Sailing a sports boat from the Isle of Wight to Northern Ireland.

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Chris5140

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Well the search has ended!!

I plan to sail/motior reasonable distances and had thought it was flybridge time and was looking for a Prestige 32 but turns out there’s still some Miami Vice envy left in me and I’ve bought another sportsboat. We have went with a Sessa Oyster 35, it’s in good condition and the oily bits have been well maintained. I’ll be booking a survey next week to be doubly sure.

As the title says the new whip is based in the Isle of Wight (I’m sitting in Southampton airport now on way home after agreeing price) and I need to get her home to Bangor, Northern Ireland.

Now I know I could pay some bloke with a big truck to tow it home but where’s the fun in that? So in true me style we are gonna sail/motor her home ourselves.

While the survey and the purchase procedures get sorted I thought it good to start planning the trip, which looks like it’s gonna be an in excess of 500 miles.

Phew that’s some diesel but will still be half the truck transport costs and hopefully a great adventure.

So….. where to start?

First the bad points
I’m not familiar with the boat.
I’m not familiar with the waters
I haven’t sailed/motored anywhere near 500 miles before.


Good points
I’m game.
The boat is in good order, good nav gear, well maintained engines and comfortable.
Mrs Beece and a few mates will help crew her.
Will probably do this last two weeks of August, weather dependant
We are boatdolk berth holders so can stop and stay at their marinas free of charge and if we get bogged in with the weather can leave it there for weeks if required.
Did I mention I was game?

Obviously lots more to consider so just starting to work on this.
I suppose there’s two main aspects.

1. Prepping the boat and getting familiar with it.
2. Planning the route and contingencies.

However I can’t find a single article or YouTube video from anyone who has done this before so all helpful comments welcome, it’s gonna be an adventure and I’m looking forward to it so don’t burst my bubble lol.

Really looking forward to stopping at some beutiful spots and seeing the south of England marinas and sights.

So I start the engines and pull out of the Boatfolk marina birth in Cowes and turn left at the end of the Medina River, I’ve got this first mile sorted……any tips for the next 499?

Cheers Giys

Chris
 
Can it be anchoured easily?if not reliant on marinas /harbours but from the shelter of theIOW zoo across to Weymouth,then Dartmouth.Plymouth Falmouth ……beyond lie dragons😂
 
I’m not even sure it has an anchor!!

Only joking, yeah it’s got a good anchor and 30mtr decent chain. The current owner often moots up at anchor so that should be good

Dragons eh? This is gonna be more interesting than I thought!!! Think I’ll start a YouTube channel lol
 
Btw re fuel, the Sessa is fitted with KAD43’s. From the limited research I was able to do it looks like she will cruise at 3000rpm at 23kts and use about 30ltr per engine per hr. (Possibly optimistic?) I’d be interested in any thoughts on that fuel consumption.

Planning to do between 50-100 miles per day weather permitting so will need plenty of options in refueling.
 
First stop either Yarmouth or Lymington before you leave the Solent. then Weymouth/Portland. around the Bill to S Devon - Brixham, Dartmouth, Salcombe all a comfortable day passage. Biggest challenge is round Lands End s there is nothing on the N Cornwall coast except Padstow but that is way off direct course. Options are either Milford Haven then up the Welsh coast or straight across to Ireland. Starting point can be either Falmouth or Newlyn.

There are of course lots of alternatives along the way - Poole is worth a stop, or if brave a night at anchor in Lulworth. Diversion in Lyme Bay for a probably rolly night in Lyme Regis. Many alternatives to the bigger harbours in Devon and Cornwall. Get a copy of the Channel Pilot to get an idea of what is possible.

50-100 miles a day gives you lots of options, although the round Lands End will likely be a bit longer. No problems with fuel in most harbours/marinas.
 
Cheers Tranona.

I will get the charts out and start looking at those, lots of familiar names most notably those from the stomping grounds of Nick Burnams of Aquaholics fame, will be good to visit those beutiful places I’ve been watching on YouTube for years.

I’m thinking of coming home to Belfast via the Isle of Man rather than cutting across to Cork and up the Irish coast,

Yeah Lands end sounds like it’s gonna be extremely easy or extremely rough, think we will just hold until it’s ye easy option, Mrs Beece tends to get nervous if she thinks she’s gonna die.
 
What's the range, ie the fuel tank capacity? when that's known you can work out your fuel stops. If you have the range and weather in your favour then a dash from Newlyn after fueling in Falmouth to S Ireland Kinsale or Cork. That would be a bit of an adventure.
 
I’ll have my wife and a couple extra crew with me.

Tank is 400 ltrs.

Rough route home would be via Whales then across to the Isle of Man then last leg back to Bangor

Don’t really want to rush it or just grind out the miles, I don’t mind this taking ten days to two weeks or longer and if I have to berth up along the way and come home then fly back if weather isn’t great that’s fine. It’s so important we see and do as much as possible to make the most of this marathon journey
 
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Chris5140 said:
I’ll have my wife and a couple extra crew with me.

Tank is 400 ltrs.

Rough root home would be via Whales then across to the Isle of Man then last leg back to Bangor

Don’t really want to rush it or just grind out the miles, I don’t mind this taking ten days to two weeks or longer if I have to berth up and come home then go back if weather isn’t great, so important I we see and do as much as possible to make the most of this marathon journey
Click to expand...
Good mindset,enjoy your cruise🙂
 
Yeah being from Northern Ireland and liking bikes the TT is a bit of a pilgrimage.

My current boat is a Larsen 240 with a Mercruiser 5.0mpi petrol. I’ve taken it from Bangor to Scotland quite a number of times and last year we bent from Bangor right up to Rathlin island. Small trips in comparison to this upcoming one but it gave me the bug to cruise further afield, though I wanted the security of an extra donkey in the back in case we ran into difficulty far from home.

Plus the Sessa has a bow thruster!!! Luxury!
 
Wasn’t there a series in YBW about someone doing that trip counterclockwise?.....it’s further...but you are never really out of sight of land
 
I’m relatively new here so haven’t seen that one, would be helpful though.

Back home now, visiting the Isle of Wight during to buy a boat the same week as the festival was in was an experience! Really nice place though, would love to have stayed longer.
 
Chris5140 said:
I’ll have my wife and a couple extra crew with me.

Tank is 400 ltrs.

Rough route home would be via Whales then across to the Isle of Man then last leg back to Bangor

Don’t really want to rush it or just grind out the miles, I don’t mind this taking ten days to two weeks or longer and if I have to berth up along the way and come home then fly back if weather isn’t great that’s fine. It’s so important we see and do as much as possible to make the most of this marathon journey
Click to expand...
You are right to take your time. Those of us who live on the s Coast tend to take our stamping ground for granted, but there is lots to see and you may not get another chance. That looks like a very capable boat and it should take the short hops in its stride.
 
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