From England to Ireland

[Stigomery]

So in 2017 my aim is to take the 3.8 Honwave from England to Ireland, Carrickfergus to be precise, visit mum and dad...

So... aside from the shortest... what's the best route?

Aside from careful sea and weather monitoring prior to departure and securing the best window... what should I be planning for...?

[Xk59D]

For a SIB, imo, the ferry across and have fun over there.

[Stigomery]

Where's your sense of adventure ;-)

[jambo]

North channel is no place to be in a sin. I agree with Xk59D

[Xk59D]

Sorry-ferry for me buddy on that size of boat. Sure it is possible but it will take many hours to do it in amazing weather.

We took short route a few months ago in brilliant weather but was unpleasant rough so still well over 2 hours.

[Poly]

I've made the crossing in conditions where a big SIB would have been fine. The issue is that other than a "day trip" you'd always have the risk of coming home on the ferry.

The shortest point is only about 22 NM, but realistically port-to-port probably 50+ NM. In good weather with your boat that makes it a 3 hr trip really. Its not impossible in a SIB. Its not even crazy if you can wait for the perfect weather window and go when the gods dictate not the family or job. Personally I'd want company to do it with. Getting two people with the interest and the flexibility might be tricky...

[willk]

Originally Posted by Stigomery

from England to Ireland

Do you really mean England?

...or Scotland?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by willk

Do you really mean England?

...or Scotland?

Oh, and I missed that*... if you are actually looking at going from England I guess you are looking at more miles.


* Jambo I will surrender my sporran when I next see you.

[Xk59D]

we made a trip pretty close to your destination few months back (Bangor)

if you really want to do this then i would leave from Scotland and i would be taking with me.

dry bag with full change of gear
flotation/dry suit
VHF
plotter/chart
mobile and a way to charge it
food/water
decent fuel reserve
drift anchor
aux outboard (i would be leaving it on the transom perm, you don't want to be messing with it middle of channel)
let the relative people know your ETA etc

if you go in a group you could forgo some of the above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQJfSRl-FcA&t=425s

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Poly

Oh, and I missed that*... if you are actually looking at going from England I guess you are looking at more miles.





* Jambo I will surrender my sporran when I next see you.

I'll let you off this time 'eagle eye ' [emoji106][emoji481]

[jeffstevens763@g]

well alan bombard went over the atlantic in one.
a well planed & best weather trip and i would want a second boat with me as back up/support may be iam getting old & less confidant good luck if you do it though.

[Ribochet]

Your only option is Portpatrick to Bangor and then a skip over Belfast Lough to Carrickfergus.
However this is an extremely treacherous stretch of water as up to 30% of the volume of the Irish Sea (2,430 km3 ) flows through this area very 6 hours.
One of my most scary passages was on this route with large breaking waves in the middle.
Follow the advice of others and take one of the many ferries to our wonderful country and get to try out our inland water systems whilst you are over

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Ribochet

Your only option is Portpatrick to Bangor and then a skip over Belfast Lough to Carrickfergus.
However this is an extremely treacherous stretch of water as up to 30% of the volume of the Irish Sea (2,430 km3 ) flows through this area very 6 hours.
One of my most scary passages was on this route with large breaking waves in the middle.
Follow the advice of others and take one of the many ferries to our wonderful country and get to try out our inland water systems whilst you are over

Presumably planning the trip right, ensures that only 5% of the sea flows through during the trip and at neeps the actual volume would be reduced too. I'm not disputing that it has the potential to be either horrible or properly hazardous though. And of course few of us have the flexibility to wait for the moon, the sun, the weather etc to all line up on a non-work day...

Neeps in good weather, with little swell, and a good forecast, on a well equipped boat it is not quite as ridiculous an idea as some suggest. Ideally with another boat and suitable tow ropes etc. Especially if you've got family who could store the boat for you, or help transport it to the ferry if you decide a return is not such a good idea.

[willk]

Originally Posted by Poly

Neeps in good weather, with little swell, and a good forecast, on a well equipped boat it is not quite as ridiculous an idea as some suggest. Ideally with another boat and suitable tow ropes etc. Especially if you've got family who could store the boat for you, or help transport it to the ferry if you decide a return is not such a good idea.

Yeah - in ideal WX/tide state it would be fine - but the chances of a return leg in similar are slight, unless the OP can wait a couple of weeks. I did Safety for an amphibious Land Rover a year back - Portpatrick to Donaghadee - and there were pretty much perfect SIB conditions all day. Next day was crap.

[Stigomery]

Clearly my geography was wrong... I meant from Scottyland

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Stigomery

Clearly my geography was wrong... I meant from Scottyland

And exactly where is that?!!

[Xk59D]

it is where you get on the same ferry to ireland matey

[Stigomery]

Originally Posted by jambo

And exactly where is that?!!

Port Patrick perhaps, wherever is the easiest launch and shortest(ish) crossing.... forgive my Ulster Scots lexicon

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Stigomery

Port Patrick perhaps, wherever is the easiest launch and shortest(ish) crossing.... forgive my Ulster Scots lexicon

It's ok I was just taking a whisky loaded piss take. Sorry couldn't resist it.
Yea pp would be shortest and doable launch wise with sib. Keep us posted as I'm just up the road at Girvan

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Xk59D

it is where you get on the same ferry to ireland matey

I just couldn't stop myself too many whiskes