What are some of your favourite stretches of water you have sailed.

[Uricanejack]

I came up with this thread because I don’t think of any of my sailing as difficult.

Two trips top my list.
Bringing an old C&C 24 Home from Bellingham, Via Rosario, Roche Harbour and Sydney BC at the end of March with my 9 and 11 yr old as crew. We had a great time. Some strong gusty winds some currents lots of wild life and a few ferries. Narrow Channels and great sailing.

The other was also a delivery bring My new to me boat up the Washington Coast to the same area with my son. Last year for many of the same reasons.

The Southern Gulf Islands is a great place to sail. So are the San Juan’s. Fickle winds in summer strong currents lots of wild life quiet anchorages in marine parks or full service marinas. It can be very busy or
very quiet in low season, mostly sheltered.

Taking my Mum and Dad up to Desolation Sound was spectacular.

In years gone by I sailed the west of Scotland. Which in many ways is quite similar to where I live and sail now.
The Clyde has its own delights the Kiles being particularly nice. Round he Mull to Giha or through The Crinan Canal.
Its pretty hard to beat a trip up the Sound Of Mull and choose which way to go from there. North to Skye, West To Castle Bay in Barra or South through the Sound of Iona.

I ventured south from there a couple of times but was in to much of a hurry to stop and enjoy the sights in the Irish Sea. We were heading For France. Took 5 days I think my longest Voyage under sail.
Went up the Channel as far as the Channel Islands and across to the Solent which I have visited only once returning back to France the Channel Islands Salcom Bay Plymouth, Round Lands End to Lundy then Barry and Bristol

I enjoyed it all. Each has its unique delights and challenges. Picking a favourite is not easy.

There are so many wonderful places still to go.

 

[johnalison]

It is difficult to separate my memories of stretches of water from the scenery around. One of my favourites is the passage from Cherbourg to Alderney, or maybe St Peter Port. There is the spice of planning to catch the tide, plus the disturbed water on the way and the excitement I always feel when arriving at an island.

Arriving at the Isles of Scilly from Falmouth is similar.

The entrance to the Elbe is always stimulating. You are joining or crossing a lot of shipping and have the pleasure of expecting a boost of up to 4 knots from the tide, and on your way to start your cruise in earnest.

There is a short 4 hourish passage to Bornholm from Simrishamn or Ystad which I enjoy. It can get fairly rough and shipping can be busy but the island grows ahead invitingly, with the prospect of cosy shelters and an interesting few days.

 

[dancrane]

The Serpentine? Sorry.

I think it's in the opening scene of the 1959 Kenneth More version of The Thirty-Nine Steps, there's a gaff-rigged dinghy on the Serpentine. Never saw a sailboat there myself, but I've known great happiness on finally arriving at one or other side under oars, having over-done my liquid picnic.

 

[trapezeartist]

Whichever bit of water I'm on at the time.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Tricky question.

Some memorable moments:

A first channel crossing, Aries wind wand and no electronics. A perfect beam reach, a clear starry night, dolphins and phosphorescence everywhere

Sailing into New York?

Sailing into Newport, Rhode Island?

All memorable places. The Carib isn't bad either...

If you want me to nominate areas of water to sail, I will say Western Scotland or S Brittany.

 

[Saguday]

Chesapeake Bay, which I loved.

Eggemoggin Reach in Maine was a fantastic stretch of water to sail as well, most bits of Maine are interesting but the sailing season is short.

Like John, sailing through New York, and out under the Verrazano Narrows bridge was a highlight too.

Loved it in the Greek islands too although that was early in our sailing career, would love to go back again in our own boat.

In the UK the East Coast does it for me, I love the rivers and estuaries, especially the Deben.

Need to get out more really, me and SWMBO want to do a Dylan and sail slowly round the UK, ferreting around in the crinkly bits.

 

[Seajet]

Anywhere heading West along the South Coast between the Needles and Falmouth is pretty special for the sea, interesting vessel traffic and scenery, given good visibility and a F4 South Easterly...

