PORTLAND BILL TO BRIXHAM - ROUND BRITAIN

 PORTLAND BILL TO BRIXHAM

Well as promised a few episodes for over the holidays to maybe keep you amused. This time we take on Portland Bill a stretch of water around a headland which can be very dangerous indeed due to large Eddie’s on either side,races and overfalls in the wrong conditions this place could swallow you up. There are two passages you can take one is sticking very close to the coast and the other being the offshore passage. Which one do I take in the video? We had lots of wind and sailing tight to the wind all day it was a long old day and the swell didn’t help. The wind and swell stayed up to we got close to Brixham and it eased off very nice so we could anchor and get a peaceful nights sleep. Brixham looked a very nice place but we weren’t for staying we just wanted some rest and have the wind change direction for us. You may find some wind noise in the video but let’s be honest when your onboard and you come out to do stuff it’s noisy you have to shout to crew if you need stuff doing it really is how it is. My voyages and adventures are showing you how it really is I edit onboard and while at sea I don’t bring this stuff home and edit it to a point were it’s not how it looked and sounded on the day... I’m an adventurer/explore and I bring you real raw footage I’m not trying to be someone I’m not which is very genuine and 95% of YouTube channels are not like this..your seeing the real me and what I do I don’t have to make silly content to keep this channel moving your following real adventure. For those that genuinely follow me and comment on here and stay connected to the adventures I also share my own personal Facebook page and Instagram so you know your dealing with the real person it gives you a look into who I really am ... you don’t find that to often. Anyway I hope you enjoy this short episode ⛵️

SOLENT TO PORTLAND HARBOUR - ROUND BRITAIN

SOLENT TO PORTLAND HARBOUR

We set of from the anchorage in the Solent beside the Isle of Wight ( no comments on how I say Solent please as I’m a disaster) heading down the Solent there was lots of traffic lots of fancy boats big fancy boats and this was a place I’ve heard lots about on sailing pages and from people about it being the dogs balls of sailing in the UK and lots of bragging about doing certain course down her..well I wasn’t impressed when I seen some crazy boat handling and rules of the road looking like something from a benny hill movie. Anyway enough on that I can see why lots of people would be drawn here as you will always find lots of boats out and about but it’s not for me as you that follow me know I like remote places wild place but everyone to their own kind of thing so no need to take offence cause I didn’t personally like it..it just seemed to be a place where it’s all about the money. As we left the Solent we swung to starboard and headed for Studland anchorage now treat that turn with respect in hard tide the place we crossed is known as the trap I explain a little about it in the video. Arriving at Studland anchorage there was lots of boats about and I must say great holding here but we couldn’t get ashore due to wind. I seen something really dangerous here were someone tried to sail of from anchor in very high wind and it went totally wrong a very silly move in a packed anchorage ..and yes their engine was working fine. I think if your trying these things which do need practiced from time to time do it on a day where you know it’s not 30plus kts and the place isn’t packed again this was from a fancy boat with crew. Now the reason I keep mentioning fancy boats and big course is for a good reason...when I first started I always thought listen to this guy are girl look at this boat it has everything and these guys are talking the talk they must know what they are at...this is not always the case and after a short time you soon learn to talk and listen to real advice and 9 times out of 10 it doesn’t come from the big fancy boat are the guy with a book full of certificates. Moving on ...we spent a couple of days in Studland on anchor before weather changed and off we went to good old Portland harbour. I suggest you google about this harbour as it’s got a good bit of history I’m kind of wishing I explored this place a little... Where we anchored was meant to be an anchorage but it was covered in mooring balls ..we had no sooner the anchor down to we had someone out dropping pots everywhere round us isn’t it was well we didn’t drag anchor in the early hours .......

DOVER TO ISLE OF WIGHT - ROUND BRITAIN

DOVER TO ISLE OF WIGHT

Well we missed showing you from Ramsgate to Dover as I just needed me time and sailing with no camera. In this video I’m a little pissed off due to a few factors but anyway the show goes on. This stretch we have had very little wind and a boring old passage along the way you will see a little on the cruising chute. We end up aiming for Eastbourne marina in the approach be carful and stay in the channel. It’s at this point you will hear bad talk and see me pissed off... 35 quid for this carryon...don’t get me wrong the staff were ok and friendly. I’m sorry if my straight talking offends anyone but I just say it how I see it I’m not your prim and proper sailor I’m a guy from the street taking you on a journey with me you either love it are hate it. Anyways Eastbourne was only a quick stopping point before we headed of to an anchorage on the Isle of Wight again the sail down was uneventful no wind smooth sea and a lot of motoring...as we headed for the Isle of Wight we started to run out of tide due to the slow progress using my little old worn out Volvo Penta so we just came out of the main channel and dropped anchor as I’d just about had enough that day and I wasn’t wrecking my engine pushing tide. We sat about for an hour are so had some food checked the engine over and oil levels before setting off again for the planned anchorage ...lots of big ships lurking about here but it was a beautiful night for it .... anyway please don’t be offended as I Chuck a fit on this video as I say we are guys from the street and not your prim and proper sailor ...what you see here is real adventure with real people with nothing to hide.

