We will set off on the 1st May bank holiday from Gosport on a trip that will see us sail about 2000 miles around our big island. On the first day we will set off on the high seas and make it all the way to Yarmouth (on the Isle of Wight). But unlike the Cunnard ship which planned to go round the world and only managed to circle the Isle of Wight - we do plan to go further a field. Yarmouth as well as being a very attractive little town, is also a convenient waiting point to catch the tide through the Needles. The tide races through these narrows - so it is vital to plan the tides carefully - our average speed is usually about 5 knots and so if you don't get the tides right you can go backwards. There will be several other tidal gates we have to get right:

Lands End,
Jack Sound and the Bitches (SW corner of Wales)
South Stack (Anglesey)
Mull of Galloway (SW Scotland)
the North Channel (between N Ireland and Scotland),
Ardnamurchan Point (west coast Scotland),
Pentland Firth - where the tide can be as much as 12 knots at springs.

We are really looking forward to the trip, the chance to take a break from work, improve our sailing skills, undertake some challenging navigation and to see some beautiful parts of our coastline. We will keep the night sailing to a minimum and coast hop. We will keep the web up to date so you can follow our progress - thanks to Mags's brother Sandy for setting this up. We are in the middle of planning at the moment - there are many things that have to be sorted out - what charts to take, what to do with mail, etc. Magoo (our Welsh Springer) is off up to Scotland to stay with Mags's sister, as we didn't think he would appreciate the trip - he is now the grand old age of 14, plus he does get sea sick. But then so does Mags - so we will be carrying out an experiment on which pills work the best! Though you do get used to the motion and develop sea legs (or so I keep telling her)... Though Mags is the only person I know that has actually been physically land sick. We are also thinking about what to take, as we are not racing we can have some luxuries - the BBQ has been bought and the odd Sudoku book packed.

We aim to be cruising the west coast of Scotland in June, Orkneys and east coast of Scotland in July and August will see us down the east coast of England. We should be back in sunny Gosport about 2nd-3rd week in August, as I will be back at work in September and hopefully Mags will have a job starting then.