This posting is to everyone we know who might be interested in joining us for any part of this exciting future epic sailing adventure.
We have decided to vacate our lovely mooring in Chichester for the next 12 months, at least, and make our way slowly to Scotland.
Some of you may hopefully be interested in a week or two's sailing, others perhaps a chance to motor through the Crinian Canal or to join us for a drink on the Welsh coast. Anyway, please get out your diaries and see if any part of what we are planning looks like something you might try. Even just joining us for a weekend or a few days would be good.
The plan .. all of which is subject to weather, tides and the captain's whim ... is as follows (roughly).
First Leg Chichester to Milford Haven (2 weeks)
Leave Chichester 11 April 2012 heading West.
Sail via some of the following places in approximately the following order:
Solent, Yarmouth, Portland / Weymouth, Dartmouth, Plymouth, Falmouth, Newlyn, Isles of Scilly or Padstow, possibly Lundy Island ..to Milford Haven.
Return home by train from Milford Haven on 26th April
Feed the dogs, go to work, cut the grass and get warm and dry.
Second Leg Milford Haven to South West Ireland (Cork) (4 weeks)
Train to Milford, Friday 4th May
Sail to Ireland via some of the following places in probably not this order:
Kilmore Quay, Waterford /Dunmore East, Yougal (not to be confused with "Yoghurt" which is in Denmark), Kinsale, Glandore, Baltimore, Fastnet (!) , Schull, Crookhaven, Bantry Bay, Kenmare River, Dingle Bay and back to Cork.
Return home by air from Cork on 30 May.
Feed the dogs, go to work, cut the grass and get warm and dry.
Third Leg Cork to Belfast (3 weeks)
Plane to Cork 13 June
Sail via some of the following:
Yougal, Waterford, Wexford, Arklow, Wicklow, Dublin, Malahide, Carlingford Lough, Ardglass (as opposed to "Aardvark" which is a nocturnal mammal native to Africa), Strangford Lough, Belfast Lough.
Return home by air from Belfast on 4th July.
Shoot the dogs, go to work, cut the grass and get warm and dry.
Fourth Leg Belfast to Portavadie (4 weeks)
Fly to Belfast 19 July
Sail via some of the following (this bit needs a lot more planning):
Larne, Red Bay, Mull of Kintyre, Islay, Jura, The Crinian Canal, Loch Fyne to Portavadie.
Return home by air from Glasgow on 16 August (leaving the boat in Scotland for the winter)
Buy a new dog, resign from work, kill the grass, plan next years Scotland Cruise.
Anyway, anyone who can join us for any of this would be very welcome.
Apart from your company and mutual entertainment, we especially need extra crew for the bit across the Bristol Channel that is, Falmouth via The Isles of Scilly and Lundy to Milford Haven. Also, I understand that the Crinian Canal is difficult without extra helpers (no sailing experience required for this bit however).
