Sgeir
Well-known member
Likewise. Nothing like as busy the English Channel, but not to be undertaken lightly, especially at night without radar or AIS.
Scotland jitters
- Thread starter dom
- Start date
Likewise. Nothing like as busy the English Channel, but not to be undertaken lightly, especially at night without radar or AIS.
dom
Well-known member
I fully agree with this point and sorry for late reply as been semi-offline over w/e down on boat. When one is for example crossing Biscay the sea opens into a mini ocean trip once through the Raz de Sein after which close encounters with ships, albeit a little route dependent, are fairly few and far between. This means that sailing two up - as we often do - I can get some kip with the instruction to call me if anything needs tweaking, or another vessel is closing. Two days give or take of this settled routine and we're there.
The Irish Sea on the other hand requires more directional navigation and on occasion seems to have every manner of ship travelling in every manner of direction. I expect four up would make such a passage much easier.
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westhinder
Well-known member
That probably depends on the days you pick. The irish Sea did not strike me as particularly busy. Crossing from Newlyn to Kilmore Quay we did not see more than five or six ships in 26 hours. Along the Irish coast it was very quiet, as you run between the shipping lanes and the coast. Apart from one or two ferries going into Rosslare and Dun Laoghaire we encountered no shipping and only the odd fishing boat. That was late May, early June. Crossing the North Channel we only saw one ship. There were two of us aboard, taking it in leisurely daytrips it was a doddle. If you plan to do it in one go, then of course a stronger crew will make matters more relaxed. But you do realise you will be missing out on a number of very nice places along the way?
Daydream believer
Well-known member
being a regular crosser of English Channel I found the Irish Sea very quiet. Admittedly I have only done 2 round UK SH trips so I do not have the wide experience that others may have of the areas, but certainly radar etc is over the top Would have nothing to see all day. I even had my AIS on silent mode most of the time
Apart from if it is a bit windy the whole thing is a doddle
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
I have never seen a ship in the Mull of Kintyre TSS either. In stoating about the North Channel for a few days last summer I saw precisely one ship which was not a ferry going to or from Cairnryan. I have no doubt that the occasional ship does use it ... there are none showing on Marine Traffic at the moment, and two which might have been through it ... but the Straits of Dover it is not.
AngusMcDoon
Well-known member
I regularly travel up and down and across the Irish Sea on my own and have never had traffic problems. I usually do it it day trips - Holyhead, IoM somewhere, Stranraer, Islay.
pagoda
Active member
I've also seen quite a few boats using the TSS, doing 15-18Kts. All pretty big, so fairly obvious. Just keep a good watch. Crossing the TSS at 90deg is probably the least easy part of the process, with the tide pushing you around. You can only do your best!
If you come up from Belfast way expect some ferries charging about, and from Larne.
I take all the points about Channel comparisons, but there IS traffic around.
awol
Well-known member
Ooh, ooh, can I be the first? Actually, on second thoughts I'll leave it to someone else.
Coaster
Active member
Ooh, ooh, can I be the first? Actually, on second thoughts I'll leave it to someone else.
To be fair Pagoda may be referring to heading...
pagoda
Active member
All I was trying to point out was that it usually takes more effort trying to follow the "rules" than avoid other traffic! I have left Rathlin/Ballycastle several times effectively sailing N to NNE, then conveniently slotting inside Sanda comfortably. Thanks to the tide. Handy feature that
No mention of grannies or eggs....
wully1
Well-known member
Hmmmm, not sure how many times I've been round the Mull. I'd think about 6-7 return trips and two North Channel crossings.
I can recal seeing one ship in the distance close to the Antrim coast which was heading west.
I've walked down to the MOK lighthouse a few times as well. Still I saw no ships.
maybe I need my eyes tested...
I can recal seeing one ship in the distance close to the Antrim coast which was heading west.
I've walked down to the MOK lighthouse a few times as well. Still I saw no ships.
maybe I need my eyes tested...
dulls
N/A
Many of us English wish you to be independent as well. As long as you get proper financial independence as well. I will still sail up there though.
dulls
N/A
Us soft Saxons were sailing all over the world long before the first marina in Scotland.
dulls
N/A
I note you said it in English.
dulls
N/A
Your evidence for that generalisation?
webcraft
Well-known member
I have twice. Once was after a 2am departure from Glenarm. Springs, 6kts of tide, 2 hours sleep after a few drams with another crew. With the tidal component greater than boat speed I got somewhat frazzled when avoiding the impending collision...
Second time was leaving Rathlin year before last.
- W
D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
What a dull necrothread, the zombies walk amongst us.
NormanS
Well-known member
Somebody is in a time warp.
Quandary
Well-known member
with a political agenda?
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
It's just a jump to the left ...