BLUEMOMENT

We are planning a crossing from Newfoundland within the next two years and would like to cruise Northern Europe. The crossing would likely take place in August and we would like to winter aboard our sailboat in the vicinity.

Does anybody have any suggestions as to which anchorages/moorings/marinas are suitable? Cost is, of course, a consideration. The boat is heated so we do not need to plug in at a dock.

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Corbin 39

Hello and welcome - before all the dopey idiots who frequent this site start responding - you could probably do to be a bit more specific. Are you talking Britain (as part of Europe) Mainland Europe (as part of Europe)
Scotland ( as part of Scotland) Ireland (as part of the British Isles and therefore technically Europe?

You will notice Wales has been left out - this is for your own good.

Similarly, England - I left this out because no-one in their right minds would sail all the way from over there and ignore Ireland or Scotland and go to England (or Wales)

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Regards

http://www.yotblog.com/claymore/

Am I correct in believing that the 2nd T in Toronto is silent? I work with someone who has spent 3 weeks there and returned with the pronounciation "Toronno"

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Regards

http://www.yotblog.com/claymore/

Thanks for the warm welcome and response. While we hope to cruise in all the areas you mention (even England and Wales ) - and let's not forget Iceland and the Baltic - what I would specifically like to know is where would we best situate ourselves for the winter given that we would cross in late August and will be living aboard. Considerations would be cost, ice, access to amenities, things to see, etc. Thanks.

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Corbin 39

After reviewing my pronunciation, I would have to say that the T is silent although it shouldn't be.

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Corbin 39

After the erudite and illuminating discourse on pronunciation let me try to answer some of this chentleman's questions...................................

It all depends on what you are used to.

On the whole the further north you are, and the closer to Newfoundland then the colder and longer the winter, but unless you are in Northern Norway or the Baltic you are unlikely to be iced in.

So to put it briefly, not many winter liveaboards in Scotland, some in England more in France and loads in the Med. I suspect costs follow the same sort of curve but I hear the eastern Med is less expensive than the western part

Perhaps the denizens of this place http://www.ybw.com/forums/postlist.php/ ... LIVEABOARD may be able to advise you

Are you planning to sail directly from Newfoundland to the British Isles/Scandanavia or to go via the Azores? If the latter you have several options: -
From the Azores sail slightly south of east and make for southern Portugal or Spain, its relatively warm, has several marinas with large liveaboard communities which are also fairly cheap (Lagos, Portimao) or alternatively, Alvor just west of Portimao offers a safe winter anchorage; the down side is that if your plans for next year are ‘northern’ Europe, you’ll have a long windward beat up the west side of Portugal to get there; perceived wisdom is to either set of early in the season or go via the Azores.
Option two would be to sail slightly north of east from the Azores to NW Spain/SW France, this wouldn’t be as warm and will be a lot wetter, but it does save you a 600 mile beat next spring. There are livaboard communities in La Coruna/Bayona in Spain or Rochefort/La Rochelle on the French coast, alternatively the Rias of NW Spain or Hendaye/Arcachon in France will provide bullet proof anchorages.
A bit further north again will take you to Brittany in France, this gets you the top side of the Bay of Biscay so you’re well placed for next summers cruising and the temperature doesn’t step down again significantly provided you stay south of the Pointe de Penmarche (47.48N) A choice of marinas (Vanne, Concarneau and L’Orient are personal favourites) or safe anchorages in the Gulf de Morbihan or up the rivers from either Benodet or L’Orient.
The north of Brittany and English Channel are cooler/wetter still, though I’m they’d still be considered fairly mild by Newfoundland standards. There are plenty of pleasant harbours and marinas to choose from on either side, or there’s the Channel Islands in between. As a general rule the marinas on the French side will be cheaper, though there’s no language barrier on the British side of the water, which is helpful if you want to work/earn over the winter. We actually spent one winter living aboard in central London which was lots of fun and whilst relatively expensive; this cost was more offset by the easy availability of well paid work. For anchorages I’d suggest up the rivers Rance or Seine in France or the Tamar and Truro on the English south coast.
You could head further north still, but need to be careful as once you start going up the North & Irish Seas you quickly reach Scotish waters and things then get really grim. Ravaging wolves and feral haggis, an insurmountable language barrier; weather wise its freezing cold, pouring rain and howling winds – that’s just in the summer, I dread to think what winter’s like! I have some charts of the area though they’re not very detailed, mainly warnings along the lines of ‘here there be dragons’

come to west scotland. many places to anchor. probably many places to take up a mooring ( most moored yachts here are taken ashore for the winter and the owners would be delighted to rent to you for a modest sum, maybe even for free ) ample pontoon berths, lots to do and see.
( i am not connected in any way to visit scotland )
if you commit - lots of detailed info to follow.

Thank you all for the great feedback. We are in the early stages of planning, so it will be a while before we decide.

We would probably sail straight across and not via the Azores (eventually get to them on the way to the Med).

The problem is that life is too short, and I am too curious.

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Corbin 39

In the baltic boats arnt left in the water becouse of the ice.In some ports air or water is pumped through pipes on the harbour bottem to stop ice forming.

In other ports liveaboards(very very few)leave their boats in but there GRP or metal never today wood (in the past some wooden boats were left in without sinking in spring)

North of Brest is cold all year round!There seems to be good reason why so many boats are crammed into certain parts of the med.The Atlantic coast of France is great it dose have a lot to offer even tides which can be a blessing or curse

Belgium has the best food towns villages & canals France the best Atlantic coast France & Italy the best wine Belgium the best bier Holland the most comfortable prison cell for a night or two and the worst gin

Europe is very varied,to really see it the canals are ideal Poland is not yet spoilt

Pah!

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Blog Greyreef

Calais has a good marina, close to the town, and good facilities. Good access to other parts by road or rail.

Hi we live aboard our Colvic Watson 32 in Morlaix Brittany at a cost of €1200 for a year that includes electric and water

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Sal & I live aboard our Colvic Watson 32 in France as we have retired from the channel Islands. I have been sailing for 55 years and Sal for 17 years.