Sailing to Ireland.

Any advancement in the planning of this trip?

I had sent a PM a while back about possibly being interested and the date seems to suit my vacation planning fairly well. I haven't seen any updates but I don't always follow the forums really closely.
 
Carter866 said:
Any advancement in the planning of this trip?

I had sent a PM a while back about possibly being interested and the date seems to suit my vacation planning fairly well. I haven't seen any updates but I don't always follow the forums really closely.
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Thank you for this posting.

The rally to Ireland has growing support, with people from the Solent to the Bristol Channel declaring an interest.

August 7th seems to be favourable to everyone who has contacted me, so I am defiantly going to organise the start of the rally from this date.

Some people with smaller yachts have also declared an interest (under 30ft), so my plan is to make the legs along the English Channel short enough for everyone to manage. Building in catch up time for slower yachts.

People will be able to join at strategic ports as the fleet travels West.
I envisage ending the rally in Cork, from which people can either carry on exploring Ireland or return to the U.K.

I hope to put a loose itinerary together in January, upon which people can comment. Thus growing the whole trip organically, rather then provide a Fete acomplis.

I have a list of interested people now, who I will be contacting in the New Year. Anyone else who may like to join please send me a P.M

I have left the final organisation to the New Year, so it will be more relevant to everyone.

Looking forward to sailing to Ireland with you all..:)
 
activesail said:
Thanks for the informative link, I had no idea that Ireland was classed as part of the British Islands. In geographic terms.
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It isn't.

'British Islands' is defined in the UK Interpretation Act, 1978 and implicitly excludes (the Republic of) Ireland.

"British Islands" means the United Kingdom, the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey, and the Isle of Man.

You are thinking of 'British Isles' which is a geographic term, and does include (the island of) Ireland.
 
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Timing of Irish Trip

The rally to Ireland has growing support, with people from the Solent to the Bristol Channel declaring an interest.

August 7th seems to be favourable to everyone who has contacted me, so I am defiantly going to organise the start of the rally from this date.

Some people with smaller yachts have also declared an interest (under 30ft), so my plan is to make the legs along the English Channel short enough for everyone to manage. Building in catch up time for slower yachts.


I cruised from Burnham on Sea to Ireland in 2008 and 2009 and had 3+ weeks on the South Coast, mostly single-handed. The hardest bit is getting down channel as far as Milford Haven ! (22ft waterline, long keeled yacht)
However - I chose May/June for the trips. Main problem was the unremitting Sunshine - I ended up having to wear large hat, long sleeves and trousers as I was getting so badly Sunburned ! July and August, however were pretty dreadful.
I spent some time in the sailing clubs on the South Coast and the impression I got was that the locals who are serious cruising sailors enjoy a short Summer, cutting back on exposed cruising by August and later as the Winter gales can set in on the South west coast by then.
The approach to Kilmour Quay has some challenging navigation (and expensive berthing and living costs.) Dunmore East is much more open and is far safer in anything over a f5. I found the fishing fleet there very helpful and pleasant.
I am not sure whether I am going that way again this year. If so I shall again deliver boat to Milford Haven and moor it safely upriver until I get the weather window for Ireland.
 
I have been looking at the options for this trip from S Cornwall. My preferred route would be Land's End - Padstow - Lundy - Milford - Waterford outbound and Cork - Scillies inbound.
 
snowleopard said:
I have been looking at the options for this trip from S Cornwall. My preferred route would be Land's End - Padstow - Lundy - Milford - Waterford outbound and Cork - Scillies inbound.
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Thank you for all your suggestions, certainly food for thought. I have sailed directly from Falmouth to Kilmore Quay last summer in a UFO 31. The sail only took 36 hours at a steady seven knots.
A stopover in the Scillies is certainly a favoured option. I am open to all suggestions and it will be the participants who decide the ultimate route.

August has been suggested because it enables families to participate but as in any month, bad weather may occur.
So it is up to participating yachtsmen to sail within their own ability's.

I shall publish an itinerary later this month and look forward to reading everyone's ideas and comments.:)
 
Having taken part in a couple of rallies (ARC, ARC Europe) in the past, one of the disadvantages I found was the rigid timetables which led for example to the fleet setting out into a gale forecast (without me I hasten to add). Also the smaller boats had less time to rest in port while the fast ones were wanting to get going again.

