BLUEMOMENT

I was looking at a thread about sail training in TOP and someone commented that doing a course in the Solent was better than Gib because everything is more intense is basically what he was saying I suppose. It was likened to driving in London as opposed to a sleepy village,

It made me think that I've only sailed in sleepy villages, and I quite like it, but I wonder if I'm missing something. All day sailing too, but I'm happy with that for now.

I've often thought that the RYA qualifications are aimed at South coast sailors. The 60 mile passages and night hours are easy to do if you pop across the chanel, but who does them on the west coast of Scotland?

Is it all it's cracked up to be, paying through the nose to fight for a berth rafted up 5 deep? Avoiding ships,MoBo's, Sunsail (ok I can do that on the Clyde), and all the rest that comes with sailing darn sarf? Or is it much better than I'm thinking?

Perhaps I should take me little ship to explore a couple of Cornish rivers before we part company, I still don't fancy the Solent, not if it's like driving in London.

aquaplane wrote:...... The 60 mile passages and night hours are easy to do if you pop across the chanel, but who does them on the west coast of Scotland?

not difficult here either -- kip marina to portpatrick : carrickfergus to kip, kip to rathlin island and quite a few more.
it`s not where you are but your appetite imo.

Give me sleepyville any day.

I know the 60 mile pasages are possible, but why bother, unless it's somat to put in your log book?

And that begs the question, why bother doing it just to put in the log book? Do folk do stuff just to fill in a log book? I thought the log book was to record what you were doing anyway, which is why I've never kept one since the only reason I could see was to "get a bit of paper" which required 2x60 miles and night hours which I never do. I know my limitations, and would apply them if chartering someone elses yacht, but they don't so they probably wouldn't let me near.

I still suspect that most South coast sailors marina/harbour hop in daylight much the same as I do, and many other sailors. It must be different keeping watch and sailing at night, a different chalenge maybe.

aquaplane wrote:I know the 60 mile pasages are possible, but why bother, ....... a different chalenge maybe.

correct.

aquaplane wrote:I know the 60 mile pasages are possible, but why bother, unless it's somat to put in your log book?

.

It's what gets you to the place you're going, Like out of the Clyde to the west coast or Ireland. Then the 'cruising' (as opposed to passage-making) starts, for those of us who can't afford a trailer!
Also, if you want to see Shetland.... just how long are your holidays?
I suppose it's what you're used to. From Troon it's 13miles before any civilisation is reached -every trip. (and, yes I do know Ardrossan is only 7)

sahona wrote:

aquaplane wrote:I know the 60 mile pasages are possible, but why bother, unless it's somat to put in your log book?

.

It's what gets you to the place you're going, Like out of the Clyde to the west coast or Ireland. Then the 'cruising' (as opposed to passage-making) starts, for those of us who can't afford a trailer!
Also, if you want to see Shetland.... just how long are your holidays?
I suppose it's what you're used to. From Troon it's 13miles before any civilisation is reached -every trip. (and, yes I do know Ardrossan is only 7)

Its always struck me as an odd distance. Too short to have to run a proper watch system, and further than you' normally do for a day sail. I would have thought a 24 hour passage would be a better test.

I weekend sail in the Solent and Holiday on the West Coast and in the Med.

The South Coast is s**t. All of it. Don't waste your time and money sailing down here.

Olivepage wrote: Its always struck me as an odd distance. Too short to have to run a proper watch system, and further than you' normally do for a day sail. I would have thought a 24 hour passage would be a better test.

You go to a watch system for 24 hours? WIMP!

Wimp!?

I don't function without my 8 hours deep and dreamless.

So I set a watch system for crew (SWMBO and one or other offspring usually) and fit in myself as and when important decisions need to be taken.

So I get to do the interesting bits and get a decent snooze as well.

One must always take care not to overdo things - and one will always take better decisions when fresh and well rested.

Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

I'd never thought about sailing to a different area as a longer passage then cruising when you get there. It makes sense looking at it that way.

Windfinder wrote:(cut)

You go to a watch system for 24 hours? WIMP!

A few years back I set up a watch system for a 12hr passage (Conway to Douglas IoM) because I had a crew of about 4 mixed ability & I wanted to manage who was with whom & ensure that everyone got a fair chance to play with everything.

In the event, it was just as well I did, the engine seized during a calm spell & we resorted to sailing. No problem, we arrived off Douglas at HW as planned, but then found we couldn't stem the tide under sail alone (very light winds) and couldn't make the entrance.

We then had an extra 6 hours sailing on & off the headland until the tide turned & we could sail into the inner harbour. The crew were really glad of the watch system, it could have all deteriorated into a shambles.