turn left or right?

[seafox67]

I currently live in Greenock! However, I could be moving next year to England for work! Owning a 30ft bilge keel and on a low/middle income, I've got my sights on the rivers around south east coast (At least for 2 or 3 seasons).
I have planned this summer to cruise the west coast of Scotland, so I would be thinking of sailing south late August/September.

Has anyone got experience of doing these routes south at that time of year (In 30ish size boats) late August/September? With an old Westerly 30ft bilge keel, I'm very much a coastal sailor!

 

[Adios]

Single handed? If so it might be an idea to give the whole summer for half a circumnavigation of the UK whichever way you turn. Its very weather dependant of course and you'll be stopping a lot rather than making the most of good spells of weather, which makes the journey much longer. If you had competent crew and could knock off larger chunks at a time when the weather was right its a very different prospect.

 

[Stemar]

If you've got the time to make a trip it - a couple of months, I'd go down the west side. You're more likely to have unfavourable winds, but it's so much more interesting. If time's short, east would be more likely to give you decent winds, but you've got to get across Scotland, which, if I'm not mistaken, means going far out of your way or dropping the mast and dodging shopping trolleys on the Forth and Clyde.

 

[seafox67]

Single handed? If so it might be an idea to give the whole summer for half a circumnavigation of the UK whichever way you turn. Its very weather dependant of course and you'll be stopping a lot rather than making the most of good spells of weather, which makes the journey much longer. If you had competent crew and could knock off larger chunks at a time when the weather was right its a very different prospect.

It would be single handed! If I went through the cally canal, I could get some help for that but then I would be single handed from Inverness down the east coast! If I went the other way, I could pick up some crew from Devon onwards!

 

[seafox67]

If you've got the time to make a trip it - a couple of months, I'd go down the west side. You're more likely to have unfavourable winds, but it's so much more interesting. If time's short, east would be more likely to give you decent winds, but you've got to get across Scotland, which, if I'm not mistaken, means going far out of your way or dropping the mast and dodging shopping trolleys on the Forth and Clyde.

Yes, I don't think the Forth and Clyde would be doable! If I took the east coast then I would head for the Cally canal after I finished the summer Scotland cruise.

I think one of my biggest concerns is what the weather gets like after late August! and which coast get the quieter weather at that time of year!

 

[Adios]

It would be single handed! If I went through the cally canal, I could get some help for that but then I would be single handed from Inverness down the east coast! If I went the other way, I could pick up some crew from Devon onwards!

Probably go down the east coast, you could do the canal in crappy weather but its down to how lucky you are with the weather after that and your endurance ability. I've slept at sea a fair few times to save going into ports which can save a lot of time but these days I can only do that for a few days before needing a proper rest, you might be able to go for longer. My preferred method is sleeping in bursts during the day with at least my mainsail up for visibility, in a carefully chosen area with little traffic, when the tide is against me so I'm practically stationary. Rather than heaving to and going backwards with the tide, might as well make some progress. If you can keep going for a few days while the weather is with you it will make all the difference.

 

[Adios]

Yes, I don't think the Forth and Clyde would be doable! If I took the east coast then I would head for the Cally canal after I finished the summer Scotland cruise.

I think one of my biggest concerns is what the weather gets like after late August! and which coast get the quieter weather at that time of year!

Could be anything couldn't it. You could get a week of total calm in the middle of winter and motor down in one go. Or it never stops blowing hard and cold from the NE all august

 

[Sandy]

What sort of mileages do you normally do in a day? Do you enjoy sailing at night?

I'll be going south around that time of year, currently suspect I'll be going south via the west coast.

I'm trying to find out what the rules are about sheltering in an Irish bay or marina in a pandemic if the weather turns.

 

[seafox67]

Could be anything couldn't it. You could get a week of total calm in the middle of winter and motor down in one go. Or it never stops blowing hard and cold from the NE all august

I think you could be right! It could just be a gamble at that time of year with the weather.... I guess if I go east coast, like you said the weather doesn't matter too much until I leave Inverness!

 

[seafox67]

What sort of mileages do you normally do in a day? Do you enjoy sailing at night?

I'll be going south around that time of year, currently suspect I'll be going south via the west coast.

