scottish harbours

anderson said:
is there a website for harbours on east coast of scotland.
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There is some useful information on http://marinas.com/browse/marina/GB/SC/ covering a lot of harbours, no pilotage information but good aerial pictures and some basic information. For more information you might consider the FYCA Pilot, the RNYC guide Humber to Fraserburgh (I think) and the Imray Yachtsmans Pilot to North & East Scotland. These are all books (like websites but paper ;-)
Cheers
 
Yes - RNYC Humber to Rattray Head is a must if you want to go in those excellent little places not detailed in Reeds
 
Very limited navigational information but for a basic map and text defining local facilities like pontoons, visitors moorings, pubs and restaurants from Peterhead northward you can get a free down load of 'Welcome Anchorages' at www.welcomeanchorages.info
 
ThreePointFix

Here!

Edit .... But it does look like that there are not many IT-savvy Sailors on the East Coast. :eek:
Yes! … OK!! …. there will be one or two …. but there doesn’t appear to be many! ;)
Ahhh! …. the great East – West divide. :p
 
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ghostlymoron beat me to it; was going to suggest sailscotland >

http://sailscotland.co.uk/introduction-to-cruising-areas/east-coast-of-scotland

Truth is the sailscotland site along with any other info I've found for the East coast is pretty limited in detail.

What size of boat do you have? Can you dry out? Where on the East coast are you looking for info on? North East (Aberdeen, Stonehaven, Arbroath etc)? The Tay? The Forth? Further South?

On top of drying out, lots of the smaller harbours aren't suitable for larger boats, and so they don't get mentioned. There are lots of harbours on the Forth for example, but most simply aren't on the radar for publications and websites.

When I've been doing my homework, I've tended to use Google Maps as a rough and ready desktop virtual exploration tool. I switch to satellite view when I want a closer/better look ...you can often get a good understanding of the space in the harbour (using houses, cars, or boats for scale), and then if I want to know more, I switch to street view (if available) for actual/virtual pictures.

Then, if I'm really-really interested in physically sailing to a destination, I Google for the local harbourmaster and local sailing club. I often call them and ask about facilities etc.

This might not be standard practice ...but that's what I do given the lack of info. Hope this helps.

[Other search engines are available) ;)
 
There are a few harbours on the East coast and some of the most amazing scenery there is in the UK. All you need to know is whether you can dry out or not.
Reeds Almanac is good, Welcome anchorages too.

Amazon have one or two Ebooks on passages up the East coast and circumnavigation, well worth a look.





"Boatingdreams 1,2,3,4" Essex to Shetland
 
anderson said:
is there a website for harbours on east coast of scotland.
Click to expand...

I think the simer is that no one has colected all the info and published it for free for you. There are several very good pilot books, I would suggest the one published by the FYCA, as I am directly aware of the care used in it's preparation. Google of course can be a help if you know the names of the places you are interested in. There is a lot of knowledge here to but you need to be a trifle more specific
 
'Relatively', hmmmm

Romeo said:
http://www.fyca.org.uk/New Pilot Book/pressrelease.htm

There are masses of fantastic wee harbours all up the East Coast. To get the most out of the area, you are best to have a relatively small boat and be happy to dry out.
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Define 'relatively small'- usual Weekend Warrior 'starter' boats after a whole weeks exciting Med charter in the Solent are usually 40ft.
For the rest of us, 20ft to start, and 37' by the time the arthritis kicks in.
37' lift keels ok?
 
Tidewaiter2 said:
Define 'relatively small'- usual Weekend Warrior 'starter' boats after a whole weeks exciting Med charter in the Solent are usually 40ft.
For the rest of us, 20ft to start, and 37' by the time the arthritis kicks in.
37' lift keels ok?
Click to expand...

Relatively small is for the owner to define. I am sure you could get in many pleasant Scottish east coast harbours with 37' and lift keel. Personally I use a much smaller boat and have sailed into many lovely small harbours - eg Seacliff, Crail, Kirk Haven (Isle of May), Elie, Lower Largo, St Andrews, Pennan, Cullen, Nairn, Fortrose, Portsoy (Old Harbour), some of which would be impossible for a 37' boat to get into, and some of which I think it is unlikely that the skipper of a boat that size would attempt. I accept that not everyone is willing to sail smaller boats, but horses for courses, and I think they will miss out on some of the best places amongst the drying harbours of Scotland's east coast. The great think is that FYCA pilot looks at all the tiny places as well as places with pontoons!

(should have mentioned that I think FYCA pilot only goes as far north from the forth as Fraserburgh)

Robbie
 
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Romeo said:
Relatively small is for the owner to define. I am sure you could get in many pleasant Scottish east coast harbours with 37' and lift keel. Personally I use a much smaller boat and have sailed into many lovely small harbours - eg Seacliff, Crail, Kirk Haven (Isle of May), Elie, Lower Largo, St Andrews, Pennan, Cullen, Nairn, Fortrose, Portsoy (Old Harbour), some of which would be impossible for a 37' boat to get into, and some of which I think it is unlikely that the skipper of a boat that size would attempt. I accept that not everyone is willing to sail smaller boats, but horses for courses, and I think they will miss out on some of the best places amongst the drying harbours of Scotland's east coast. The great think is that FYCA pilot looks at all the tiny places as well as places with pontoons!

(should have mentioned that I think FYCA pilot only goes as far north from the forth as Fraserburgh)

Robbie
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Cheers, Robbie, I do tend to follow the Way of Dylan Winter, even in 37'!
In bows first, warp back out with the tide:D
If our joints would permit it, we'd still be in the Redfox!

We hope to go to see the Swedish Family and Friends in Stockholm and the Vast Kusten next year, and I'm just thinking how we come back down the UK, n which way round!
 
Tidewaiter2 said:
Cheers, Robbie, I do tend to follow the Way of Dylan Winter, even in 37'!
In bows first, warp back out with the tide:D
If our joints would permit it, we'd still be in the Redfox!

We hope to go to see the Swedish Family and Friends in Stockholm and the Vast Kusten next year, and I'm just thinking how we come back down the UK, n which way round!
Click to expand...

Ah well good luck, and if you come down the scottish east coast see how many of my list you dare to tick off (but do not attempt seacliff unless your beam is less than 7 feet!)

R
 
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