 

LOWESTOFT TO RAMSGATE - ROUND BRITAIN

 LOWESTOFT TO RAMSGATE

Well this video is out a few days early as I’m setting of into the mountains for a charity hike set up by myself 40 miles 22 mountain summits in less than 38 hours. Video to follow from this very active channel. Anyway let’s talk sailing ...in this one we leave Lowestoft and head for Ramsgate. Remember watch that entrance at Lowestoft it can be dangerous. When we set of we had some awesome fast sailing for a while until the old wind on nose thing started. We headed towards Harwich and up towards the start of the river Stour to halfpenny pier. This was only a quick stopping point and to be honest we had no interest in exploring the rivers and mud banks. As I’m sure you all are aware that I’m not enjoying this coast due to its industrial nature wind farms and many other things.. it’s no offence to anyone so please don’t take that wrong just not my cup of tea. The next morning we set off for Ramsgate passing the Thames estuary and many wind farms ..it looks very cluttered on the charts and navionics but to be honest it’s straight forward and nothing really to worry about. Anyway we make it to ramsgate the approach was fine ...the marina is to the left as you come in so stay close enough to your port when into the main harbour as parts dry out to your starboard . So this is we’re we batten down the hatches and wait for some heavy weather to pass. Hope you enjoy the video and please give me a like and a little share. Have a great weekend folks

SCARBOROUGH TO LOWESTOFT - ROUND BRITAIN

 SCARBOROUGH TO LOWESTOFT

Off we go again leaving Scarborough and heading down the coast towards Lowestoft we had nice wind for a little while then on came the rain ..we headed to an anchorage at the start of the river Humber the anchorage is called Spurn point.. it was pitch black and getting foggy and the wind really started piping up the run up to this anchorage I didn’t like as the water got a bit messy close to the Spurn head so just be careful about here. We make to the anchorage and drop the anchor in about 40kts of wind the anchor caught straight away...I wasn’t a fan of this anchorage .the Humber rivers water is very dirty the anchorage was turbulent and for me it just seemed exposed...but hey it was only a stopping point for a short time as we had to make tracks as the weather was for changing for the worse... So an early start and of we go bit of a boring sail wind no wind and so on so plans were changing all the time we were for going to Holkham bay but it was exposed as anywhere else so we came on across the coast heading towards Cromer...the Vhf was starting to give thunder and lighting storms and heavy wind it was starting to come earlier than planned ...the tide had changed at Cromer and there was no way I could of pushed against it plus it was getting dark and this place is covered with pots so be careful here.. my plan was just drop the anchor well of the coast and get moving early again with the tide and daylight.. I’ve never felt so exposed the sky looked like we were anchoring at the mouth of hell and the forecasts was to get nasty ...but fingers crossed . We get going early the next morning and headed for a port to avoid the gales that was coming this coast offers no good anchorages in my eyes. We make good time heading towards Lowestoft and the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk yacht club...now Lowestoft entrance I will tell you this and take it serious going in here in the wrong conditions you could get into trouble ...I genuinely came through the entrance sideways so research it and watch conditions. The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk yacht club were absolute brilliant we had some work to be done on the boat and when they heard of our trip and some minor problems they gave us a few free nights which we greatly appreciated ..this was all set up for us without us knowing as we had a follower on here who contacted the club and explained our situation ..it was an amazing thing to happen being miles from home and help came pouring in we also had some nice funding that went into the go fund me page to help us ... so thank you very much to all that helped and supported us ( the go fund me link is in the comments below if anyone wishes to continue to help)... so enough chit chat from me hope you enjoy the video.

BLYTH TO SCARBOROUGH - ROUND BRITAIN

 ROUND BRITAIN - BLYTH TO SCARBOROUGH

So it’s down the English east coast a place that just doesn’t cut it for me. We left Blyth and first headed for Whitby there was very little wind and lots of heavy fog it was an uneventful sail it was a little creepy entering the harbour in the thick fog..I really liked Whitby it really is the perfect seaside town. This place is hone to Dracula many people flock here because if it. The old castle is worth a visit. While here we met some really nice people and just as I mention it I’d like to say a big thanks to Josh and his other half for the whisky. Nice hearing their story as we spoke and knowing they were starting out in sailing in the very same kind of boat as my own a sigma 33. We spent some time here in Whitby before moving on down to Scarborough ...again this place is a bustling town it is nice but this just wasn’t for me I don’t like the hustle and bustle as I bought a sail boat to escape that.

