Passage advice to Isle of Man

[macd]

Isn't it supposed to be the ensign rather than the national flag anyway?

Indeed. But that wasn't what the Senior Watch Officer wrote. Presumably he's another who confuses "courtesy", as in "courtesy flag", with politeness (or, as he put it, "etiquette").

Anyway, we digress. Seafox, enjoy your trip. Should you need a Manx(ish) flag, sandcastle-sized ones are freely and cheaply available. The three-legged thingy is a swastika, by the way, so could cause offence in some quarters.

 

[EdWingfield]

Mr Jumbleduck,
'Non-UK visitors should be acknowledging that they are subject to the Manx rules, which are presumably based on the Merchant Shipping Act (of Tynwald) 1985. I've no idea whether there is any significant variation from the British rules.'

We are all bound by the Laws of any/every State we visit. It doesn't require acknowledgement.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Mr Jumbleduck,
'Non-UK visitors should be acknowledging that they are subject to the Manx rules, which are presumably based on the Merchant Shipping Act (of Tynwald) 1985. I've no idea whether there is any significant variation from the British rules.'

We are all bound by the Laws of any/every State we visit. It doesn't require acknowledgement.

Try telling that to the Frogs if you turn up without a courtesy flag.

 

[lpdsn]

Try telling that to the Frogs if you turn up without a courtesy flag.

They've taken over the Isle of Man?

 

[Spyro]

I got into Peel in 2015 to see some of the TT. Hitched a lift to the nearest point on the circuit at Cronk-y-voddy. The harbourmaster was most helpful getting me a berth. I did the Clyde to Portpatrick to Peel. Touched the bottom in Portpatrick as I was leaving just before low water. Had good northerlies on the way down unfortunately they were still there on the way back. If you can do Portpatrick to Peel on one tide leaving before low water you should be in time to get over the gate at Peel. It's open around 2 hours either side of high water

 

[JumbleDuck]

They've taken over the Isle of Man?

No frogs on the Isle of Man. They're called "greenbacks".

 

[steve yates]

I got into Peel in 2015 to see some of the TT. Hitched a lift to the nearest point on the circuit at Cronk-y-voddy. The harbourmaster was most helpful getting me a berth. I did the Clyde to Portpatrick to Peel. Touched the bottom in Portpatrick as I was leaving just before low water. Had good northerlies on the way down unfortunately they were still there on the way back. If you can do Portpatrick to Peel on one tide leaving before low water you should be in time to get over the gate at Peel. It's open around 2 hours either side of high water

Depends on tide state, more like 1 hr either side of hw at springs

 

[EdWingfield]

Try telling that to the Frogs if you turn up without a courtesy flag.

I was cruising Normandie last year. Good advice to be correctly flagged. Remember they have a 'State of Emergency' going on. (dunno if it still is in force) I was 'shadowed' by a fast patrol boat whilst they checked me out by radio.

I advise you to be polite, as if you are not, and they've got nothing better to do, you might get boarded. And that is a hassle.

 

[macd]

If you can do Portpatrick to Peel on one tide leaving before low water you should be in time to get over the gate at Peel. It's open around 2 hours either side of high water

This has much to commend it. Anyone sailing from the Clyde to Peel might be tempted to add another hop via, say Isle of Whithorn. The trouble with that is that the streams on a rising tide hit the middle of the W coast of the Iom (actually at Contrary Head), then divert south and north. This means that any passage from Whithorn, which would tend to follow the Island's west coast, if aiming to reach Peel near HW, is punching the stream (and, often, the prevailing wind).

If going via the Galloway coast, it often makes sense to aim for Peel nearer LW and park on the outer breakwater, or a visitor's mooring, until the flap gate opens at around HW -2. However, the outer harbour is not a good place to be in brisk northerlies.

On the French question, Les Gaulles quite like the Isle of Man. At least they, along with the Belgians, are happy to buy most of our scallops.

