Southampton to Norn Iron

As you are interested in naval history try and make time when down here to get to Portsmouth and see the Victory and the Mary Rose. iirc its about 40 minutes by train to Portsmouth harbour then stroll to the dockyard.
 
Southampton to Studland , Weymouth, Dartmouth, salcombe, Newton ferrers, Fowey, Falmouth, helford, dun laoghaire would be my recommendation:-) falmouth to dun laoghaire took me 36 hours
 
Are we talking about a full crew, a couple or singlehanded?
My point about going to e.g. Yarmouth is that I've set off on a few longish trips and due to the many things that always need doing, the day that you arrive at the boat, you aren't ready to leave until late in the day. you're starting off stressed and tired. You're unsure of a few things on the boat.
A 3 or 4 hour jaunt to Yarmouth sets you up for an early departure, allows you to check out many things on the boat before a reasonable night's kip.
I find the buoys off Yarmouth an easy place to leave from at first light or just before, depending on the tide. You're set up for a long leg to Dartmouth or wherever. Leaving from Pompey or Southampton or up the Hamble, it seems to me much harder to make it across Lyme Bay before the pubs shut or the tide turns against you.
Think of it as token progress on day zero rather than small progress on day one?

It depends on tide times. When is the last of the E tide at Hurst?

It also depends on your attitude to the risk of not finishing the job.
If the weather goes a bit robust, will you be happy to leave the boat in Falmouth/wherever for a week?
Do you have convoluted requirements of crew needing to fly back if that happens?
It's a balance of banging west while the weather is good vs enjoying it. A long range forecast will colour your view of the risk of not getting home.
Of course on a boat that is a known quantity with a sound crew, you can just turn right and only stop for victuals and/or diesel.

Don't forget , we're supposed to enjoy this game!
 
My plan would be:
Day 1 to Studland Bay.
Day 2 to Dartmouth
Day 3 Relax
Day4 to Salcombe
Day5 Relax
Day6 to Fowey
Day7 to Falmouth
Day8 Relax
Day 9 to Newlyn ready for good weather and tides to round Land's End. - it took me 3 attempts to get around Land's End
Day 10 to Milford Haven if the tides and weather are good for Land's End.
Day 11 Relax as previous day will be a long one.
Day 12 Somewhere in Southern Ireland
Day 13 You are in home territory and you know best.
 
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On that trip consider, if the wind is in the south-west (as it often is), Alderney or Guernsey (tack) Scillies, Dublin, Strangford. Saves all that tiresome beating to windward.

Enjoy
 
pmagowan said:
Well, looks like I will need to do some planning. I have just put down a deposit on a Sweden Yachts 41 ��
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Congratulations, very nice, looks a fab boat. By heck though that's a lot of teak on her, is it in good nick or will you replace/re-deck?
 
That's the one. Exactly what I need. Needs the teak renewed and the standard amount of work for a 30 year old boat but in generally good shape and a go-anywhere boat. Looking forward to getting it in the water now! It will be my first 'plastic' boat so I have a lot of research to do
 
pmagowan said:
That's the one. Exactly what I need. Needs the teak renewed and the standard amount of work for a 30 year old boat but in generally good shape and a go-anywhere boat. Looking forward to getting it in the water now! It will be my first 'plastic' boat so I have a lot of research to do
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I had my boat there over the winter and looked at her with lust several times. Even more attractive since they reduced the price! Layout doesn't suit me at present but a real quality piece of kit. Some good trades in that yard as well and Nick will see you right if the survey turns anything up that needs doing before you leave.
 
There is so much I need to get familiar with. My last boat was a 28ft wooden honeybee and is in my shed at home being restored. There are kids in the extended family now so this boat will be better sized and safer. I have sailed larger boats but never owned one of this size. I have never had a fridge or an oven or a double bed! The engine is as new but it is saildrive which I am unfamiliar with other than what I have researched online. The rig has a removable baby stay for a cutter rig which I quite like the idea of. It might take me a while to work it out though as there are some unusual fittings for tensioning the back stay.
I have bought the imray pilot for "the west country" to familiarize myself with the homeward trip. I hope to start the journey at the end of July. If I can work out the fridge I might even have ice for my G&T! Very exciting
 
pmagowan said:
Thanks Guys, lots of info there.

