland.com
Handy little measurement tool as well for wishful maybe passage planning

 

[Concerto]

I used to sail with my labrador, but never for more than 8 hours for her comfort. That also meant using walk ashore berths. If you have a small dog then this could be different.

Last year I sailed singlehanded round the UK from Chatham via the most northerly point in the UK. I should point out there are several legs in any round Britain (including via the Caledonian Canal) that are long and without any port of refuge. The section from Norfolk to the Humber and from N Wales to S Wales are probably your worst distances.

Yes you can do a round Britain in 3 months allowing for weather and visiting places. My trip took 3½ months and I certainly looked at many places on my trip. The Western Isles are also worth visiting, as is Northern Ireland. Have a look at my about me page for links every post I made on my trip and the YouTube videos I have loaded. I can certainly recommend using the Menai Straits, but look at my video before you go.

My general advice would be to wait till departure and decide where the weather will take you. If you decide the Western Isles, then get there quickly and then go slowly. There are so many place to visit and remember you will be on the wind on the way home. For the round Britain, you can go either way round. I chose anti clockwise as I wanted to get up the East Coast to Shetland fairly quickly. If you choose clockwise then you can change you plans to either continue round or stay in the Western Isles.

 

[dunedin]

……
Second off if you had 3 months cruising from the Solent where would you go? Sadly Europe/ Ireland will be challenging because of dogs.

Is the west coast of Scotland realistic?
……

Do you need to get back to the Solent? 3 months would be good to get to the West Coast of Scotland and start to explore. But would be better if can overwinter in Scotland and complete your voyage the following year.
3 months to go there and back would be a stressful delivery trip, IMHO, and certainly not enough time to enjoy visiting places either en route or in Scotland.

 

[Refueler]

Do you need to get back to the Solent? 3 months would be good to get to the West Coast of Scotland and start to explore. But would be better if can overwinter in Scotland and complete your voyage the following year.
3 months to go there and back would be a stressful delivery trip, IMHO, and certainly not enough time to enjoy visiting places either en route or in Scotland.

That's thr crux .... distance looks fine vs estimated speed ..... but look at KTL ..... at 7 years he was still nowhere near finished the Uk circumnav. OK - he was ducking into some hidden gems ... spent ages on the Broads ... but what a trip !!

Me ? if I was still Solent based ?? I'd either do a West Country run and take time in places ... 3 months seems a long time but in reality soon comes to an end ... or ignore the BMW crowd harbours to East of Solent and head for the East Coast ... North Kent - across to other side of estuary - explore the hidden gems round there.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Not paper but digital charts.

Memory Map has a great App and low costs UKHO chary package for the UK, about £25 for the charts, one off purchase. Very good for planning from laptop with simple rout and waypoint tools.

You can download and buy UKHO digital charts here: Memory-Map Outdoor Navigation Apps | Ordnance Survey | Hema Maps – Memory-Map GPS Mapping Apps for PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android. Navigate with topographic maps or nautical charts offline. Download it free today.

Visit My Harbour offers a similar deal but with tidal atlas and tide heights tools as well as a lot of useful harbour information.
Free Compehensive UK Harbour Information and For Nav chartpacks : from Visit My Harbour

West Coast of Scotland is realistic and doable with a 3 month stint.

 

[[70521]]

There is a whole UK paper chart.

You are not giving yourself enough time if all you have in three months. Scotland in particular has weather.

I'd suggest placing the hounds in a foster home/kennels if you want to do the trip. Things like the Pentland Firth are major tidal gates and you need to plan your trip round that.

 

[dunedin]

There is a whole UK paper chart.

You are not giving yourself enough time if all you have in three months. Scotland in particular has weather.

I'd suggest placing the hounds in a foster home/kennels if you want to do the trip. Things like the Pentland Firth are major tidal gates and you need to plan your trip round that.

Pentland Firth is only an issue if travel up the East Coast. Going there and back via the Isles of Scilly and Irish Sea may be a more attractive option, with the benefit of being able to turn back sooner if weather does not make Scotland comfortable in the available time.

 

[rib]

Hi. Your milage could be shorter.. . I've sailed round about a dozen times and gone round twice in a rib. All ways the long way. Over the top.. 1800 to 2000 is more like it. If you can cut certain points off

 

[onesea]

@dunedin that was my thought head SW then turn for Scotland if weather suitable.

My maths says 400' to the Clyde from the Solent. So 8 to 10 days depending on weather.
However lots of stops on the way up and down Carlingfird lock, Strandford loch to add to list.

See how far we get, frustrating that the East coast of Ireland is out because of the dogs.

Leaving boat north till next year is going to achieve little, as I will not get another 3 months. Also we want it home to sail on!

 

[MontyMariner]

With the restrictions you place on yourself, I would head West then North, then when you've had enough / run out of money / time, turn around and head back, visiting different places to the ones you went to on the way out.

 

[onesea]

@Concerto thanks for input, as my message hinted one dog (the smaller one) is getting more accustomed to being on the boat for longer periods, it’s the larger one that becomes needy and struggles, one of various reasons we are splitting them.
I have sailed various bits of the Irish Sea and Scotland over the years just on boats already in the location. We are keen for a break from the usual south coast haunts and try waters new.
Well aware of the passage back to lands end being a windward passage. It could be tough solo particularly if I cannot tuck in to ports on the southern Irish east coast.

There is even a thought to getting lost in the Thames estuary and SE corner of the uk for 3 months. Although people would think we are mad. Possibly better weather Easier weekend/ short visits for SWMBO, potentially easier for the dogs, possibly less busy than the SW, and an area I have spent little time.

 

[[70521]]

Pentland Firth is only an issue if travel up the East Coast. Going there and back via the Isles of Scilly and Irish Sea may be a more attractive option, with the benefit of being able to turn back sooner if weather does not make Scotland comfortable in the available time.

Best get the boring bits out of the way first.

 

[dunedin]

Best get the boring bits out of the way first.

But the OP isn't seeking to do a round Britain trip, so no need to do most of the boring bits

 

[Stemar]

Some friends of ours did the French canals down to Sete, up the Canal du Midi and home round Brittany in under 3 months. They enjoyed it, and want to do it again, but Madame and I think they're mad. We'd want to take three years and enjoy it.

Round Britain would be the same, but with weather to mess with the schedule.