Scotland to northern island

[simsy]

Anyone done this in a small rib, fancy it as my misses is from there. Would be great to tank over...

[M.Thornton]

Fleetwood to Belfast is a good run you can take a break halfway at the Isle of Man or for a shorter run try Port Patrick to Bangor where abouts are you starting from?

[Poly]

Define small? I think I am right in saying donegaldan did it (the otherway) in a SR4. But he was in company.

[jambo]

What ever the size the North Channel is a dangerous stretch of water


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[beamishken]

We've done it several times in our cruiser 38 feet & it's no real problem on a good day but that's the point you need to pick your day
We left Douglas Isle of Man one morning & the kids didn't even know we'd left till we were half way to Dublin it was so flat
But we also came back from Glenarm to Campbeltown & wished we'd took the ferry!
The easiest passage is Portpatrick to Bangor we did that in about 55 mins
I'd avoid the passage north of the Isle of Man as the tide race is quite formidable if you get the times wrong & south Isle of Man is quite a long passage for a first time.although there are some nice stop offs on the way calf of Man & the passage between the island is worth a look

[simsy]

I would drive to the easiest/ safest point and only go if weather was perfect. But I have no knowledge of the waters. 4.1 meter light weight rib. Went around Anglesey in it 2 years ago in that v. Rough weather, some will remember. Slightly out of my comfort zone a few times that day....

[Poly]

in ideal conditions it's perfectly feasible, bit if anything goes wrong you are pretty exposed. With an Aux you could be a slow, couple of hour plod to a safe haven. my concern would be the practical issues if you went over and the weather deteriorated, how would you get back or get the boat back. With careful planning, and ideally a friend it's doable. You'd want to make sure your navigation skills were pretty good etc. It's quite easy to loose a companion boat in gentle swell over those distances.

[willk]

Originally Posted by Poly

Define small? I think I am right in saying donegaldan did it (the otherway) in a SR4. But he was in company.

Bad company

His trip was Greencastle - Islay (Ardbeg) and the day wasn't the best, unusual in that it was very foggy AND a bit rough. The SR4 had a 35hp Yam but I'd say he rarely made WOT that day. He was sore for a week afterwards. The trip was 40Nmx2 and he made both legs largely unsupported in one day.

4.2m will feel very small when you're halfway across the channel...

[Red Fox]

Port Logan to Donaghadee is about 26 miles. Done it twice now in company. Last summer 4 boats from 4.2-4.7m two up in each, tied up next to lifeboat, meal in Pier 36 and then back. Great fun but choose a good weather window and not too much of the black stuff as there are few toilets on the way back.

[bhud]

If leaving from the mull of kintyre the north going tide is stronger that the south going
if there is any wind it gets messy.


North Channel