Recommended ports of call

I see the Menai Straits on your list. It's a beautiful shortcut on your route, with loads of free moorings close to accessible (by dinghy) shores. I also really like the IOM, that's like going abroad for me.
 
orbister said:
What's wrong with Port Edgar these days?
Click to expand...

Years of neglect, lack of maintainance etc etc. The council finally got round to drawing up a redevelopment plan just in time for the credit crunch, so redevelopment has been put of again for the second time. It is really getting to the time where they need to admit they are not good at running such thinga and hand it over to the profesionals
 
snowleopard said:
When I went there in 2001 The 'facilities' were grim, cold and stinking. Then they had the nerve to charge me for 80 ft of alongside berth when I occupied only 40 ft.
Click to expand...

To be fair about the only sensible thing they have done is a make over for the facilities, I can vouch that the gents are much better than they used to be, though it is a job that is about 20 years too late. Mrs Maxi also reports that the make over for the ladies is also a big improvement.
 
What else? They added another ramp down from the pier so that the berths can now be reached at high tide without walking all the way round the pier or limbo dancing under it (but managed to line it with mild steel mesh that, not surprisingly, has turned to rust). They've added security gates that can be circumvented by any of the ladders on the pier or by a long arm. They've added lots of notices. In fact "they" have done lots of little things but the fabric of the pontoons is rotten; the majority of the pontoons are only 7m long, though the boats aren't; and the less said about the tyre wave barrier, the better.
 
Granton is a disgrace as well.

It is a great shame that Edinburgh has no really good boating facilities.

Granton has the potential to be an excellent harbour. The infrastructure is there and if the Royal Forth YC's silt agitation scheme works, then many of the tide problems will be resolved.

Unfortunately the harbour is owned by Forth Ports who, getting no real revenue from it, want to despose of it for landfill and housing. Indeed most of the west harbour is already lost.

Such is the state of some of the timber wharfage that were any future harbour trust to take over Granton it would be faced with massive renewal cost.

The city council is invested in Port Edgar and there being few votes in yachts the council do not want to become involved with Granton.

Stalemate
 
snowleopard said:
For anyone considering going round in 2010 I may ask Dan to give us our own forum nearer the time if there is sufficient demand. There is a website set up for this purpose at http://www.circumnavigation-uki.co.uk/ but it appears to be moribund.
Click to expand...

Surely the request should be 2 fora - 1 for the wooses shortcutting through the canals and the other for the proper sailors that choose the long way round. :)

I suppose I can claim a "Round Britain" cruise this year - Carron/Clyde ditch, the Crinan and the Caledonian.
 
Firth of Forth

Having sailed via the Firth of Forth a couple of times in recent years I am also not a big fan of Pt Edgar. I would lean against the wall in Anstruther and then press on to Eyemouth.

Eamon
 
ports/anchorages

Strangford lough- get the tides right!
Campbeltown
Port ellen
Tayvallich
Anchorage on Colonsay
Loch Spelve
Iona.
Anchorage on Treshnish islands
Its hard to stop at Staffa.......
Tobermory
Loch Drumbuie
 
I notice YM did an article on circumnavigating the UK in the June issue. Anyone care to have a look and tell me whether it's worth the price of a reprint?
 
Hi Snowleopard, had a quick look at the June issue - I don't think it will help you much as it is based on 2 or 3 day legs.
Some day sail suggestions of my own for the West coast trip - (not sure where you are starting from but assuming Falmouth)
Padstow first
then Lundy (no anchoring permitted and only 3 visitors moorings, but if you are going at the start of the season very much worth a visit - despite steep climb the views and birdlife are spectacular and the pub at the top serves great beer and food. Well protected except from easterlies.
Then Dale (Milford Haven) don't go on the free pontoon - anchor just past the headland in front of the moorings - good holding ground and very pretty.
Then through St. Davids Head (maybe stopping off at the bird sanctuary island (whose name I can't remember!!) but just turn to port as you enter St Brides Bay and you're there, then to Fishguard. Well protected anchorage.
Then Pwllheli (visitors berth in marina) or 7 miles further on to Abersoch Bay and anchor or ask SCYC for a spare mooring - SCYC run a boat taxi and the bar and restaurant are good
Then round Abersoch and through Bardsey Sound to Porth Dinllaen - anchorage
Then Holyhead - boat club mooring and water taxi to Holyhead Sailing Club or Holyhead Marina
Then either Port St Mary (berthing alongside harbour wall - can get busy) or Peel (visitors mooring or anchor)
Then you could go to Portpatrick but if busy, you might have a problem with your beam
or if you needed to refuel and revictual, Bangor is a good, well-run marina.
Then Port Ellen (you won't be able to berth on the visitor's pontoon, but plenty of vistors moorings and quieter too)
Then Castleford Bay in Jura (visitors mooring)
From then on you are spoilt for choice (by the way, all the moorings I have mentioned are free)
Have a great time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top