I like the idea of spending some time on the South coast and then perhaps a long slog or leave the boat to get back to work and pick it up at the weekend. My problem is that the sailing is so good up on the West coast of Scotland (and convenient to me) that I probably won't be down that way again for a very long time so should maybe make the most of it. It is a pain that my time is so restricted but then I hadn't intended to buy a boat! My current boat is in the shed and I am still dismantling her before putting her back together so I eventually succumbed to the need to get back on the water.
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You obviously like wind, cold rain and midges the size of sparrows! :D Anyway I wont comment on the south coast fleshpots except to say that the faster you get away from the Solent, the better. The Scottish west coast is the antithesis of the Solent.

Once you reach the Falmouth area it becomes more interesting. Falmouth is the last big yachting centre to fuel up and do repairs / deal with new boat issues for some distance so I would plan on a stop there. If you wanted to leave your boat and go back to work, its not a bad place using the harbour masters ( now called Falmouth Haven) moorings.. Helford has almost no facilities and no fuel, pretty though it is.

If short handed then the next stop is either Penzance or Newlyn. The latter is easy to get in and out of but no diesel and less friendly. Penzance is what harbours used to be like.

Then a big decision. Do you go direct to Milford or via Padstow or Lundy. The north cornish coast has few ports of refuge so its not an area to take chances with the weather and sailing times are in the 12 to 24 hour region so the decision also depends on crewing. I have often done Cardiff to Falmouth in one 28 hour stint two handed but its endurance rather than fun or pleasure. My recommendation would be to round Lands End ( inshore passage) and then go direct to Milford which is open at any stage of the tide. You can break the passage and overnight at Lundy if you wish and weather allows. Padstow is great but its a diversion for you.

From Milford you can either hop across and go up the coast of Ireland, a trip I have never done. Alternatively, Milford to Aberystwyth or further to Pwhelli and then across maybe via the IoM.
 
pmagowan said:
That's the one. Exactly what I need. Needs the teak renewed and the standard amount of work for a 30 year old boat but in generally good shape and a go-anywhere boat. Looking forward to getting it in the water now! It will be my first 'plastic' boat so I have a lot of research to do
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I forgot you were woody. The teak will be no problem to a man of your skills. Lovely boat and looks very well cared for. Enjoy.
 
Yes, teak seems to divide people and I think that's why we got such a good price. There are certainly areas that will need total replacement asap but they used 12mm teak originally so in much of it the groove can be deepened, recaulked and restored. I really need the teak to make me think I have a wooden boat! It will be a big job in the end but nothing too complicated.

Thanks again guys for the tips on places to go. It is really useful
 
That's a frighteningly large amount of teak decking to replace, enjoy if you are doing it yourself or have a word with your bank manager if not:eek:. Nice boat though.:encouragement:
 
Yes, the scale is a bit bigger than I am used to. Essentially the cost of a new deck was taken off the price of the boat so I don't feel I am paying for it. I like a project and to be honest, compared to a wooden boat, this looks straight forward. It will be a big job but she will look like a new boat when done.
 
pmagowan said:
Yes, the scale is a bit bigger than I am used to. Essentially the cost of a new deck was taken off the price of the boat so I don't feel I am paying for it. I like a project and to be honest, compared to a wooden boat, this looks straight forward. It will be a big job but she will look like a new boat when done.
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If you got the price down by a new deck you got quite a bargain:encouragement: She looks a nice boat and should do well in your home waters. I wouldn't be concerned with a 2 week trip back if you have a couple of crew for a few long sails. Check that the saildrive hull gasket is sound and you have a full tank of diesel plus some cans and fuel filters and it should be easy.
Well done and good sailing.
 
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