Sail Round Britain. Which way?

Somebody will be along soon to ask whether you mean UK, Great Britain, British Isles, plus or minus Northern Ireland, Scotland Channel Islands etc.

Otherwise Clockwise is logical. Enjoy SW winds on the rough West coast and a relative lee on the East coast.
 
Scotty_Twister said:
Which is the best direction to sail around Britain and why?
What is the best time of the year to start if you were considering taking 2-3 months to do it?
Click to expand...
Where is your starting point? I suggest going clockwise if south coast based.

My reasoning is that towards the end of the voyage you will probably we watching the clock and will feel the need to get the mission completed. If going clockwise the concluding phase of the journey will coincide with the relatively sparse ports of refuge on the east coast and the longer passages implied.
 
why bother with the east coast?
you will have a much more interesting and varied use of your time by going up the west coast of Ireland up to the north of Scotland island hopping the outer hebrides, go to Orkney and then back down "inshore" on the north west coast of Scotland, sound of Skye, and down the Irish Sea.
The East Coast is very barren with far fewer anchorages and less to see.
I'd choose to start in mid mid may so that you get the most daylight and are furthest north at the summer equinox.
 
Wasn't it Humphrey Barton who sailed out of the harbour, then tossed a coin for which way to go. Where is your spirit of adventure?
Andrew
 
I've been pondering the circumnav, but I'm ahead of myself as I have 5.5 yrs to retirement.

I'll start form Northumberland clockwise, on April 1st (that's when my marina contract will expire) I'll sail south with the weather opportunities and may cross to the continent from Lowestoft (cos it'll be cheaper and new to me) Then I'll keep to the continent coast all the way through to Brittany (more favourable tidal streams on the French side) Somewhere here in warm weather I'll replace the anti-fouling.

I'll explore Brittany with the weather opportunities until June 1st when I cross back to Scilly Is, Milford Haven, Welsh harbours inc Anglesey, Isle of Man, Solway, Scottish west coast reaching Outer Hebs in August.

Then round the top visiting Orkneys (mebbe Shets) then down the Scottish East coast and English East coast to arrive eventually at my overwintering marina (as yet undecided)
 
Keep Turning Left

I am currently going anti-clockwise around the UK in my 19 foot Mirror Offshore

http://www.youtube.com/user/dylanwinter1

but it has taken me two summers to get from the Isle of Wight to Walton Backwaters - so its a long slow one.

going up the North sea you want to be sailing on the ebb - so you tend to arrive at the next port at low tide

see nathans log of his journey in Kudu.

all I would say is take your time and allow yourself time to look at some of our great rivers

Dylan
 
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Not wishing to be funny but the best way is the way you choose to go. Each has merits and demerits.
Clockwise...beating down channel is big downer. But then you can have shelter and a soldiers wind up the Irish sea.
Anticlock......get the East coast out the way to start with, where your passages may be longer, while you are still fresh. Then you have to beat down the West coast.

The arguments can go on forever. In the end I rather like the sail out and toss a coin approach as what really counts is doing it.
 
I rather think that the answer is similar to one given me by a someone setting off on a long cruise from the Humber. He didn't make any plans until he left the estuary, then took which ever wind was best.
 
Scotty_Twister said:
Which is the best direction to sail around Britain and why?
What is the best time of the year to start if you were considering taking 2-3 months to do it?
Click to expand...

Hi, Last year in September I left ramsgate and sailed (or rather motored as there was no wind) right up E coast and then into the Caledonian canal and throught to Ardfern where I left the boat. Unfortunately I lost my job in January and had to move from Bolton (where I had just arrived in October 08) back to Kent in Jan 09. this left me with a problem as boat was in ardfern and I near dymchurch. I went up in may and with some friends attempted to go to north Rona but was prevented by gales and so spent a week between Ardfern and Stornoway ending in Kinlochbervie 14 nm S of cape Wrath. In july I took the boat from Crinan and sailed to ballycastle in northern ireland and then down irish coast to Cork. A week ago I sailed from Cork to Salcombe and then southsea. This weekend some friends sailed her from Southsea to Dover. I think that although I wouldnt claim a round Britain as I didnt do Wick to kinlochbervie, it gave me a good feel of what its like. Anti clockwise has all thebenefits of the SW from ireland and up the channel with a posssible Sw all the way up E coast as has happened twice now. So thats the way I would suggest.(for what its worth) Hope this helps.
 
Sail Round Britain. Which way?

Hi

I am glad people have found my website and book useful. Both are aimed at trying to help people on the planning of a trip.

My advice (based on the experience of over 50 yachts ) is:
Leave in the first 2 weeks of may.
Which way round depends on many things - there is quite a big section in my book about this - where you start from is key.
2-3 months - the longer you have the better. I don't think people realise how stunning our coastline is. If you take just 2 months you will spend your time missing out some wonderful places and it will feel pressured. Remember the shorter the time you will have to do quite long legs to make up for time storm bound or just catching up on admin. We did it in 4 months and we still felt we were speeding past many places. One skipper I spoke to took 2 summers and when I asked them what they would do differently they said take 3. So the more time you have the better. Spend as much time as possible in west coast scoland - we spent 25% of our time and wished we have spend 40% at least. For many it was the highlight of the trip. I would add if you have the time do visit the orkneys - they are really worth it.

If you want to contact me to discuss further I am happy to any issues further - get in contact via the website. I am also doing a series of talks about planning a trip at: CA, Royal Southern Yacht Club, Royal Southampton, Yately Offshore Yacht Club, Newbury Yacht Club, Reading and Henley Offshore Group this winter. I will post the dates on my website later on in the week , if anyone is interested in joining.

If you are thinking of doing this trip ...do - you wont regret it our coastline is quite magnificent..

If you have done the trip - then please contact me and complete a survey so that I can provide more useful info for people planning such a trip. There is one route I can't find anyone who has done - round west coast of ireland and through caley canal

Regards

Sam Steele

www.circumnavigation-uki.co.uk
 
For Sam Steele

Great book, by the way, thanks, Sam!

I am planning to go in 2011; clockwise, starting in early May from Blackwater. After all this interest, I just hope the circuit is not too crowded, with queues at all the headlands ... :-)
 
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