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

[Neil_Y]

Bigbury bay yesterday and many many other times since the late 70's needs a good SWF7 though to make it fun and the Azores.

 

[vyv_cox]

Quite a few years ago now, left Port Ellen in a moderate north-westerly with about half the ebb still to run but not too strong on the Scottish side. Wind picked up as the flood started and carried us all the way to Bangor, N.I. We flew the spinnaker the whole way, dropped it 100 metres before Bangor and averaged 10 knots over the ground for the trip.

Last year, left Petries on the north coast of Evia in a northerly F4, reached to the Kafireas Strait, turned south goosewinged until broad reaching along the coast of Andros by which time the wind was a steady F6. A highly memorable day. Fantastic scenery, lots of shipping to dodge and great sailing.

 

[mjcoon]

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.

When I lived in Kensington in the early 1970s I would walk round to the Serpentine to sail the Heron (IIRC) dinghies there. Real "Come in Number Nine" stuff, but no H&S to speak of. And also when walking round the lake saw a chap embayed and unable to get out of the leeward end. Was able to shout to him to put his centre-board down, and off he went!

Mike.

 

[Behome]

Night approach to Porquerolles guided in by the scent of the pines and the smell of the eucalyptus leaves being burnt in the square.

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

Haven't sailed enough places to comment knowledgeably. My home water centred out of Largs with the west coast nearby are pretty special but what rarely gets a mention is Hong Kong and all its islands.

I spent my youth there going out around the islands in my Dads boat, Its as much about pottering in my dinghy with the mothership at anchor as anything but there is a lot to see and do around that group of islands

Found this recently which sparked the memory

 

[westhinder]

Favourite stretches means favourite memories.
The Hebrides must be number 1. From Tobermory, round Staffa and anchored in Gometra Harbour, where we saw deer, a golden eagle and a sea otter. Rounding Ardnamurchan Point with a stiff following breeze to Rum. Loch Hourn. Loch Torridon. From Dunvegan to Loch Maddy, Next day to Wizard pool, seeing a basking shark and a minke whale on the way. From Wizard Pool to Canna Harbour, to name but a few.
Sailing into Ster Wen on Belle Isle on a fine day.
Ghosting goosewinged towards St Tropez with the red evening sun burning on the hills of the Corniche.
And anywhere dolphins come and play around the boat.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

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

+1

 

[pmagowan]

Loads of different moments. The first cruise after I resored my wee boat, leaving Crinan and getting the new for'sail up, then immediately getting knocked over in the Doris mor, sailing over to the corryvreckan to find that we were in with a chance of beating my Grandmother's larger boat through the Fladda. Then goosewinging up Kerrera sound with G&T's as they had to motor to catch up. Another day on the same cruise when we were joined by friends and motor/sailed across flat water from Arisaig to Scavaig to have a swim in Loch Coruisk then over to Canna for a game of croquet on the lawn of Canna house followed by a lovely meal in the Oyster restaurant, all in the sun of course.

 

[Sans Bateau]

There are a lot of show off's on this thread!! The best I can offer is sailing (well motoring mainly) to the Isles of Sicily. But then there was sailing into St Tropez AND getting a berth or rounding the Mull of Kintyre with the other 3 crew all suffering SS, they missed a good un!

 

[aquaplane]

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

I thought that, you don't have to go far. I sometimes wonder about the South West or the East Coast Rivers, maybe some day but I'm in no rush.

 

[Skylark]

Scillies, for living in the past

I've never sailed into the Scillies but I'd offer that the Isle of Man probably comes a close second.

Agreeing that best sail probably means a memorable overall experience I'd certainly agree that Burnt Island / Kyles of Bute takes some beating. I also once had a really great day on a friends boat from west coast of Sardinia, through the nw passage (can't remember its name) with shallow water needing a bit challenging pilotage followed by lunchtime anchorage and swim in wonderfully warm, clear blue waters. As a mostly UK waters sailor, that doesn't happen nearly often enough.

 

[Blueboatman]

I have been 'lapped' in Florida by RTW friends. Cos you find the most pleasant sailing in the most unlikely as well as the obvious or overly reported places...so I is a slooow mover, its all nice at the right time. The English coast is always a delight te see and re-see though.

 

[jimi]

I loved Falmouth, lunchtime stop in the Helford, St Mawes, St Just , Smugglers cottage, Heron Inn, Pandora.

 

[nomadic star]

Gib straights, last Oct. wind and races spot on ! 11.7 knts in a 40ft cruiser as logged on our satellite tracker . Now that's what I call cruising.