Cruise Statistics
In the three months away we used 24 marinas, 5 drying harbours, 12 deep water harbours, stayed at 5 clubs, used one mooring overnight and anchored overnight 7 times. We did over 1800nm.
300 litres of diesel, 5 litres of oil, 2 oil filters and 4 fuel filters were consumed, and four bottles of calor gas.
The marinas were generally of a high standard, with the more expensive ones not necessarily the best. Most disappointing was Oban, though the free ferry service made up for some of the shortcomings. Sutton Harbour was the dearest, but gave very good value in terms of service and convenience. Smaller places such as Ardglass, Glenarm and Whitehills were the best and most welcoming, though probably the largest, Bangor, was excellent and not as expensive as some of the lesser places.
Drying harbours are always interesting and sometimes fraught with the unexpected. You are never guaranteed to dry out upright. Rye and Lyme Regis are well set up for yachts, others less so. This was refreshing, as at St. Michael's Mount, or disappointing, as at Bridlington and Balbriggan. Some harbours charged, others not. There did not seem to be much logic in this, except that it probably costs more than it is worth to collect the money. The deep water harbours were equally variable. This all added to the interest.
The anchorages were all picturesque and the process went well. In Porth Cressa The wind got up suddenly and raising the anchor on my own was somewhat strenuous. Elsewhere the whole thing went very smoothly and we did not drag, though the wind sometimes prevented a proper night's rest. Dandy Hole and the River Fal, and especially Lindisfarne, were idyllic.
The clubs were without exception very welcoming and helpful, and inexpensive. Thank you to Lyme Regis Y.C., Brixham Y.C., Fowey Gallants Y.C., Royal Northumberland Y.C., Humber Cruising Association, Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Y.C., Southwold Y.C.
The Caledonian Canal was well organised, and the staff friendly and very helpful. The amenities, however, were extremely variable, from excellent, at Banavie, to poor at Seaport Marina, and non-existent in other places.
The weather began well. A north-easterly airstream persisted until we reached Fowey, where the first non-sailing day occurred, because of dense fog. However, it was not warm, and shorts were worn only twice: in Brixham and in the Fal. The overnight passage to Ireland was helped by a NEf4/5 breeze, but this kept going and penned us in at Wicklow. A short anticyclone improved things for Strangford Lough, where I enjoyed two days' summer weather, and enjoyable sailing as far as Ballycastle. As soon as Lucy and I reached Scottish waters the weather turned foul, and from there on a string of depressions reduced our opportunities. No anchoring off, no exploring in the islands except by road. From Islay to Corpach it was a case of waiting for a lull and going for the next shelter. In the Caledonian Canal conditions were dominated by rain. Once we came back to the sea things improved, and we were not kept from sailing from Inverness onward. The longest day-sail was 97nm from Boddam to Eyemouth in 16hrs. The shortest was Corpach to Banavie, but including Neptune's Staircase, 1.3nm. From Eyemouth the winds were mainly from the west and rarely strong, so that sailing was always possible.