My preference would be to have a series of meeting places with 'free cruising' in between and a good comms net so we can re-schedule for e.g. weather constraints.

Some like to do short hops and short stays in a lot of places, others, me included, prefer longer legs and fewer but longer stays. Both can be accommodated if the schedule calls for meet-ups in major harbours every 3-4 days or once a week. I imagine there are lots of nice small places where the whole fleet wouldn't find room (especially with my floating tennis court!)

Just a thought. I could always skip a few places that didn't suit my boat and meet up with the rest of you a few days later.

I presume you are thinking of this as a cruise in company rather than a real rally with pre-booked berths and organised events. The latter could land you with insurance issues, especially if it involved collecting money for things.
 
I sailed to SW Ireland a couple of years ago. Fantastic cruising, beautiful secluded anchorages, friendly and welcoming and free to anchor everywhere. The only drawback was that what you saved on free anchoring you paid out when you stepped ashore. The prices were something like Oslo or Tokyo. 35 euros for a bottle of ordinary Bushmills! Didn't put us off though and I'll be back.
 
snowleopard said:
Having taken part in a couple of rallies (ARC, ARC Europe) in the past, one of the disadvantages I found was the rigid timetables which led for example to the fleet setting out into a gale forecast (without me I hasten to add). Also the smaller boats had less time to rest in port while the fast ones were wanting to get going again.

My preference would be to have a series of meeting places with 'free cruising' in between and a good comms net so we can re-schedule for e.g. weather constraints.

Some like to do short hops and short stays in a lot of places, others, me included, prefer longer legs and fewer but longer stays. Both can be accommodated if the schedule calls for meet-ups in major harbours every 3-4 days or once a week. I imagine there are lots of nice small places where the whole fleet wouldn't find room (especially with my floating tennis court!)

Just a thought. I could always skip a few places that didn't suit my boat and meet up with the rest of you a few days later.

I presume you are thinking of this as a cruise in company rather than a real rally with pre-booked berths and organised events. The latter could land you with insurance issues, especially if it involved collecting money for things.
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Some really good suggestions and I will be certainly be incorporating some of them into the planning.

A loose schedule is a great idea and some catch up places can certainly be organised.

A cruise in company is what this event is planned to be and the participants can join or leave any any time. The individual skippers will not be encouraged to sail beyond there abilities and ideally, will have some experience of night sailing.

The whole idea being for everyone to enjoy their sailing and have someone to compare notes with, in the nearest pub at the end of each leg.
 
The Emerald Isles

Hi Active

I'm interested.

Do you have a separate mailing list or other means of comms?

Will PM you for now,

Babylon
 
snowleopard said:
My preferred route would be Land's End - Padstow - Lundy - Milford - Waterford outbound and Cork - Scillies inbound.
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It might not be come the time. Pembroke to Cork often finds winds right on the nose. Scillies to Cork often a reach. Mind you, if you do go your preferred way and have time, consider checking out the Pembroke headlands and islands if you've not done them before -- a delight in fair weather.
 
activesail said:
Following a recent passage to Ireland I am amazed at how much good quality cruising is available westwards of Lands End and the British Isle.

We often hear about sailing across the English Channel and cruising clubs to France and the Channel Islands but rarely about a similar passage or organised event to Southern Island.

So would anyone be interested in taking part in an organised cruise to Southern Ireland in the summer of 2011?
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when and where? I may be sailing to Baltimore-Cork area in July. Not sure about an organised cruise but happy to meet up.

Colin
 
ColinR said:
when and where? I may be sailing to Baltimore-Cork area in July. Not sure about an organised cruise but happy to meet up.

Colin
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Welcome Jon to the Ireland cruise in company. you will certainly be welcome to meet up with the cruise Colin.

The start date will hopefully be Monday August 8th. A day later than envisaged but anyone wanting to start on the 7th will be welcome to go ahead and wait for the rest of us at a predetermined catch up port.

I will publish the details in the near future. The only reason for the delay is I have been involved in some international deliveries, over the last two months. Which have taken my time up.

I also needed to arrange a charter yacht for myself, which I have now done. Anyone interested in a mile building berth, please let me know via a private message.

Everyone who has already expressed an interest will be directly contacted with the full details.

Cheers.:)
 
I was wondering the same thing...I have taken my vacation to coincide with dates previously mentioned so I will be making my way in the direction of Ireland after about the 6th of august.
 
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