round britain

[fishy]

Two of us are planning to go round britain next summer. We have a Twister based on the south coast.We're pretty inexperienced although this summer we spent a month on the boat and did some good coastal passages between falmouth and Hamble.
We need to plan now in terms of work etc. I would be grateful for any advice re the following;
a)Is three monthes long enough to do this journey comfortably?
b)Would mid June to mid September be O.K. or is there a more optimum timing?
c)Which way round would be best at that time of year?
d)Are there any published accounts of cruising trips round britain (apart from the Libby Purves book with which I am familiar)?
e)Is there any place where U.K. charts can be hired for one off trips?
Any advice or observations would be gratefully recieved. many thanks.





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[Twister_Ken]

2 steps

1. Join Twister Owners Association (if not already)

2. Ask the owners of Mermaid of Portsea. They've done it.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[andy_wilson]

a).Three weeks would probably be enough
b). Yes / No
c). Clockwise unless you are contrarian by nature.
d).
http://www.boozeroo.freeserve.co.uk/
http://www.xrayted.fsnet.co.uk/
X Ray Teds (X I think) owner posts here from time to time.
e). Probably, or try a wanted add in the wanted adds section of this site.

We're sailing round the British Isles but my wifes attraction to shops and my daughters need to watch steam trains and demolish my sand castles mean that we have taken 2 seasons to reach Plymouth from the Solent.

Best not to rush these things I find, at least until we are sailing down the North Sea.

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[jhr]

(d) "Coasting" by Jonathan Raban, though it's about introspection as much as sailing! Libby Purves also mentions various other books (whose names I forget)which, though old and no doubt out of print, would be worth trying to track down via your local library.

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[billmacfarlane]

Re book

The book was called "One Summers's Grace".

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[cgull]

Do it in 12 days with Challenge Business!

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[ruff_n_tumble]

Book: "UK Circumnavigation" by Ray and Margo Glaister, The Cruising Association. Skippers Cruising Guides. Adlard Coles Nautical ISBN 0-7136-5355-8. Describes a voyage around Britain and Ireland starting and finishing at Woodbridge clockwise via the Orkney Islands 22 May - 11 August. But apparently out of print/not available at the moment on Amazon

<hr width=100% size=1>Steve Marsh
Hunter 27 OOD "Ruff-n-Tumble"
Gosport

 

[extravert]

I did this in Summer 2001. My answers are pretty similar to what's been given already, but here goes...

a) 3 months is fine. It took us 60 days in a summer of not very good weather. However, you cannot dawdle much, and you need to keep making progress.

b) You suggested dates are fine.

c) Most people seem to go clockwise, as we did. There is only one stretch where it really matters, and that is Pentland Firth. It is easier going through Eastwards than Westwards. The pilot's description of what it can be like on the West going stream is rather offputting, and you don't attempt to oppose the tide here. However, a small boat can go through Westwards, you just have to pick your time, which may be a long wait. With hindsight I wish we had gone anti-clockwise, because that would have given us the best bit (West coast of Scotland) at the end when we had time to dawdle. Instead, coming at the beginning we went past quicker that I preferred in order to make progress. I don't know where you will be starting from, but I would always prefer to leave the best parts to last. If starting from the South coats, that means go anti-clockwise to get the less interesting East coast done first. If you choose to go this way, read the Pentland Firth pilot first so at least you know what you will be in for.

d) Apart from the books and websites already mentioned, I can add that the text of the Glaisters' book is on the Cruising Association's website. There is little to be gained from buying the book, as the pictures are poor anyway.

e) I bought all the charts and pilots new. It costs best part of £2000 using Admiralty charts. I don't know of anywhere to hire them.

If you want more information send me a PM.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I hope to own a real boat.

 

[aod]

Re: round britain and Ireland

Be a shame to miss out on the West Coast of Ireland, stunningly beautiful place.

I did it in 2000 and have quite a few charts which I am willing to part with for a fiver each which should save you a few quid.

If you are interested drop me a PM and I will route out and list what I have.

Richard

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[peterb]

Isn't Shetland part of Britain, then? Surely if you go via the Pentland Firth you've missed out one of the best bits.

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[extravert]

You are right, and with hindsight, we would have gone there too. I don't have personal experience of how good they are for sailing, as still I have never been.

Including them adds a considerable distance of difficult waters to the journey. As a diversion to the Shetlands would have come in the first third of our trip, at that point at the time we were still obsessed with making progress, so we bypassed them and moved on. Our main objective was getting round the big bit in the middle within 3 months, any island visits were a bonus if we had time.

We also had crew exchanges coming up, and probably dumping them off at Lerwick to leave them to find their way home is not the best location for future harmonious crew relationships. If you are changing crew regularly, sometimes this is a restriction on where you go in Scotland.

I guess for fishy it will have to be a decision to make at the time depending on progress and circumstances, like it was for us.



<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I hope to own a real boat.

 

[Ohdrat]

If you go anti clockwise you could always go for an Orcadian compromise and instead of the Pentland Firth go thro the Orkneys (Kirkwall is fab beats Scrabster by a long shot).. This route is well lit, go in via Shapinsay Sound.. and out via Eynhallow Sound.. you still have to get the tides right.. this route will keep you well clear of the North Coast which is a bit of coast that has v little shelter, anchorages or ports .. really Scrabster then nothing until you round Cape Wrath...

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[peterb]

We did one crew change in Lerwick and a second in Scalloway.

I have to say that Scalloway was the most welcoming club I've ever visited. Went up to the club bar to enquire about berths. "Oh no, sir, there's no charge for visitors. And the first round of drinks is on the club. What would you like?" Now, if only every club was like that........

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[Vid]

What's the big deal about circumnavigating the island? Why not stick to the west coast and back - up via the Irish Sea and back to the west of Ireland. Sounds much more interesting than a long slog back down the North Sea.

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[snowleopard]

are you going for a 'personal record' or a pleasant cruise? we've done it 3 times in the last 3 years (via the caledonian canal); it can be done in 3 weeks if you're in a hurry but you won't see much.

we did it twice anticlockwise and once clockwise. the latter was much more hassle, mainly due to westerlies in the channel.

re. charts, around 8 imray charts plus reeds was quite adequate.

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