Should we head south?

[geem]

You have to go an awful long way south to get pleasant weather Sept onwards. Here for example in southern Italy it’s a lovely 27C at 9:00pm.

8 days south of Falmouth gives us 26degC during the day and 20degC at night

 

[lustyd]

We’ll be happy with South coast UK this winter, we’re not ready to faff with visas and Schengen yet, we’re not even sure we’ll get as far as the Med next year

 

[lustyd]

8 days south of Falmouth gives us 26degC during the day and 20degC at night

We’ve not sailed that coast so that would miss hundreds of miles of fun for us. We might even go up to St Malo so we don’t miss too much of the NW French coast

 

[Zing]

8 days south of Falmouth gives us 26degC during the day and 20degC at night

Best keep going then.

 

[geem]

Best keep going then.

We will, until the butter melts

 

[geem]

We’ve not sailed that coast so that would miss hundreds of miles of fun for us. We might even go up to St Malo so we don’t miss too much of the NW French coast

Its a lovely coast and some great places to visit but we have done it a couple of times before. The priority was an intact rudder

 

[boomerangben]

For perspective, Stornoway harbour summer season berths last until the end of October. I’ve hauled in September and regretted it when nice weather appeared in October. My boat will be staying afloat until October.

Maybe you could over winter up here as we often get lovely weather in April too and seem to get north easterlies in May to aid your way south……. Then again we can get some brutal winter weather but then again the south coast seems to be getting more than it’s fair share of late.

 

[lustyd]

Yes we have considered wintering here. The weather is one issue but living on the boat there’s not a lot to do other than walking here. Even running is a challenge in most ports we’ve been to due to the hills.
It’s also driving me slowly insane ordering parts and having to wait up to two weeks for someone to apparently walk them up from the shop. This also necessitates being in one place long enough to collect them. The latest being the hinges on our fridge breaking while in Tobermory which has not been fun. Still, it’s better service than Ireland

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Yes we have considered wintering here. The weather is one issue but living on the boat there’s not a lot to do other than walking here. Even running is a challenge in most ports we’ve been to due to the hills.
It’s also driving me slowly insane ordering parts and having to wait up to two weeks for someone to apparently walk them up from the shop. This also necessitates being in one place long enough to collect them. The latest being the hinges on our fridge breaking while in Tobermory which has not been fun. Still, it’s better service than Ireland

There's a story about a Spaniard holidaying on a croft in the West of Scotland. After a week, he asks the crofter if he knows the Gaelic equivalent of mañana. The crofter thinks for a while, and says, "I dinna think we have a word that expresses quite that degree of urgency"!

 

[Blueboatman]

Thanks all those thoughts reflect my own, just need to decide which is the right one We’re stuck for at least a week I think so will just keep checking the forecast.
We were planning to sail in and around Biscay next year so not in a huge rush to get south just yet but we will probabkybtry to get down to Wales or Cornwall for the winter.

I like your thinking

And the ‘ don’t rush’ mantra of cruising..

For what it’s worth

Definitively do some western islands as you are so close
And then it’s kinda a windward shore down N Ireland, Belfast(?) and Dublin.
Poor liver
And a free sail to Wales
Or a bit of a weather wait if you want say Falmouth for winter.

On crossing Biscay which I have done too early too late and just right ( June) it is much much easier to get a 3 day window from S Brittany than a 5 day one from Cornwall.
Or indeed coast hop around in the spring and see the N Spanish coast and festivals..

And people tend to forget that down the Portuguese Atlantic coast to the canaries by the end of September a lot of those ports and passages now start to seasonally experience large ground swell.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

If you have items to address on the boat as a result of your cruising, in the project space as opposed to an upgrade of equipment, then best to get out of Dodge and head south. Everything takes longer here and is more hassle, compared to the south coast.

Scotland in winter can be depressing, in fact, not can't, it is depressing. By the time January is well underway, and February is looming, everyone is fed up of the long nights, dark to grey days. Honestly, if you are not used to it, it is a monumental pain in the arse. The romance of wind swept hair, ruddy cheeks, smir caressed faces, bracing and invigorating chills and wild winter is bullshit promoted by the insane, driven mad by the constant moan of the wind.

Remember, Orwell's 1984 required this misery to generate the intensity of the story, and he had TB to boot. Think about that.

 

[steveeasy]

Not sure Tobermory floats my boat and can be a bit rolly. You’re a day sail from Dunvegan. Another Day to Stornaway. You could pop accross to kinlochverbie or Lochinver. Then day sail south just taking short stops of a night. Eigg is a nice place to visit for a few hours. Rum has a good anchorage and a shop and castle to see.

Back to Oban for a night or Two. Crinan basin is a place to stop for a night.

I’d forget the fridge and make hay while the sun shines. My interpretation of windy.com looks ok for a couple of days.

Of course it’s all down to the rain. I don’t like getting wet and it’s no fun. Like that.

