Taking your cruising ground ...... where have you not been but want to go to ?
- Thread starter Refueler
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Laminar Flow
Well-Known Member
West Coast of Shetland is where it's at! Been to Orkney and Shetland twice (from Brittany).
West Coast of Ireland and Lofoten archipelago in Norway on the bucket list next (only made it up to Haugesund last time, before crossing the North Sea to Shetland).
Yes, Fair Isle is spectacular.
Billy Blue
Well-Known Member
Inspired by youtube Lady Liselot, I am intending to go the the Gothenberg archipelago this summer from E coast uk going inland as much as possible.
Dockhead
Well-Known Member
I used to do that trip twice a year, for years until the pandemic.
Not always Latvia; sometimes Helsinki or Kotka or Tallinn.
It doesn't take 3 months. A month is lux and gives pretty of time to dawdle in the good parts. Two weeks is reasonable provided the weather somewhat cooperates. In good years I would take a month each way and in busier ones, a month one way and two weeks the other.
The key is to intersperse long passages making miles, with time day sailing and cruising. Coming from the UK, we would often do Cowes or Portsmouth to the Kiel Canal nonstop, which is roughly three days and two nights, another day to run the canal (forbidden to do it at night), and then you're in the Baltic.
From the Holtenau end, we'd very often sail overnight to Bornholm, where I have a good friend. From there it's fun to sail up the Kalmarsund to Kalmar, hang out there for a while, then across the Vysby (or anchor in the fabulous bay at the northern tip of Öland), hang out for a while, then up around and through the Farosund -- nice place to stop. From there overnight to Hiumaa, or to Hanko.
If you're going to Riga, you can do that nonstop from Bornholm -- done that many times.
There are lots of routes, one more glorious than the other.
I think for your case -- crew up, get out to sea, and go for a few days and nights until you get someplace far away. Enjoy.
Dockhead
Well-Known Member
I've never been to Fair Isle, but I've cruised both Orkneys and Shetlands. Very highly recommended, but the Shetlands are more remote, more strange, and for me, more fun.
And it's only 180nm from Lerwick to Bergen, and Norway is another treasure house.
Laminar Flow
Well-Known Member
Fair enough, but Lerwick itself is some 1250 miles from where we sail. 2023 we sailed 2500 miles up to Shetland and back. 2024 it was 3000 miles via Norway and circumnavigating the UK in the process.
The weather situations up there are not always conducive to rapid progress, 2024 being particularly difficult.
jamie N
Well-Known Member
It's interesting seeing the opinions of others, albeit some entirely contrary to my own!
Fair Isle really didn't do it for me, and I'd rather not say why.
Helgoland is super! I worked there over a 5 year period and believe that I got to know it fairly well. Between 11:00 & 16:00 it's quite mad, as the many German tourists come ashore towing their airline suitcases to fill up with duty free, alongside the gazillions of 'twitchers' getting aroused by 'shitehawks' that swarm overhead. As a man that lived much of my life in Aberdeen, this is a curious attraction.
Bergen is nice, however I'm excluded from there due to a misunderstanding concerning tax. I say "excluded" which is incorrect; they'd love me to visit.
On Shetland, I have a preference for Scalloway over Lerwick as it's 'quieter', but with very easy bus links to Lerwick, has a very good little sailing/social club, and a couple of good restaurants as well.
Fair Isle really didn't do it for me, and I'd rather not say why.
Helgoland is super! I worked there over a 5 year period and believe that I got to know it fairly well. Between 11:00 & 16:00 it's quite mad, as the many German tourists come ashore towing their airline suitcases to fill up with duty free, alongside the gazillions of 'twitchers' getting aroused by 'shitehawks' that swarm overhead. As a man that lived much of my life in Aberdeen, this is a curious attraction.
Bergen is nice, however I'm excluded from there due to a misunderstanding concerning tax. I say "excluded" which is incorrect; they'd love me to visit.
On Shetland, I have a preference for Scalloway over Lerwick as it's 'quieter', but with very easy bus links to Lerwick, has a very good little sailing/social club, and a couple of good restaurants as well.
