KellysEye
Active member
Many years ago a young couple sailed their Wayfarer from the UK to Turkey. I remember the pictures but not the detail.
And, as such a perfectionist, presumably he left Rockall to Port
Not sure if this has been posted, but a young guy has set off from Cowes to circumnavigate Britain in a 16ft Wayfarer dinghy... bet he's cursing this weather after 3 days he's made it to Lymington.
I seem to remember a lady trying this a year or two ago in a dinghy?
http://www.loveludo.com/#
I don't know about anybody elses thoughts, but the schedule on the website seems optimistic to say the least...
Several plans for consecutive days covering 30, 40 even 50 miles a day. And only one day every 8 allows for bad weather catch up.
To mind that's unrealistic. Those distances would be OK with perfect conditions and fully rested and prepared crew and boat, but what about wind on the nose, no wind, too much wind, non-trivial repairs, fatigue, illness?
I really hope he has a good experience and achieves his goals, but I think his planning is a bit hopeful.
Totally agree, but to do this trip you have to optimistic! He will struggle and have to dig deep. I did my trip in 2 months, I had to do some passages of 100 miles (portpatrick to Holyhead) then from Milford Haven to St Ives, after 3 hours sleep St Ives to falmouth. For me and many people doing round britain is partly a test to see how far you can push your body as well as test your sailing abilities, a chance to meet amazing people and explore the UK.
Ludos test is going to be not having an engine if the wind dies suddenly, but he'll take a crew so they'll have no problem with longer passages.
He seems to be doing well and again good luck!
Its not about me,I haven't claimed anything, its about the fact that claiming to have sailed around a country and in fact not having done so and missed about two or three hundred miles off is a very false claim. Particularly when its arguably the hardest part which you have missed.
It's *******s!
If you haven't sailed around all of the UK, then please don't claim to have done it, by circumventing the hardest bit by using the Caledonian canal.For my money sailing around the top and missing all south of the Caledonian canal would be more worthwhile.
This bit is from your link and I am curious about the point of sail he was on:
"It was impossible to look into the wind. It was screaming and the tops of the waves were blown completely away, feeling like hail. Within our limited vision the whole sea seemed to be smoking. Just to see such seas break away on the beam was frightening – 25ft of solid water, with another 12ft of overhanging crest above it. It was only a matter of time before we got one aboard."
When the inevitable happened, both men hauled on the warps, frantically trying to pull Wanderer through the crest: "She rose gallantly, but it was an impossible position: she seemed to be rising at 60 degrees and there was still a 15ft crest curling above us. Down it came and we were driven bodily under. With ears roaring under immense pressure, and swallowing water, I fought back to the surface, only to find Wanderer was lying bottom up."
It mentions waves breaking on the beam.
Then pulling on the warps (what the heck that meant I don't know - did the journalist mean "sheets")
But can I take it he was sailing into these 25 foot waves.
Would there have been a better way to sail in such conditions.
What is the best way to sail in such conditions? (I've only ever run before a F9 in a big boat)
Very brave man and what an experience. Too much for me.
Since you insist on being a pedant, I would have thought that you would realise that Britain is not a country.
So I've been registered on here for a little while but have never posted, but funnily enough this one caught my eye and I thought I'd contribute....
As Dan (hi Dan) says, I did sail round the UK from Waldringfield to Waldringfield back in 2010. I did miss out the top, because I didn't really fancy it, and as mentioned somewhere above, there aren't many places to seek shelter, and if stormbound for a few days (or a week as I was in Peterhead) then its just too remote. For me.
But I had a fantastic trip, with everything you'd expect and more - dolphins, seals, adventures in places like Seil Sound and whirlpools in places like Ramsey Sound.... And the canals were great fun, but then great to get back onto the open sea too.....
I don't really mind whether Clarky thinks I have or haven't sailed round the UK. I had a lovely little time. My trip was entirely self funded, and I did raise a few quid for charity as it was a good opportunity to do so. I definitely didn't hound people, but I blogged every day without fail, and people seemed to enjoy the blog and want to contribute. So that seemed ok too.
I have met up with Ludo, and he seems well planned. It was a little while ago and at the time he was in two minds about an engine. I can't see from his website whether he has taken one or not.
I had no qualms about using mine, when the wind dropped off, in small harbours etc, it was my trip with my friends with no rules other than to be safe and enjoy the trip. I wouldn't want to do the trip without one as I viewed it as my main safety equipment.
I did have a website, which is no longer running, but as someone mentioned earlier if anyone is interested to read about sailing round the UK in a small dinghy, then I have got my blog, in full, on e-mail and am very relaxed about sharing it....
For the other person that asked - he's in a Hartleys new Mark IV, the same as the one that I used (but not the same one).
Hey ho - good luck to Ludo - he has got some long legs in there. Very early on, he'll get a good idea of what's achievable with the equipment he's got....
This bit is from your link and I am curious about the point of sail he was on:
"It was impossible to look into the wind. It was screaming and the tops of the waves were blown completely away, feeling like hail. Within our limited vision the whole sea seemed to be smoking. Just to see such seas break away on the beam was frightening – 25ft of solid water, with another 12ft of overhanging crest above it. It was only a matter of time before we got one aboard."
When the inevitable happened, both men hauled on the warps, frantically trying to pull Wanderer through the crest: "She rose gallantly, but it was an impossible position: she seemed to be rising at 60 degrees and there was still a 15ft crest curling above us. Down it came and we were driven bodily under. With ears roaring under immense pressure, and swallowing water, I fought back to the surface, only to find Wanderer was lying bottom up."
It mentions waves breaking on the beam.
Then pulling on the warps (what the heck that meant I don't know - did the journalist mean "sheets")
But can I take it he was sailing into these 25 foot waves.
Er - if it's never been done before in a two handed dinghy then how is it breaking world records?This has never been done before in a two handed dinghy- it is extremely difficult. Ludo is looking to break two world records- for the youngest person to sail a dinghy around the UK in the shortest time