Category Archives: Cruising

Sailing experiences post-lockdown

Please write in (see form below) with your sailing experiences post-lockdown. Here are a few reports:

Solent (Jul 2020)

A word for any prospective sailors, certainly around the Solent, in the present environment you will need to book ahead for a berth. Marinas will not allow rafting. This has dramatically reduced the available berths at marinas. You will also need to book ahead (sometimes days in advance) for fuel, which also means you must get there at the appointed time. Anchoring in remote bays seems to be more common, so having a non-rusty anchor chain (we had to chop a metre off Sea Essay’s) and holding tank may prove invaluable.

Day sailing around the Fal (20-21 Jul 2020)

Boat hire operating from Mylor Marina with timed slots for arrival and departure but offering less boats. Not taking deposits on bookings this year. Usual covid warning signs everywhere. Witnessed all boats and life jackets being carefully sanitised with milton. Found the waters quieter than expected. No shortage of moorings in the Helford River for example. We were made welcome for a short stay on the visitors pontoons in Falmouth without booking ahead. One way system marked out on pontoons. No rafting allowed.

Charter out of Plymouth (19-24 Sep 2020)

Plymouth Yacht Haven and local facilities were operating as normally as one would expect including excellent showers but activity seemed very subdued.

Yealm (20 Sep) – As beautiful as usual. Managed to get the last berth on the pontoon at Newton Ferrers. No one rafting. Most moorings taken.

Dartmouth – Plenty of space on visitor’s pontoons. River quite busy. Some tourist trips eg Steam Train and Paddle steamer seemed to be running but town was quiet. Yacht clubs and marina not offering showers to visitors. Showers behind bandstand toilets.

Salcombe – Harbour almost deserted. One of three visiting yachts surrounded by available moorings. No sign of the Hbr Master.

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Crewing Opportunity late Aug / Sep 2015

Here is an opportunity to sail ECYD’s Freyja (Najad 380) from Rendsberg (on the Kiel Canal) to Delfziel (Netherlands).
Depending on weather, harbours to be visited include Cuxhaven, Helgoland, ports of the German Frisian Islands.
The cruise will start no earlier than Thursday 27 Aug and the yacht needs to be in Delziel by 6 Sep (Sunday).

It might be possible to start on the Saturday or join the yacht at Cuxhaven on Saturday 29 Aug.
The cost will be approx £50 per day (minimum of 8 days) plus share of food and marina charges – individuals will be required to make their own arrangements to travel to and from the yacht.

The relevant airports are Hamburg (for Rendsberg) and Schipol (for Delfziel), thence by train. The marinas are within 10 minutes walk of the nearest rail stations.

It would be helpful if you would circulate this crewing opportunity amongst your members.All

All enquiries to the organiser and skipper John Figgures – johnfiggures@hotmail.com