Sailing round the UK

[joliette]

Going to do the round UK trip this year, starting from Southampton, via Caledonian canal, what is the recommended route, clockwise or anticlockwise,

Definitely anticlock from the Solent, getting off to a good start by using the prevailing SW on a downwind run east, rather than fighting it all the way down Channel west ... no way (it'd make me want to give up, or go mobo)!

 

[alan_d]

to me one scottish island looks very much like another

That might lead to pilotage problems in parts of the west coast ...

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Which ever way you go the wind will be against you most of the time. It's just the way that it is.

 

[EdWingfield]

My knowledge is theoretical only but I understand tide streams favour Channel done E-W, particularly on the French coast. Damn sight cheaper too.

 

[ukmctc]

It makes no difference at all and the East coast has plenty of stops, just mostly 12 hour sails.
The North East Scottish coast is fantastic, Edinburgh to Arbroath, then Arbroath to Peterhead, Peterhead to Whitehead, (Cromarty is worth a wee visit), Whitehead to Wick, Wick to Stomness, Stromness to Pierowall, Pierowall to Fair Isle, Fair Isle to Lerwick and return same route to Stromness then around Cape Wrath down to Kinlochbervie.
These are all 6-12 hour sails the odd one was 14 hours but all easy and can be done singlehanded if required in both directions.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

We may not do the complete circumnavigation.
Hoping that we have enough time (we are now retired) and making sure I don't scare swmbo, our intention is to go clockwise from Portsmouth and to take in as many attractive venues as possible and to get inland a little from many. That includes Eire.
We are not too struck on the east coast of England primarily due to the fact that there is often some distance between safe ports that a keel depth of 1.7m will take us at all states of the tide and swmbo doesn't enjoy night sailing as I do.
The canals sound like a good idea too as it gives a change of scenery and could be good to relax foe a while if the weather is rough. This may mean going up and then back down the Caledonian so that we can then see more of the Isles farther NW.

 

[dhobyb]

Well Thanks to you all, my plan seems to be, leave Solent mid April, park up in Torquay (Sons wedding in Inverness! SWMBO seems quite keen to attend) also miss the Olympics/weymouth....don't want to get mixed up with that lot.

Then off again mid May, Marina hopping (but not Conwy) north, bit of Ireland, till we reach the canals, then to Inverness, break in Arbroath or Port Edgar then south again, intend to be back to Solent in time for the boat show.....

Now where did I put that chart!!

 

[tom_sail]

Well Thanks to you all, my plan seems to be, leave Solent mid April, park up in Torquay (Sons wedding in Inverness! SWMBO seems quite keen to attend) also miss the Olympics/weymouth....don't want to get mixed up with that lot.

Then off again mid May, Marina hopping (but not Conwy) north, bit of Ireland, till we reach the canals, then to Inverness, break in Arbroath or Port Edgar then south again, intend to be back to Solent in time for the boat show.....

Now where did I put that chart!!

Here's my stops this year. May I ask why not Conwy? Prices a guest?

 

[dhobyb]

Thats pretty cool, how did you do it?