Towards Scotland from penzance - which ports in a long keeler?

Scotty_Tradewind

Scotty_Tradewind

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I've left the boat in Penzance for a couple of days to get back to sort moving house etc.. and am undecided where best to aim for on our way north- Scotland in mind.

What ports/harbours would be best to consider? ... we cannot sit it out like a twin keeler and don't have 'legs', and don't really want to sit up all night checking the lines against a wall.

I enjoy night sailing but swmbo doesn't relish it so I'd be grateful for a few pointers.
(other than leaving swmbo at home :) )
My son is joining us for a few days so we could get some mileage in given the right conditions.
 
Scotty_Tradewind said:
I've left the boat in Penzance for a couple of days to get back to sort moving house etc.. and am undecided where best to aim for on our way north- Scotland in mind.

What ports/harbours would be best to consider? ... we cannot sit it out like a twin keeler and don't have 'legs', and don't really want to sit up all night checking the lines against a wall.

I enjoy night sailing but swmbo doesn't relish it so I'd be grateful for a few pointers.
(other than leaving swmbo at home :) )
My son is joining us for a few days so we could get some mileage in given the right conditions.
Click to expand...

When I sailed up last year from Southampton, after Penzance I stopped Padstow, Milford Haven, Arklow, Dun Laighoire, Skerries, Ardglass, Bangor, Troon, Rothesay on the way, no dying out involved. Wind was mainly on the nose and typically strong :-(. Only one overnight, Milford Haven to Arklow if I remember I left around 5pm and was alongside about noon the next day.

Hopefully you get better weather. If you want to make up some miles (I was on my own so couldn't be too ambitious), maybe direct to Ireland from Penzance and take it easier further north. I'm sure though there are plenty of other nice places, I was a bit up against it for time by that stage of the trip already.
 
Or from Milford Haven via IOM just avoid Ramsey and Castletown
Port St Mary and Douglas are both good
Further on Portpatrick is fine

On the Irish side Glenarm is lovely, BallyCastle is too although slightly off to the West
 
Which ports Penzance to Scotland

Hi Scotty, - assuming you are doing the quickie - West about the Longships rather than the somewhat longer East about North Foreland - drop the hook in Dale, Milford Haven. Then Howth near Dun Laoghaire (hook or marina). You will want a favourable tide to round the Ards Penninsula and then the North Channel. Some options are to anchor at Ballyholme Bay just East of Bangor N. I. , or if you have the tide with you get a bit further to Brown's Bay, East of Larne, or Glenarm. Red Bay (Waterfoot) a bit further north is the better anchorage. The Clyde awaits your pleasure if that is your desitnation. Port Ellen on Islay is a good staging post for the Western Isles if going on up.

Fair winds and tides.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5
 
don't really want to sit up all night ....
You dont have to just sleep in the bunks next to wall and put a rope across the mast....
but Campbeltown is fine also Tarbert slightly higher up
 
Avoid Port Ellen just now, they are behind programme with the work to the ferry berth and the pile driver is hammering away until well into the evening, its deafening. (same in Campbeltown but they stop at 18.00). However Gigha is quiet and bathed in sunshine. My route would be Arklow, Bangor, then a fast whoosh on the N. channel tide straight to Gigha, stay there for a day enjoying the sun and scenery while you plan your next move. If you want to make for Colonsay or West Mull use Craighouse or Post Askaig but it would be a shame to miss Gigha.
 
Hi all,
made good time from Penzance round to N Cornwall so decided to go overnight straight up to Milford Haven - Dale at Anchor, then on to Neyland Yacht haven to stock up etc. The old Tradewind plodded along at 7knots+ nearly all night.
Probably go back to Dale this p.m. ready to go round to Fishguard and sit out the forecasted bad weather (with no north in it) at anchor there for two or three days before hopping over to Eire - possibly Arklow or Kilmore Quay depending on the winds.
S.

npfl - charts are most useful :)
 
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