Med to UK - Alternate to the Carribean Route - What and When ?

[gauvins]

I am considering spending a year on the coast of the UK. My boat is currently on the Med and the draft (1.8M) makes it difficult to move it North motoring the channels (I am unaware of a route that would make it possible)

Is it conceivable to sail North on the Atlantic shores of Portugal and France or is it always preferable to sail West to avoid the predominant NW?

What time of the year would be best for such a passage?

thanks for your input

[Pete7]

UK folk will be along shortly after tea, we are all very sociable here.

Don't suppose you have moveable balast do you? only with the mast off and the boat lightened can you raise the water line?

Pete

[anjou]

What Pete says and wait for it to rain and fill the river a bit more.
A voyage through France would be a journey to remember.

[goboatingnow]

sailing directly north in the summer months can be a PITA, usually it requires an early start before the trades kick in around midday, so its slow progress and can require bashing into head seas to make more progress.

IN the spring and autumn the Portuguese trades are lighter or less well defined. ( sometimes non existent, replaced by southerlys) Better progress can be made, however the whole area can become a lee shore and combined with a big Atlantic swell can made regaining the comfort of harbours difficult if not dangerous.

I have done it, but at times its hard work

I don't believe there's a viable route through the canals with 1.8metres

Dave

[swagman]

Dave is right, theres no chance via canals with 1.8 metres.
But many do sail north even in the face of summer coastal N'easterlies from the Med to the UK.
Tradition is either out from Algave to Azores to get away from those headwinds and then hopefully reach up to the English Channel. Or simply coast hop in day sailing mode using engine as required. That can be done by most yachts in a week from Lagos to Bayona. From there you can suss whats happenig across Biscay and either go direct or cut the corner to S Brittany.
If you done the trip in June 2009 when we last went down that route you'd have had to use your engine for 90% of the time as there was hardly any wind from any direction........but with modern weather resources I'm sure you can plan the trip to make your final route as confortable as possible.
Good luck
JOHN

[barnakiel]

Yep. Can be done. Many sailors pick up April or early May to go up the Portuguese coast.

b.

[Joefloki]

Originally Posted by swagman

Dave is right, theres no chance via canals with 1.8 metres.

No, it is possible to make the channel route even with 1,8 m, I have done it (see my website), however with some difficulties.
Mast should be transported by truck, I used Yachtgraf

[gauvins]

I glanced at your site but couldn't find the itinerary you might be suggesting. Could you elaborate?

Originally Posted by Joefloki

No, it is possible to make the channel route even with 1,8 m, I have done it (see my website), however with some difficulties.
Mast should be transported by truck, I used Yachtgraf

[boatman61]

Personally I'd bite the bullet.. gas up and run up the coast using the engine as and when.... time your hops with the weather and don't stand more than 5 miles of shore....
After Sines there's lots of place's you can duck into if the weather starts looking ominous just don't push your luck thinking you'll hop to the next port... most are river mouths and the swell can build quick and close them....
Do this route on all my deliveries... unless the owner wants via the Azores... (once) most times it goes well... tho' must confess this year the weathers been somewhat fiercer than usual...
If you sit in Bayona/La Corun'a till a SW'ly comes along you'll make a fast run across the Biscay...

Originally Posted by gauvins

I am considering spending a year on the coast of the UK. My boat is currently on the Med and the draft (1.8M) makes it difficult to move it North motoring the channels (I am unaware of a route that would make it possible)

Is it conceivable to sail North on the Atlantic shores of Portugal and France or is it always preferable to sail West to avoid the predominant NW?

What time of the year would be best for such a passage?

thanks for your input

[VELISSA]

Originally Posted by anjou

What Pete says and wait for it to rain and fill the river a bit more.
A voyage through France would be a journey to remember.

France is a wonderful idea - great food and wine. I went on a private wine tour last year with my hubby with Absolutely. Pick up a the marina, tour and lunch in vineyards. Lovely.

[Joefloki]

Originally Posted by gauvins

I glanced at your site but couldn't find the itinerary you might be suggesting. Could you elaborate?

http://wiki.schwaar.com/happyii-sail...is%20Port%20St.
%20Louis%20Teil%201.pdf

http://wiki.schwaar.com/happyii-sail...is%20Port%20St
.%20Louis%20Teil%202.pdf

photos joefloki channel

photos vani channel

[MacG]

It can be done but there must be plenty of water. The Canal Authority i.c. VDF is dredging and bringing certain routes on a draft of 2.00 mtrs. I do not know precisely how far they already are advanced with their works as they close certain trajectories during wintertime.
You have to check carefully and if you do, do it early or late season.
The Rhone is no problem, as are the northern channels. It is the middle part that I am not sure of.

[Eleven]

Sounds like you are doing it the awkward way! Would it be easier to trade boats (House swap style). You'll get a chance to hop around the British Islands without having to put up with our awkward weather, and they'll be plenty of demand for your boat in the sunny months. Put it with a charter company maybe.
I can do you a little boat just for fun along the south coast, See below.
There are so many boats doing nothing in the UK.

[MacG]

The idea is absolute not bad at all.
Why not making it into something workable on the forum, where people can exchange/swap boats when it comes to sailing in other parts of the world.
Good idea.