Steveeasy

 

[Supertramp]

Plenty of overwintering spots down the Irish Sea with decent facilities. Clyde, N or S Wales? And probably cheaper than the S coast. Choose your weather and you can fly down the Irish Sea on a west wind, riding the good tide, then resting for the next one (or the one after that) in some bay or marina.

Every time I rush to get somewhere I regret all the places I missed. Where you are there are more excellent spots than anywhere else I know around the UK, and probably far beyond. Pictures are Crossapol Bay, Coll.

Light on on shore facilities but that's what toolkits (and large water tanks) are for.

 

[lustyd]

I’d forget the fridge and make hay while the sun shines.

Sadly can't forget it now, the 2 x £18 each hinges are on their way with £15 deliver charge whether we stay or not. We need the fridge, as this is where we live so it's a bit difficult without. Had I realised it would take so long I might have ordered to somewhere else to collect later, but we were quoted 3 days. We did move down to Kerrera on the last "good" day for a change as Tobermory was getting boring, but we'll have to go back when the parts arrive.
I stupidly also ordered a new hosepipe for "next day collection" from Screwfix in Oban as ours is actually wearing through from all the use. That was last Friday and no sign of it yet...

My interpretation of windy.com looks ok for a couple of days.

Depends where you look. Oban certainly looks OK for a couple of days but further north it gets bad again with a shorter gap. The sea state is more a concern, having had a good strong blow for a full week now.

 

[Sea Change]

Ordering parts whilst cruising has been completely changed by Amazon lockers.
I hate giving Bezos even more money but you have to admit it's a fantastic service.
Free delivery to a locker, and if you don't pick it up within three days it gets taken back and you get a full refund.
I don't know if there are many lockers around the West coast though...

 

[lustyd]

That's the problem though, it could be anywhere from a week to three before it's in the locker, and then you have three days to collect.

We've found marinas are happy to accept and hold parcels, but given our lack of plans we don't know where to order things for collection in a fortnight. It's a problem of our own making, we could definitely plan more or at least have some direction. I think that's part of the attraction of this life for me though, we have a lot of freedom and no deadlines. We've watched many yachts set sail this past week in very bad conditions simply because they're working to a deadline, many returning charter boats. I'm surprised there aren't more accidents.

 

[boomerangben]

Places like Stornoway manage to stock all sorts of bits and pieces and from a delivery point of view, local couriers offer quite a reasonable service. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look and who to ask - not always easy. If you ever get to Stornoway and need any help, pm me.

 

[capnsensible]

That's the problem though, it could be anywhere from a week to three before it's in the locker, and then you have three days to collect.

We've found marinas are happy to accept and hold parcels, but given our lack of plans we don't know where to order things for collection in a fortnight. It's a problem of our own making, we could definitely plan more or at least have some direction. I think that's part of the attraction of this life for me though, we have a lot of freedom and no deadlines. We've watched many yachts set sail this past week in very bad conditions simply because they're working to a deadline, many returning charter boats. I'm surprised there aren't more accidents.

It is possible to get used to heavier airs and honking rain when sailing in Scotland. I did.

Actually I suppose that applies everywhere. Your discomfort barrier is raised. Has to or you would never get anywhere!!

 

[lustyd]

I see what you're saying, although I don't think discomfort is mandatory. We just pop in somewhere and enjoy the local area for a few days and there's usually a nicer day on the way.
Eventually we probably will have to change that when heading further out, but don't tell her that yet!

 

[ylop]

We’ll be happy with South coast UK this winter, we’re not ready to faff with visas and Schengen yet, we’re not even sure we’ll get as far as the Med next year

I’d definitely look at staying longer then - Stornoway for over winter is perhaps extreme but you can get out by boat and plane. Is the Caledonian Canal open this winter? good shelter, not ridiculously expensive. Ft William has a mini marina - not sure how protected, and Ft William itself is not the bonniest of towns but it has transport links. Do you ski? Being in situ with no job commitments and a close eye on the weather will give you unique chances for bluebird days.

Yes we have considered wintering here. The weather is one issue but living on the boat there’s not a lot to do other than walking here. Even running is a challenge in most ports we’ve been to due to the hills.

A downside of running from a boat is that everything starts at sea level! But you soon get used to running up hills. If you were somewhere else what would you do? It might be there are ways to do that you don’t know about? The train from Oban to Glasgow is “only” 3 hrs (bus similar and cheaper). That gives you options. All your parts can usually be in Glasgow/Stirling etc next day delivery.

We did move down to Kerrera on the last "good" day for a change as Tobermory was getting boring, but we'll have to go back when the parts arrive.

Don’t forget it’s perfectly possible to do Tobermory as a day trip from Oban/Kerrera (or Lochaline) on the bus/calmac - so you don’t need to wait for good weather.

So if you can bear overwintering here - then you get to squeeze in some more island hopping between now and Easter then use the more consistent weather to head south…. The cost difference for Scottish/English marina is potentially enough to jet off for a week or two of winter sun if that is your thing.