Our sailing had always been limited a maximum of 9 days due to my job and as such we have only sailed the area between Dartmouth in the east and The Isles of Scilly in the west. Our only exception to this being Elektra’s delivery passage from Poole to Helford (165nm) over 2 days, stopping at Salcombe in March 2017.
Since the beginning of 2023, I have been semi-retired. I thought this would give us more time for sailing which it has but we still have to get back home for me to go and do some work, so still limited our time. Having left school at 16 on a Friday and started work the following Monday and now 65, I had been planning my “gap year” from April 2025 before becoming a OAP in 2026.
We talked and dreamed of taking a cruise from Cornwall north up the Irish Sea, West Coast of Scotland, Orkney, Inverness, back down the Caledonian Canal, to the west coast again and then the west coast of Ireland, Scilly and back home over 2 years. But by 2025 we are both not as able as we used to be, and it seemed our plan was too much!
So the new plan is to sail to The Isles of Scilly in May, wait there for the right weather to cross to Baltimore, SW Ireland. North as far as Dingle before exploring the harbours and anchorages south and east to Kilmore Quay over the following 2 months. Then cross to Melford Haven and home via Lundy, Padstow, Lands End. It’s about 900-1000nm in total, we are planning to get back sometime in August. There are a few challenges for us, firstly the crossing of 150nm (30-33hrs) from Scilly to Baltimore (we like day sailing and being at anchor at night! Lol.) We like the idea of cruising the coast of Ireland. But once we have passaged east to Kilmore Quay, there will be the challenge of the crossing to Melford Haven and big tides. We would like to visit Lundy but this will depend on weather.
Over the last year I have been buying the charts and pilot books which I will need during our cruise, this Chrismas the family bought me the Reeds 2025 Western Almanac to complete the list.
In February Vicki had a cancer scare, but small, found early, and opperatied on quickly, she was given the all clear by the end of the 3rd week in March. But with the radio treatment doctor apointment put off until the 3rd week of April, we were still uncertain if it was a go or no-go! At the apointment the doctor said the treatment will possibly be the beginning of June because they are very busy. We knew then our Ireland plain wasn’t going to happen this year.
Love Sailing 