I'm trying to find out what the rules are about sheltering in an Irish bay or marina in a pandemic if the weather turns.

Sailing single handed, I never sail longer than maybe 16 hours a day on a long trip. And never over night sail. I can cover about 75 miles per day

 

[Sandy]

Sailing single handed, I never sail longer than maybe 16 hours a day on a long trip. And never over night sail. I can cover about 75 miles per day

That will give you a start for planning your trip south.

 

[Crowblack]

If your aim is the Essex rivers (you say Sth East coast) then I'd go down the East Coast.

Your big advantage is having bilge keels which opens up shallower and drying harbours for overnights or refuge.

As examples - some of the harbours along the southern coast of the Moray Firth , then the lovely soft mud in Anstruther and Bridlington. Bilge keels makes the entrance to Wells Next the Sea in North Norfolk where the harbour master will come out to guide you in - easier too.

Good luck with your trip.

 

[Adios]

Sailing single handed, I never sail longer than maybe 16 hours a day on a long trip. And never over night sail. I can cover about 75 miles per day

Never have or never will? Might be really worth doing a couple of times at least. Its missing the weather windows thats the problem with keeping stopping. Getting the tide right at departure, on route and arrival with drying moorings and having to be only during the day will have a huge impact on your delivery time. If you have 2 months to be on board to make a leisurely cruise then no problem.

 

[seafox67]

Thanks for all your feedback! It's definitely got me thinking about other options!
It has answered my initial thought... would there be a significant fair weather benefit to the east or west coast at that time of year! It looks like the answer would be, not really. Both coasts would be a gamble for weather!

I'm now thinking... If I want to make it a holiday cruise then go west earlier and see the sites! lol...
However, If I want to just do a 'Delivery' trip... finish my west coast of Scotland holiday and then head straight through the cally and motor sail down the east coast (I think from Inverness, I could do it in about 9 good weather days).

This forum is always good to use a sounding board! lol

 

[PhillM]

Why don't you find a volunteer crew or two? There are loads of people with both qualifications and experience on the relevant Facebook groups.

Three up, you could make the most of weather windows and get a lot further, faster. Unless of course, that single handed long-distance adventuring is your thing.

 

[seafox67]

Why don't you find a volunteer crew or two? There are loads of people with both qualifications and experience on the relevant Facebook groups.

Three up, you could make the most of weather windows and get a lot further, faster. Unless of course, that single handed long-distance adventuring is your thing.

Yep, good idea... I've looked at that in the past but it can be hard to find people willing to volunteer and be flexible with dates! My Tempest has two 'double' aft cabins and the saloon so plenty of room for a few crew!

 

[Fascadale]

Quickest route is through the F and C, no probs in a bilge keeler. Interesting and enjoyable trip, Done it a few times, ignore the shopping trolley nonsense. Excellent mast cranes both ends. Then down the east coast.

If you can do 75nms a day then plenty of harbour options, some nicer than others. Shorter route gives you time to build in the inevitable weather delays

Rail and bus links good down the east coast so perfectly possible to break the voyage and go home if required. Easy from say Grimsby but a nightmare from West Wales

 

[Adios]

Nightmare from north Norfolk as well. It took something insane like 12 hours to get from there to Brum.

 

[seafox67]

Quickest route is through the F and C, no probs in a bilge keeler. Interesting and enjoyable trip, Done it a few times, ignore the shopping trolley nonsense. Excellent mast cranes both ends. Then down the east coast.

If you can do 75nms a day then plenty of harbour options, some nicer than others. Shorter route gives you time to build in the inevitable weather delays

Rail and bus links good down the east coast so perfectly possible to break the voyage and go home if required. Easy from say Grimsby but a nightmare from West Wales

F and C would be a very quick direct route but I keep hearing mixed messages about getting through! my draft is 1m 15 cm!

 

[PhillM]

Yep, good idea... I've looked at that in the past but it can be hard to find people willing to volunteer and be flexible with dates! My Tempest has two 'double' aft cabins and the saloon so plenty of room for a few crew!

After the year we have had, and assuming you insisted on only vaccinated people, I do not see you having too much trouble getting people to commit to three weeks for a "half-way-around Brittan" with no costs except a small contribution to food costs, say £10 pp per day.