| Starting Port |
Starting Time |
Finishing Port |
Finishing Time |
Number of Nights |
| Oban |
17:00 |
Bristol |
10:00 |
11 |
Voyage Summary
Aimed at the more experienced sailor or those wanting to throw themselves in at the deep end! 450 nautical miles, four countries and eleven nights! With possible stops in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, you’ll certainly see the British Isles. We’ve left plenty of time so it won’t be all about the sailing but we do have to get there! You can expect some more challenging sailing and an expectation that you’ll get involved in standing watches and sailing Irene.
Sailing Highlights
This is a fabulous opportunity to get some real miles under your keel. You can expect to learn a lot from the crew about sailing a traditional ship, navigation and passage planning. Our team love sharing their knowledge so if you’re looking to build you experience for an RYA or MCA qualification, this is a great chance.
This passage starts off with some stunning scenery and provides an opportunity to get to grips with Irene as we set off in the relatively sheltered waters of the Western Isles of Scotland. Heading out of Oban, we’ll turn our bows south to pass through the Sound of Jura and down towards Islay.
As we clear the Whisky Isles and head round the Kintyre Peninsular, we’ll start to experience the swell that can build in the North Channel as the North Atlantic is squeezed between Ireland and Scotland. In the wrong conditions, this can make life a little uncomfortable but it’s only 12nm between the two coasts so the pain is short lived!
We’ll then head south east towards the Isle of Man. The tides run hard around the Calf of Man so careful planning is needed if we stay close to the shore. A great opportunity to practice your passage planning with the skipper! It is possible to pass between the Calf and the main island but the passage is only 12 metres wide which might make life a little more exciting than we would really like!
Once the Isle of Man is in our wake, we’ll shape a course for Wales. The Lleyn Peninsular in North Wales, and Bardsey Island just off it, are notable milestones but can throw up some nasty overfalls if we pass too close. Check out the chart here – at the right state of tide, passing to the east of Bardsey is possible to get a great view of this island.
We’ll cross Cardigan Bay and pass round St David’s Head. The Bishops and Clerks rocks are worth avoiding here! Something not every ship in history has managed. It’s then past the nature reserves of Skokholm and Skomer islands before we head into Milford Haven for a quick stop and refresh.
Once out of Milford Haven we stop heading south and turn our bows east to head up the Bristol Channel. The water here turns a muddy brown and the tides become ferocious. However, it was in these waters that Irene plied her trade for half a century and she knows them well. No point in fighting the tides – we’ll do our best to work them all the way up to Bristol.
The passage up to Avon Gorge is a fascinating trip and provides a real contrast to the open waters and swell of the rest of the voyage. Relax and enjoy the passage – there is something very special about making it in a historic sailing vessel.
Itinerary Details
Ports that we visit will be very dependant on prevailing conditions at the time. We won’t want to stray too far from the rhumb line but if conditions turn against us we may be forced to dodge the worst of it.
Some possible ports include:
Port Ellen: Islay
Bangor or Belfast: Northern Ireland
Port St Mary: Isle of Man
Holyhead: Anglesey
Milford Haven: Wales
Bristol: England