NormanS
Well-Known Member
A very condensed summary: I always found Orkney to be a group of islands with the tide sluicing back and forward. Shetland, yes several islands, but with significant land mass and lots of magnificent natural anchorages. I much preferred Shetland.
mogmog2
Well-Known Member
I sailed my first boat out of Littlehampton,my fathers converted Thames river sailing boat ,it was fun sailing in and out through the entrance turmoil and we made trips to Chichester ,unfortunately she ,the boat ,nearly met her death on the west pier…..but was repaired to last another summer
Braver than me,I sailed my first boat out of Littlehampton,my fathers converted Thames river sailing boat ,it was fun sailing in and out through the entrance turmoil and we made trips to Chichester ,unfortunately she ,the boat ,nearly met her death on the west pier…..but was repaired to last another summer
I've not departed under sail in our yacht, only dinghies - feels a lot roomier in a small boat. Have sailed in (with the engine on, just in case).
chubby
Well-Known Member
Based in Portsmouth I usually head west or south, so how about east beyond Selsey to the Sussex rivers: Littlehampton, Shoreham or Newhaven, not so keen on purpose built marinas: i could go to Port Solent for that!
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
Littlehampton has the second fastest ebb in the Uk so I was told,but making sure you arrive within maximum of two hours after HW and with an engine or agood breeze the entrance is ok.Once in the harbour master has berths on the starboard side.I haven’t been there for years but it has its unique charm as a slightly seedy run down holiday destination on the east bank .The West Bank was hometo David Hillyard and Osborne boatbuilders.Its a bit more of a challenge to get there but has the air of a proper seaport
johnalison
Well-Known Member
As you say, Heligoland is cool. There is still a crater from when we dropped a Grand Slam on it after the war.Well, I grew up in northern germany and always dreamt of Helgoland. Never actually went, but I just find the island super cool. Sylt is similar, although that oneis just for rich snobs.
Also beware: Germans like their drink and can get quite rowdy. It's all fun and games until the Pfeffi comes out
I’ve little experience of drunken Germans except in 1975 when I was in a group that did a paddle-steamer trip from Mainz to Boppard. The other passengers at lunchtime were sober but starting singing jolly German songs. A few hours later they were all smashed but to my amazement they were still singing in tune.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Many hours in Beer Kellars in Germany !! Not only the total party atmosphere - but also the waitresses carrying so many beers - you wondered where they got the hands and strength from !!
Snowgoose-1
Well-Known Member
Do the watressses still mark the beer mats with biro each time you have a drink ?
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Never noticed that ....
Trip back to Hamburg some years ago - noted that the "Reperbaum" had gone ....
jamie N
Well-Known Member
Being slightly pedantic, the 'big' crater is from the exploding Operation Big Bang, where redundant munitions were exploded in the tunnels.
A 2nd point of utter pedantry is the spelling of Helgoland, which is spelt Heligoland everywhere, except on Helgoland itself, which was a source of some ire with mein host, when I was staying there, although it isn't incorrect!
Akin to saying "Orkney's" when in Kirkwall.
jamie N
Well-Known Member
I'm reliably told, er, by a mate of a mate, that it's actually still as saintly a place as it ever was.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
What speed does the Littlehampton tide run at then?
Must be extremely fast if “second fastest in the UK” - and what did you have as first and third fastest?
Certainly can think of quite a few in NI and Scotland in the 7-8 knots category - Strangford Lough being just one.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
There is film of the explosives on Heligoland which is certainly impressive. It is many years since I was there, but I think there was a plaque or some kind of notice by the big crater describing it as coming from a Grand Slam. The presence of the crater and others on the surface seems to suggest that they came from somewhere near top of the solid rock.Being slightly pedantic, the 'big' crater is from the exploding Operation Big Bang, where redundant munitions were exploded in the tunnels.
A 2nd point of utter pedantry is the spelling of Helgoland, which is spelt Heligoland everywhere, except on Helgoland itself, which was a source of some ire with mein host, when I was staying there, although it isn't incorrect!
Akin to saying "Orkney's" when in Kirkwall.
I considered whether to spell it Helgoland but I thought it might puzzle some of this motley crew, and in any case I don't write Deutschland for Germany, so what the hell.
It is worth going there in early mid-summer when the path on the top takes you past the nests of hundreds of guillemots, kittiwakes and gannets with an excellent view.
NormanS
Well-Known Member
Mm, Kyle Rhea and the Corryvreckan are another two (alternative spellings are available).