Super SIBing Spots Guide

[pumpkinking]

In the search for some vicarious escape and optimism for more time afloat in 2021, I’ve been scouring the forum looking for new locations in the UK to take a SIB.

This got me thinking...

Might it be great to have a thread that lists some of the best UK SIBing locations? Almost a SIB travel guide of sorts?!

I’m talking about on-the-water locations you visit in your SIB, that perhaps wouldn’t be possible in larger boats, as opposed to launch spots (already a website for that!).

Perhaps each brief post could consist of:

- Location (+ maps link if possible!)
- Launch suggestion
- 1 or 2 Photos of your spot
- Paragraph on why you love it.


It would be great to keep the thread to posts about locations rather than chat, just so it’s a simple concentrated resource.

I hope that others will enjoy contributing to this thread, and that it might provide some ideas and positivity for people this winter and beyond!

I’ll go first:

[pumpkinking]

Location:
St Mawes Harbour, Cornwall

Launch Suggestion:
Gravel slipway into harbour opposite Roseland Visitor Centre car park.
https://goo.gl/maps/LrHcYEzjCtrB6uHS7





One of the most beautiful natural harbours, loads of protected bays and estuaries around St Mawes and Falmouth to explore, swim or just lie back and relax with no one else around.

Perfect spot for SIB‘s; new and experienced, small or large, you can venture further towards open sea as your confidence increases. Plenty of other boat users around the main channels, and good fishing off the headland at St Anthony so I’m told!

[Pikey Dave]

Mylor

https://w3w.co/thinking.strays.huddling

This 3 word address refers to an exact 3m x 3m location. Tap the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to find it.

We launched off the beach at Mylor. Tight lanes getting in, but plenty of room for parking in the yacht haven car parks (£5/day). We enquired at the marina office & asked if it was ok to use the slip & drive onto the beach to put the SIB together. All we got was a shrug & “help yourself. So we did, twice. No problems. Similar cruising ground to St Mawes.
Thick deep mud at the bottom of the tide. The tide comes way up the beach, so don’t get your car blocked in as you recover.

[Pikey Dave]

Menai

https://w3w.co/wacky.frostbite.risky

This 3 word address refers to an exact 3m x 3m location. Tap the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to find it.

Pull in with direct access to the sea. Popular with campervans so you need to get in early at busy times. Depending on state of the tide you will have a 20-100m trip to the water’s edge. You must be able to man handle your rig over 10m of soft packed shingle. Hard sand/shingle in a shallow bay. Stunning cruising ground in the right weather. Exciting in the wrong weather [emoji6].
More formal launching 1/2mile up the road at TyCalch for bigger boats.

[Jhoughton]

https://goo.gl/maps/fff7YzgjsCRchwPW8

Free parking and some steps down to the beach at mid-low tide (tricky to launch/recover above then). Steps probably mean you need at least two adults to launch anything heavy.

Short cruise to Tower Bridge one way or Greenwich the other. We've found it a quiet spot where you don't attract too much unwanted attention launching a boat!