sailing round britain

[Rob_karen]

hi folks,we have the summer off(yippee).
we are thinking of sailing round the coast of britain,anyone got some hints,tips or links to sites of people that have done it before.
cheers rbnkaz..................

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Cactus]

I think PBO magazine are running a series on a bloke who did just that.

Are you intending on rounding the emerald isle, or taking the shortcut up the Irish Sea?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[orion21]

Hi, If you are going to round the north of scotland you should come in past ORKNEY. There was a couple of boats that stopped in past last year on there way around britain.
hope you have a good trip and maybe we'll see you up here later.
cheers for now, Geordie

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[sailorman]

read to-days daily mail.
make sure all your paperwork is in order & wach-out for
smugglers, gun runners,illegal immigrants, harbourmasters who r asleap, loacl tax officials, marina staff ( for not checking your "papers") & uncle Tom Cobley & all
WHAT A STUPID FELLOW, BUT HE DOESNT KNOW HIS FATHER WAS ( cant swear now!)

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[cameronke]

Hi Sailorman

Not likely to read the Daily Mail but something has apparently got your hackles up. What is going on? What papers are you likely to need arround the UK (I have nothing at all!)

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tome]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=ym&Number=480120&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=2&part=>here</A>

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ottie]

You'll enjoy it. I did it a few years ago, took 3 months and could really have planned for longer. All one can say is do all the planning, decide on the places you want to stop at which reduces the number of detailed charts. Try to avoid marinas all the way round, there are many rivers and harbours which are cheaper and have very welcoming yacht clubs. Spend at least half of your time in Scottish waters. I did a figure of eight. Up the east coast, down Caladonian canal, through the western islse, Orkney, back through Caladonian canal and down the Irish sea using the east coast of Ireland. Howth is worth a few days as its a shortish train ride to Dublin which is magic. Hope you have a good time. Contact me if you like.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[peterb]

The Emerald Isle ......

......isn't part of Britain. That's why it's the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". It's part of the British Isles, though. Confusing, isn't it?

But don't forget that Great Britain includes Shetland and Orkney.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[sailbadthesinner]

the guy to speak to is extravert he has been there done that and has a web site with all the details
pm him for more info is a good bet

<hr width=100% size=1>Beer. Source of and answer to all life's problems.

 

[sailorman]

A FIFTH COLUMNIST FROM AMOUNGST US & HIS MATE FROM " THE DAILY CRAP".
JUST WAIT, NEXT TIME YOUR "OFFSHORE" & MAKE A LANDING IN THE U.K.
JAIL FOR U MATEY .PDQ

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[snowleopard]

done it 2 1/2 times in the last 3 years, always via the caledonian. call me a wimp if you like but i'd go for the great glen in preference to the pentland firth!

a few of the less frequented places i visited include Preston and Grimsby! both had their good points.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[extravert]

My website describing what we found when we did it in 2001 is here.

The Glaisters also have published a small book describing their trip, but there is little in the book that is not on the Cruising Association's website.

The best bit for us was Galloway to Cape Wrath. We felt it would have been better to have the better sections later, because that is when you can linger if you have the time. Instead, we did the best bit first (headed north from Pwllheli). In the early stage progress is important, so we hurried rather quicker than we should have done along the Scottish west coast. Then we had plenty of time in the less interesting parts later.

If you have the time and confidence, go round the top. Don't take the Caledonian Canal. There is nothing wrong with the CC route, but you will miss out a large section of the best bit of UK's coast, Oban to Cape Wrath. It keeps on getting better as you go further north (apart from the weather). Pentland Firth and Cape Wrath on a quiet day are nothing to fear...

The relevant pilots describe precisely what are and aren't suitable conditions for transiting these areas, and where the best routes are. Also we found that harbour masters and the Coastguard get more and more yacht-friendly as you go further north, and are falling over themselves to give advice and help at the top of the country. (For example, harbour dues for yachts in Scrabster are £8 for as long as you want. They don't want to encourage yachts to leave and transit Pentland when conditions are unsuitable).

At the risk of upsetting the East Coast aficionados again, the East Coast is mostly straight, low, inaccessible, and goes on a bit. (I mean Pentland to North Foreland here, not just the bit between the Thames and Lowestoft). Better to do some longer legs here, giving time to slow down when you get to the crinkly bits with islands. Sometimes you have to anyway, i.e. Lowestoft to the Humber.

Charts and pilots for the whole trip are really expensive. Be prepared for a price shock, £2000 for the whole lot new.

If you are changing crew, transport gets a bit tricky in Scotland beyond the Clyde. There are railway stations at Oban, Mallaig, and then nothing until Scrabster.

Take plenty of fenders and a pair of fender boards. You never know what you will be tied up next to once you are away from marina-land.

Take a good toolkit, spares, and contacts for suppliers like online chandlers and your engine's importer. Maintenance was continual all the way, even though the boat was thoroughly prepared. Suppliers were excellent in getting bits to remote places when we needed them, once we could contact them. An engine spare arrived from Denmark 18 hours after we ordered it.

Take a spare pair of soft shoes that are never worn when sailing, so they are always dry and salt free. Clammy shoes and feet for weeks is a downside of a long trip.

Expect your first day back at work when you return to be a bit if an unpleasant shock.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep trying.

 

[extravert]

> call me a wimp

I called one for you, but on-one answered.

I'm surprised that you avoid Penland in that big boat of yours. I'd take my Dragonfly through on a suitable day. There are even smaller boats belonging to Pentland Firth Yacht Club that have to face those waters everytime they go out.

Caledonian Canal scenery is excellent, I'd agree, but I reckon Oban to Cape Wrath contains the best coastal scenery the UK has to offer, anchorages eveywhere, and has some really excellent yacht-friendly but not yacht-crowded harbours.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep trying.

 

[Jeremy_W]

I have no site links, but I trust you've read:-
A Summer's Grace - Libby Purves (husband, wife + primary school child + toddler)
Island Race - 2/3 crew + 2 novices + film crew getting in the way (not helped by Sandt Toksvig's penchant for running home to Guildford to see girlfriend & sprog)
Coasting - Jonathan Raban (inexperienced solo)


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[spark]

Wimp.

I know a man who used to fish lobsters in the Men of Mey from a 10' pram dinghy.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.qei.co.uk/spark.html>http://www.qei.co.uk/spark.html</A>