UK to Isle of Man

benc · 23 January 2014, 10:13

Hi Guys

It looks that Ill be moving over the Isle of Man in the next few months, and I'd like to take my boat over. My current plan is to launch her somewhere, and drive her over, but I would only do that if I had company.

Does anyone here do the trip often? Or planning to do it in the next few months at all?

Failing that... I will follow the ferry.... might take a while though!

Thanks

Ben

biffer · 23 January 2014, 10:26

While you're posting Ben. He'll service the old girl next week

SteveHall · 23 January 2014, 10:26

What route are you think of taking? I did this last Easter - I went Kirkcudbright to Ramsey. It was a nice trip

although the trip out was a little rough, into all the weather and took about 3 hours, the trip back was amazing, took about 1hr30 but we had everything pushing us along.

Looking at your current location its probably not worth driving that far up north.

benc · 23 January 2014, 10:36

Excellent thanks Biff.

Steve, will probably be from liverpool/heysham. Im not expecting the trip to be quick, so going to be taking plenty of spare fuel etc. Need to try and cherry pick the weather too!

The boat will probably end up in douglas somewhere, so might as well take the trip straight to douglas I think

SteveHall · 23 January 2014, 10:48

I love ribbing to places rather than just out and about.

Had some impressive swell out there, but I would do it again!

Liverpool to Douglas is a little out of my fuel range.... what do you estimate that trip as?

wavelength · 23 January 2014, 11:01

Heysham is commercial and not usually too inclined to have leisure craft in there.
Fleetwood is circa 60 miles and Pete the marina berthing master is a star if you can get to talk to him.
Whitehaven is a lot closer, you can see the island most days from there, but its a longer drag to drive to. Nice marina adjacent to the town. Done Whitehaven to Ramsey in the cat a few times prob 35 miles or so. They do have a boat lift and there is a slipway at Whitehaven but it is very steep with a capital "S" even by NW standards and I can't say I have ever seen anyone actually use it.

Brian · 24 January 2014, 08:24

How about Holyhead to IOM?
Bit longer on the sea, but a shorter distance on land.
Can you do 60nmiles?

BTW if you are staying on the island it is FAR better to park up in Peel. Douglas is absolutely stuffed full.

Brian · 24 January 2014, 13:07

Dave M

What is Glasson like Dave?

Cypman · 24 January 2014, 13:23

Has the boat got a serviceable trailer, you will probably need one on the island.

Brian · 24 January 2014, 14:02

Or, or...........if he had a trailer and a suitable vehicle, he could come over on the Heysham ferry, park in Peel (free) and slip at the marina in Peel (also free) and then boat round the island with us!!!

Getting quite excited now.......

benc · 24 January 2014, 23:23

The boat will be coming over with me and staying. It does have a trailer, but need to get some prices on what it would cost to bring it over on the ferry... I don't have a tow vehicle either, so going to need to find someone to tow it for me.

I'm going to be living in or around Douglas most likely, although I've been looking again at some places in Balla salla. All depends on where we can find a good school for the kids

M.Thornton · 26 January 2014, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

Dave M

What is Glasson like Dave?

Glasson is a bit tricky, Fleetwood (Knott-End) is the easier option.
We will be running over there sometime in the next couple of months
If you fancy a bit of company (possibly escorting a mad jet skier!)
Mike T.

wavelength · 26 January 2014, 14:17

Glasson gates are something like an hour b4 to HW only. The almanac will tell more but I'm not onboard to look at the moment. Tricky channel always on the move. Kwil and us have done Fwd to Douglas. Easy enough just a long drag over open sea with nowt to look at, esp when its **** foggy! Flippin Manninininin's cloak! But all trips are easy if you encounter no problems

willk · 26 January 2014, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavelength

But all trips are easy if you encounter no problems

Like a bilge full of petrol...

Phil M · 28 January 2014, 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavelength

Whitehaven is a lot closer, you can see the island most days from there, but its a longer drag to drive to. Nice marina adjacent to the town. Done Whitehaven to Ramsey in the cat a few times prob 35 miles or so. They do have a boat lift and there is a slipway at Whitehaven but it is very steep with a capital "S" even by NW standards and I can't say I have ever seen anyone actually use it.

It's not that bad! I've launched there quite often over the past year, as its our nearest slip. It is great from the point of view of having a sheltered harbour to launch into and at any state of tide. If just launching, then at least you don't need to pull the boat UP the slip. There is also a slip a few miles north in Harington, or you can go out of barrow or ravenglass (very tide dependent though).

Phil M