 

[onesea]

Whichever bit of water I'm on at the time.

I disagree completely the last bit of water I sailed, the bit I am on is always an issue:
1) the seas are always to rough,
2) the wind is always wrong,
3) the tide is always against me,
4) the temperature is hot or to cold,

The next bit of water is obvsouse always going to be perfect as well

 

[Kelpie]

What springs to mind is the Sound of Jura. We sailed through it hard on the wind most of the way, 6kt, flat water, bit of tide helping us, Calmac ferries obligingly appeared only where it was wide enough to let us past easily. Of course it was a beautiful sunny day. Great sailing and fast-changing views on either side, with the Paps as the backdrop.

 

[jordanbasset]

Anywhere heading West along the South Coast between the Needles and Falmouth is pretty special for the sea, interesting vessel traffic and scenery, given good visibility and a F4 South Easterly...

Agree with that, also liked Southern Brittany

 

[drawp]

Sailing across Nantucket Sound. I could feel the presence of the Pequod as Nantucket Island was always a dream destination of mine ever since reading Moby Dick as a kid. I was on a friend's boat, a beautiful Pacific Seacraft 42, and Nantucket itself has a wonderful atmosphere. The reality lived up to the dream.

 

[Eyore]

Roaringwater Bay in west Cork is lovely with Cape Clear and Sherkin Islands as options, gorgeous harbours with foaming Guinness in Crookhaven, Schull, and Baltimore. A view of the Fastnet nearby. Whats not to like? Irish West coast is great in a wild and rugged way and the Scottish west coast and Islands are spectacular.

 

[capnsensible]

The islands off the coast of Venezuela. Lovely.

 

[jimbaerselman]

W Scotland for marine wild life, fantastic scenery, hundreds of empty anchorages
SW Ireland for the welcome and the craic
Channel Islands and nearby France for the pilotage challenges and cuisine
Scillies, for living in the past
East Sicily for volcanoes, quirky towns, buzzing markets, amazing historical sites, cuisine, and the dark wines of Noto

 

[Spyro]

Sanda Sound. Offshore wind force 5, sunshine, flat seas and 4 knots of good tide.

 

[KellysEye]

Sailing to and around the Venezuelan out islands, so pretty sand and coral and a large colony of Brown Boobies on Isla Aves.

 

[AndrewB]

Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. For reasons see here: http://www.yachtsentinel.co.uk/BestPlaces/bestplaces.htm

 

[pagoda]

What springs to mind is the Sound of Jura. We sailed through it hard on the wind most of the way, 6kt, flat water, bit of tide helping us, Calmac ferries obligingly appeared only where it was wide enough to let us past easily. Of course it was a beautiful sunny day. Great sailing and fast-changing views on either side, with the Paps as the backdrop.

Have to agree with that Did a trip from Kilmelford to Craighouse with a 15-20Kt WSW wind one year. Bright, sunny long blast through Dorus Mhor and south, most at 7-8Kts. not often beaten for scenery. The top end of Northern Ireland, round Malin Head into Lough Swilly is good sailing as well.
Nothing as exotic as some of the locations being quoted..!

Almost anywhere with a decent wind is good sailing..

 

[doris]

In home waters arriving at Basse Crublent at the mouth of the Treguier River just after dawn and the flood beginning. To ease the six miles up to the town surrounded by all the rocks to start with the the fields in the early morning mist is magical.

For the far away stuff the Mamanuca Islands off W Fiji, pottering through the reefs into perfect tropical lagoons and dropping a hook, wonderful. Took me a while to have confidence in my sunglasses to trust the gaps though the coral.

 

[stevepick]

Sailing from the sound of Barra to st Kilda a few years back , overnight ( in june , it got "twilighty" for about 2 hrs around 2330-0130), one of my best dawns ever. Pic below taken around 0430. An absolute stunning sail , close reaching all the way, and arriving to a blue sky , blazing sunshine day