Next time you're out there, stop in at the anchorage between Scarp and Kearstay. Sublime.Certainly wouldn't have managed my favourite ever three day passage - anchoring consecutively at The Shiant Isles, Taransay then Hirta (St Kilda)
Unless there's a strong S'ly wind, in which case it hurtles down vertically. We once had to clear out as soon as there was enough light to see. But yes, it is normally a beautiful place. No use for those who need pontoons or moorings.
It rather does actually. Whatever label you put on a circumnavigation of mainland Britain, if you dont go round the top you simply didn’t go round.
My comment was in response to the obsession of some with the NW portion of our nation whereas the majority of going round and in some ways the biggest challenge is is the southern section. We southerners don't get worked up, for example if your route takes you through the Solent rather than south of the Isle of Wight, or as most people do miss out the Isles of Scilly.
No, we get worked up over terminological inexactitudes.
I said "in some ways". Down (or up) the east coast; rounding Lands End to go north as examples. both long legs in exposed waters with little shelter - very different from your area where you all bang on about the hundreds of close together anchorages where you can get shelter from all directions. Transiting the Dover Straits and three major Traffic Separation Schemes to deal with in the busiest waters in the world for commercial shipping. Prevailing winds that blow down the Channel in the spring and up the channel in the summer and autumn; strong tidal streams running with you or against you and a number of prominent headlands often forming tidal gates. Remember we have crap weather down here just the same as you do - would you fancy beating out through the Needles Channel like the Fastnet fleet did this year? As one of the uninitiated suggest you read some of the accounts from people who have actually done it.. Plenty of challenges - just different from going round the northern Isles, but all essential to those who want to claim they have been "Round Britain". Who said anything about cost? It is just a reality that if your plan is for a series of day sails as most are you have no option but to spend nights in harbours or marinas because there are few safe overnight anchorages along long stretches of our coastline.No, we get worked up over terminological inexactitudes.
Maybe you would like to inform the uninitiated as to why you think that the biggest challenge is the "southern section"?
I can see it being more expensive, if it's a case of going to marina to marina, but more challenging? Do tell.
That a wee bit disengeniuos tranona, I said mainland britain. Going round isle of wight, or outer hebrides, or shetland, or st kilda for that matter is all down to semantics. The crux of the matter is, does cutting through the cally canal amount to going round the british mainland. The answer is no.
Having recently done the full round Britain, there are certain sections that can be quite long - especially if you do not have favourable wind strength and direction. The toughest for me was from Stromness to Kinlockbervie, which should be about 89 miles and expected to do this in about 12 hours, but the wind did not veer as predicted so I had a beat to Cape Wrath which caused me to miss the tidal gate there. I estimate I sailed about 110 to 120 miles. To put it bluntly I was knackered when I arrived as it had taken 19½ hours to arrive. For those who have not read my post written after arriving, then read #1 in this thread.
I said "in some ways". Down (or up) the east coast; rounding Lands End to go north as examples. both long legs in exposed waters with little shelter - very different from your area where you all bang on about the hundreds of close together anchorages where you can get shelter from all directions. Transiting the Dover Straits and three major Traffic Separation Schemes to deal with in the busiest waters in the world for commercial shipping. Prevailing winds that blow down the Channel in the spring and up the channel in the summer and autumn; strong tidal streams running with you or against you and a number of prominent headlands often forming tidal gates. Remember we have crap weather down here just the same as you do - would you fancy beating out through the Needles Channel like the Fastnet fleet did this year? As one of the uninitiated suggest you read some of the accounts from people who have actually done it.. Plenty of challenges - just different from going round the northern Isles, but all essential to those who want to claim they have been "Round Britain". Who said anything about cost? It is just a reality that if your plan is for a series of day sails as most are you have no option but to spend nights in harbours or marinas because there are few safe overnight anchorages along long stretches of our coastline.
Oh my heart bleeds for you.
You haven't sailed around Britain if you motored around Land's End.
I would suspect that many people circumnavigating - whether it be via the canal or not- motor 30% of the time
Quite right. I 't round uk and 't Ireland twice without stopping in waterproofed soap box and large handkerchief. Now that's 'ard
But you chose to sail past two sheltered anchorages on the north coast so could have taken a break.
Sheer luxury. We 'ad all that but 'ad did it in an Anderson 22.
Sounds lovely. Anchored at Caolas an Scarp and walked on Scarp a few times. Also landed on Mealasta and various (all HHS) other islands in the area. But never stopped at Kearstay.
Did somebody mention anchoring?