 

[JumbleDuck]

This has much to commend it. Anyone sailing from the Clyde to Peel might be tempted to add another hop via, say Isle of Whithorn. The trouble with that is that the streams on a rising tide hit the middle of the W coast of the Iom (actually at Contrary Head), then divert south and north. This means that any passage from Whithorn, which would tend to follow the Island's west coast, if aiming to reach Peel near HW, is punching the stream (and, often, the prevailing wind).

I agree. I only suggested IoW because it gives a relatively short hop if you're going down the IoM east coast, and if you're not sure you can keep your options open to the Point of Ayre. Well, almost to the point of Ayre. I know someone who spent 4 hours fighting the tide when he got a bit close it.

I remember one trip from Kirkcudbright to the IoM with NE winds which looked likely to become either N or E, so we headed for the Point of Ayre and, as the wind went N, made a strategic decision just a couple of miles off to bear left and head for Ramsey. Peel, as you say, ain't the place to be hanging about in a brisk northerly.

 

[macd]

I agree. I only suggested IoW because...

No worries. Whithorn is a useful place to break passage, and well worth visiting, but with the caveat you're clearly more than familiar with if heading onward to Peel.

Most of us in Peel have experienced your frustrations heading home from Kirkudbright. I remember once tacking into the shore near Kirkmichael, where an old bloke with a dog was fishing from the beach. We hailed him and waved before tacking back out to sea. An hour or so later we came inshore on the next tack...and hailed him again. We'd sailed six miles and made maybe 100 yards :ambivalence:

 

[JumbleDuck]

Most of us in Peel have experienced your frustrations heading home from Kirkudbright. I remember once tacking into the shore near Kirkmichael, where an old bloke with a dog was fishing from the beach. We hailed him and waved before tacking back out to sea. An hour or so later we came inshore on the next tack...and hailed him again. We'd sailed six miles and made maybe 100 yards :ambivalence:

Years ago I tool friends for a sail from Kirkcudbright and headed down river. From one gree buoy by the bend just outside town to the next took us 1 3/4 pleasant hours of tacking into the tide. Returning between to the first buoy took (I timed it) 23 seconds ...

 

[[163233]]

Should you need a Manx(ish) flag, sandcastle-sized ones are freely and cheaply available.
The three-legged thingy is a swastika, by the way, so could cause offence in some quarters.

I know you were responding to Seafox, but having finally made it there, I'm still unsure of what you mean by the sandcastle thing. I didn't see that in evidence anywhere?

Anyway, a really easy whereisit, combined with what is no doubt a grave flag offence:-

 

[steve yates]

Well done, which way did you go?

 

[[163233]]

Well done, which way did you go?

I did Fleetwood to Douglas so pretty much straight, going south round the wind farms as there's a lot under construction at the moment. With a rare northerly it took about 12 hours, with a little bit of motoring when the wind died as I wanted to get in before dark. The return was more like 13 hours straight from Port St Mary, I set off stupidly late and ended up arriving in the pitch black, but I know Fleetwood reasonably well so that wasn't too bad.

Easily my longest single handed trip, and I'm quite pleased to have made it there this year.

 

[steve yates]

That really confused me for a bit, until I realised you weren't the op

 

[wotayottie]

I'm planning a trip for next year to watch the TT races on the Isle of Man. I will be sailing from Holy Loch, Firth of Clyde. My experience is intermediate (3 years sailing) single handed. I have a 31 foot boat and gained all my experiance in the Firth of Clyde.

I would be very grateful on advice doing the hop from the mainland to the Isle of Man;
Which would be the best port to set sail from? (Stranraer, Portpatrick)
Are there any significant hazards to watch out for?


Cheers

Paul

The weather. We've tried twice and failed both times because we didnt fancy sailing up the Irish sea agaoinst a 5 or 6 NW wind. Too much like hard work. Best way of sailing to the TT is on the ferry from Heysham. Being on the boat with gods knows how many other bikers is part of the fun.

 

[JumbleDuck]

That really confused me for a bit, until I realised you weren't the op

+1. "Via Fleetwood" is a heck of a long way round from the Clyde to the Isle of Man.

 

[[163233]]

That really confused me for a bit, until I realised you weren't the op

LoL Yes, a bit of a hijack there..

 

[Rosa]

It's a long time since we were there but Langness Isle of Man?