SCRABSTER TO BLYTHE - ROUND BRITAIN

 SCRABSTER TO BLYTHE

Just to note some of the journey legs are a little out of sequence depending when the video was posted but we'll tidy that up later . The Jourmey Map shows you the legs as we round Britain in a Clockwise Direction. but we are on the way from Scrabster heading down the East Coast 

So on we go leaving the north coast of Scotland behind ..we pass through the Inner sound at the Pentland of Firth this place can be dangerous so timing means everything along with weather. We got it on a perfect day but it was still a bubbling pot of badness so take care here. We also past John O Groats the most north place on the uk mainland. As we swing down on to the east coast winds were changing all over the place the vhf forecasts were giving thunder and lighting storms it was nail biting stuff. Darren seen a few massive flashes while on watch. During the night I got a tiny bit sea sick due to a funny old swell but I beat it. How do you combat seasickness? What I liked about this coast was how well the fishermen marked there pots a top job to be honest. There was lots of pots about so I set the seed of doubt in Darrens head just before he went to sleep...I was about to play an evil trick on him...but what was it? As the days went on we lost all wind and Newcastle was off so we headed to Blyth. There wasn’t much going on here the marina was sort of shut down no showers are toilets but hey the guys about here was spot on and friendly. We got low on diesel so we were asking about were to get fuel but it was a kamel hike away to far to carry even for us...but we had a very kind gentleman who drove Darren down to get fuel...so it worked out well...The marina you can access all times of the tide pretty straight forward. You can get all you need in the town to resupply there is a pretty nice beach here to. Anyway let’s jump aboard and get some time at sea...

Scrabster Harbour

HEBRIDES AGAIN - AILSA CRAIG - AILLSE CREAG

 AILSA CRAIG 

Well Rounded Britain and have returned up to Arran . Thought I woould bring you this picture Ailsa Craig , which we could not land on , but thought with the growing number of hits on are Hebridean Adventures we would fill in with a little background on Ailsa Craig . Here goes

Aillse Creag 

The modern name of the island is an anglicisation of the Gaelic, Aillse Creag meaning "fairy rock"

Ailsa Craig is formed from a volcanic plug from a long extinct volcano believed to be over 500 million years old. It is an archetypal island mountain; a symmetrical cone of primitive rock jutting up from the sea 10 miles west of the south Ayrshire coastline.

Its located halfway between Glasgow and Belfast and is sometimes called " Paddys Milestone "

Alisa Craig is known particularly for two main assets. 1. It is the breeding ground for one of the largest colonies of gannets in the world and 2. it contains a most important 'blue hone' granite quarry, known the world over as the source of granite for curling stones. The lighthouse was built in 1883-6 by Thomas Stevenson.

GO FUND ME THANK YOUS

A Big Thanks to two more folk on the Go Fund me Page making this possible one Anon and to Tommy Stewart Thank You Both this really makes a difference in keeping the " Just Because " up and running and bringing you all of adventures on the sea 

Cape Wrath - Round Britain - 2020

 Cape Wrath 

In Case any one is confused Have posted the Videos a little ot of sequence this one obviously took us onward down the East Coast.. 

We gear up to round Britain’s Cape Horn but if I’m honest it was a walk in the park. We leave the beautiful anchorage and move to Kinlochbervie the last harbour on the mainland before rounding the cape. It had very friendly staff and it was a beautiful little place there is also a few anchorages around it.the approach is ok here to and it’s well sheltered. We moved of the next morning as the weather was perfect for hitting the cape as we approached the water was a little bubbly just letting you know what could happen here if it turned ..but if you wait on weather it’s an easy passage so don’t let the horror stories put you off just watch the weather and tides. Rounding this cape I felt very privileged she let me through with no drama but I can tell you this it was an awesome sight... after rounding it we got the chute up and started pushing along the north coast to an anchorage known as Talmine a beautiful little place on the right days ...again there is a few places round here were you can anchor it took us a few goes to get the hook to grab but once set she held well...some weed down there so bang the boat in reverse and make sure she is well caught. We spent one day here and moved of again to Scrabster the harbour guys were spot on but this wasn’t my type of place and if you need shopping it’s miles away... anyway enough talking from me. Hope you enjoy this leg of the voyage and thanks for staying onboard ⛵️

Cape Wrath


Cape Wrath Lighthouse is located at the most north westerly tip of mainland Britain, in the Durness parish of the county of Sutherland. The Cape is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as well as a Special Protection Area for birds.

Cape Wrath Lighthouse

Visitting Cape Wrath