Pocket Cruiser plans 2023 ??

[Refueler]

Having had 2022 completely scuppered by spine injury ... I have been seriously looking at making up for it 2023.

I have a smallish boat but built for serious sea passage ... 25ft Sunrider Motor Sailer of 4 tons..... what I term a 'Pocket Cruiser'.

My preferred cruise is from Ventspils (Home Port on Latvian west coast) across to Gotland. Short stop and then across to Swedish Archipelago. I can then decide whether head northeast and round to Finnish Archipelago and then down to Riga Gulf ... or back after island hopping to Gotland and home. Typical 8 to 10 days.

I am interested in any 'pocket cruiser' plans for trips in 2023 others may have ??

 

[Dellquay13]

Foxhound 24’ bilge keel light racer/cruiser.
5-7days crossing the Celtic Sea from Milford Haven to SE Ireland, Kilmore Quay and westwards until we have to head back.
It’s a big trip for me and the missus, we’ve only been sailing 2 years, although we had a 17’ Shetland cabin cruiser for 20 years that took us over the horizon when the sea was glassy.
I’ve recently got my YM shorebased and YM coastal practical, but in our little boat it’s a considerable passage constrained by school holidays.

 

[Refueler]

Foxhound 24’ bilge keel light racer/cruiser.
5-7days crossing the Celtic Sea from Milford Haven to SE Ireland, Kilmore Quay and westwards until we have to head back.
It’s a big trip for me and the missus, we’ve only been sailing 2 years, although we had a 17’ Shetland cabin cruiser for 20 years that took us over the horizon when the sea was glassy.
I’ve recently got my YM shorebased and YM coastal practical, but in our little boat it’s a considerable passage constrained by school holidays.

That's a good trip. I have friends living SE Ireland ... Wexford

I know from my own seagoing time - that area can get rough .... take care !

 

[jamie N]

Would a Folkboat be a pocket cruiser? It's the right size, and mine's got a (planned) very busy season involving Edinburgh, Eire and Faeroe Island stuff. As Refueler's said, I've had health issues and a broken mast which have 'removed' 3 years from my itinerary, so much time to be made up, and little time to make it up in!

 

[Grith]

We are planning 2-3 months cruising the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef late July to October and then 3 months exploring the remote and challenging Kimberley’s the following year.
Our shakedown voyage already mid last year was 6 weeks up the Murray River before the current flooding really took hold.
Our pocket cruiser is designed for coastal and inland waterways not crossing oceans.
At 28 foot long it is big enough for a couple to live comfortably onboard for extended periods yet small enough to trail behind our vehicle opening a whole range of sailing locations unavailable to non trailerable keel yachts.
This combined with a 1 foot minimum draft and under two feet required to motor and under 3 fto sail opens many unusual exploration opportunities as well as very sheltered anchorages and uncrowded or empty locations.
It’s just a different way of cruising.
I prefer it to long days at sea in uncertain weather and often sleep deprived swapping out short watches with an also tired partner.
Very occasionally a destination will require an overnight sail but most days it’s 2-8 hours sailing followed by taking in the sunset drink in hand secure at anchor or mooring in some lovely bay or sheltered spot.
Cruising by trailer sailer is just a different kind of experience than ocean crossing or long coastal passage cruising. ?

 

[Whiterose]

That's a good trip. I have friends living SE Ireland ... Wexford

I know from my own seagoing time - that area can get rough .... take care !

Foxhound 24’ bilge keel light racer/cruiser.
5-7days crossing the Celtic Sea from Milford Haven to SE Ireland, Kilmore Quay and westwards until we have to head back.
It’s a big trip for me and the missus, we’ve only been sailing 2 years, although we had a 17’ Shetland cabin cruiser for 20 years that took us over the horizon when the sea was glassy.
I’ve recently got my YM shorebased and YM coastal practical, but in our little boat it’s a considerable passage constrained by school holidays.

Done the trip from Milford many times..pick your weather probably hardest up from Milfy through Jack Sound ..coming back is ALWAYS problematic if you have a schedule to adhere to…

 

[Dellquay13]

Done the trip from Milford many times..pick your weather probably hardest up from Milfy through Jack Sound ..coming back is ALWAYS problematic if you have a schedule to adhere to…

We will probably start off from Skomer N Haven to have the Jack sound leg behind us. We only average 4.5kts so it is about 15hours projected from MH, Skomer the night before shaves 2 hours off that to try to keep it all in daylight.
Having to get back in a weather window for work is my big concern, plan B would be Rosslare to Pembroke Ferry and leave the boat in a marina, until I could get back to sail it home safely, and most likely SH.

 

[Dellquay13]

Done the trip from Milford many times..pick your weather probably hardest up from Milfy through Jack Sound ..coming back is ALWAYS problematic if you have a schedule to adhere to…

WhiteRose… hmm there’s a yacht in Milford marina boatyard by that name, any connection?

 

[Refueler]

I love the Island hopping in Swedish Archipelago ... no tides to worry about .. most free to moor and stay max 2 nights.

Having boated most of my life south coast UK ... the Archipelago was like heaven !

 

[Refueler]

Channel through to glorious location ...

 

[Refueler]

I am so looking fwd to getting back on boat and over to the Islands .....