Round Britain - What Pilot Books and Charts

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sjohn_gibson

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I have decided, at the last minute, to sail around Britain via the Caledonian Canal. The plan is set off at the end of the month from Harwich and head North along the East Coast.

I would welcome advice on what pilot books and charts I should acquire.

I have the Shell Channel Pilot and paper and electronic chart (C-Map NT+) coverage from Poole to Harwich. I have recently sailed this route. It is the other areas that I need help.

I have had a browse through the Imray on-line books - it is just which one would be most suitable?

Please PM me if you would like to offer any practical help or advice.
 
[ QUOTE ]
to sail around Britain via the Caledonian Canal.

[/ QUOTE ]

It has been pointed out often enough before, but once again we see it...

The quoted statement contains a basic internal inconsistency - unless, perhaps, a figure-of-eight course is proposed? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Now there's one for the topological pedants... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
''....to sail around Britain via the Caledonian Canal''

Why waste time coming up round Rattray head and facing all the dreadful hazards of the Moray Firth, then the raging storms of the Firth of Lorne, when you could just cut through by the Forth-Clyde canal?
After all, compared with English waters, there is really not much worth seeing around Scotland, is there?
 
May I suggest you simply ensure that you have 'big picture' charts for the whole trip with a selection of more detailed charts for those harbours you plan to visit plus a few intermediate detailed charts for those harbours you select as safe havens in an emergency. If you have the current Reeds Almanac for the UK you do not need pilot books; but any you choose will be a bonus. Also log on to the Caledonian Canal website for details of canal charges and transit details. whatever you do do not 'skimp' on the chart purchase - either Admiralty or Imray will do the job. have a good sail! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
There is a round britain power boat race as well in the next few weeks, they are also going to transit the Caly canal.
I live aboard currently in Seaport Marina Inverness, I think I'll head down to the sea lock and put a sign up that says "FOR ROUND BRITAIN KEEP GOING NORTH UNTIL YOU RUN OUT OF LAND THEN TURN LEFT"
That should do the business.
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I love it when the Scots get precious about what counts as "Round Britain".......they always ignore the fact that, following their logic the trip should also include Northern Ireland, the Hebrides, Scilly Isles, going south of Isle of White, etc etc etc......

For the rest of us there are two "Round Britain" routes. the girlie one through the Caledonian and the hairy-chested macho one round the top! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
My previous response on this was somewhat acidic, and if it caused offence I do apologise. But consider:
Sailing or power-boat racing ''around Britain" but via the Caledonian Canal does imply either that the Highlands north of the canal are irrelevant to the rest of the country, or that the sailors/racers expect to claim a rather more noteworthy achievement while quietly dodging some of the most demanding passage-making!
If we called it the "Round the Grampians" circuit it would overlook both England and Wales, and that would never do. How about the "English Channel and Caledonian Canal Circuit" ?

Seriously, for anyone unlucky enough to be living in the South, it is a very worthwhile sailing circuit, and can be significantly improved by including a circuit of Mull, with perhaps an extension to Rhum, and Canna; even across to Eriskay and Barra before heading southward through the Sound of Islay.
Enjoy!
 
Poor guy justs asks for a bit of help and is met with a torrent of bile from the Celtic fringe. Makes me proud to be English.
 
Thank you to the few that answered the question and offered the advice I was seeking. Anteak, a special thanks as you expressed my sentiments nicely. I will try and accept Lord McDonald's offer of a dram if I spot him.

As for the rest, I would just like to say I have condierable experience of Ocean passages in various parts of the world so transiting the North of Scotland is not a problem for me or my boat. The reason I have choosen the inner route is this trip is that it is a holiday opportunity for my family including the Grand Children. I have meet to many people who have been turned of sailing because their first and only experience was a long hard sea sick passage. I want to foster and encourage their interest in sailing so that they can take me out sailing in my dotage.
 
seriously now.

What are your intentions concerning the Irish Sea and Lundy? Many of the magazine cruises scoot down the Irish coastline in one or two stops, then cross back at Milford Haven, maybe even to Lands End.. This is a real shame as you will miss out on some fabulous sailing and little harbours.

I guess it depends on whether this is a race for the finish or a holiday of a lifetime experience. I can help you with charts and pilots for this area, but need to have a general idea of your proposed route.

Also, there is a poster who still looks in occasionally named 'x-ray ted', though that may have changed as he changed boats. He wrote a fun and more than interesting log online of his trip of the same in his X99.

found it...

http://www.xrayted.fsnet.co.uk/
 
god what some poops!!
like sticking a walking stick into a hornets nest!
best of luck john gibson, sure it will be a grand trip and a fantastic adventure for the grand kids!!!
 
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