Lizzie May Scottish Weekend Breaks

Voyage Number	LM915
Voyage price	£320
Voyage Dates	11/09/2009 - 10:00 - 13/09/2009 - 17:00
Depart from	Largs
Finishing Port	Largs
Voyage area	Scotland
Voyage type	Short Breaks , Weekend Voyages
Vessel	Lizzie May
Availability	Fully booked

Voyage Description

Pilot Cutter Sailing Expedition– 6 day voyage SW Scotland

The Firth of Clyde is one of the largest areas of sheltered deep water in the British Isles. As a result it has been a major centre for recreational boating for over a century.

Lizzie May is based at Largs during the start and end of the season so this really is her local sailing ground and you can benefit from the skippers local knowledge in this wonderful scenic crusing ground. Close enough to Glasgow and Edinburgh for a long weekend away on a real working wooden boat - there is also plenty of potential for a longer sailing expedition. You don't need to sail far from Largs to feel you are out in nature's vast playground.

The Clyde’s long lochs penetrate far into the highlands, whilst its outer reaches comprise of a scattering of islands, each different in size and character. The jagged mountain ridge skyline of Arran dominates the outer approaches and provides a classic brooding backdrop to Lizzie May’s cream sails. There are several spectacular anchorages like Brodick Bay.

 Bute is smaller and more pastoral, whilst the islands of Great and Little Cumbrae can be circum- navigated in an afternoon. Jump off the wooden quay in Millport with the local boys and girls if you dare. A longer sail in the lee of the Mull of Kintyre peninsula reaches the unique Isle of Sanda. Its pub the ‘Byron Darnton’ is busy with visiting sailors in summer, even though the island has no permanent population. Another offshore foray is to the distinctive lump of Ailsa Craig and home to a huge Gannet colony.

 Sail natures wild playground ….where  the mountains touch the sea

The waters off Western Scotland are rich ecosystems with abundant seafood that matches anything France has to offer. If the opportunity presents itself, and it usually does if you sail a pretty boat, barter with local fishermen for prawns, langoustines and scallops. Its not that we don’t feed you freshly cooked meals on Lizzie May, but to experience seafood fresh from the sea is part of the magic of sailing in Scotland.

Due to the prolific life under the surface and hundreds of miles of remote coastlines, the Hebrides, Western Isles and approaches to the Clyde are great places to spot seals, otters, minke whales, basking sharks and dolphins. The mountains provide inaccessible eyries for Sea Eagles, Golden Eagles, Choughs, Peregrine Falcons and cliffs are home to many large breeding colonies of seabirds like gannets and puffins.

The weather in Scotland can range from shimmering heat haze on white sand beaches, to dramatic rain storms, sleet and snow or white capped waves and vivid blue skies. It changes….and it changes fast.

Seascapes & Mountains on your doorstep

Why travel to New Zealand or Alaska for awesome skies, moody mountains, wild winds and crystal clear light quality. The Western Isles can take you on an adventure to inspire artist and photographers in a long weekend.

See itinerary page

Scottish Weekend Voyages on a Pilot Cutter - Itinerary

DAY ONE (usually Friday)

Lizzie May is based at Largs during the spring and autumn. The approaches to the Clyde, offshore waters around Arran and lochs offer a great cruising ground at these times of year. It is easy to get to by public transport – and the best place in Scotland to be based if you want to be to be able to sail whatever the weather.

Voyages start at 1000hrs in Largs which is well served by public transport so you could enjoy a city break in Glasgow on the way to your weekend sailing adventure. Lizzie May’s skipper will explain the plan for the next few days, dependant on weather and tides. After safety briefings, you will be introduced to the traditional sailing skills need to sail Lizzie May. Apart from her barrel windlass there are no winches on board – just blocks and tackles. She has five sails for fast light wind sailing. As her design is based on the tough pilot cutters that operated in the long ocean swells off the Isles of Scilly, she is a great boat to go out in the wilder weather and feel like you are on a much larger vessel.

The beauty of sailing in Scotland amongst the islands and lochs is that there are nearly always several deep water routes you can chose, and an infinite number of anchorages where you may often be the only boat.

A good taster for the first day with lots of sail handling and getting used to sailing in flat water and narrow channels is to sail around the Island of Bute, perhaps tucking into the port of Rothsay for the night. (check out the men’s Victorian lavatory on the seafront. It has goldfish tanks around the cisterns and sells postcards!). Sailing anticlockwise around the Kyles of Bute you could end with a blast across Loch Fyne to the quaint fishing port of Tarbert. Here the Kintyre peninsula is almost cut in half.

DAY TWO (Saturday)

Although you will see more yachts than in the Outer Hebrides or around Skye, the outer approaches to the Clyde still have a wild offshore feel to much of the sailing grounds. The jagged mountain ridge skyline of Arran dominates the outer approaches and provides a classic brooding backdrop to Lizzie May’s cream sails. Sandy anchorages like Brodick Bay have steep slopes above them like Goat Fell, and often strong winds blast down off the mountain offering exciting sailing along the Arran coast.
Day two might be a good day to sail down between the Mull of Kintyre peninsula and Arran to the unusual island of Sanda with its lighthouse, pub, but no permanent resident population. Another more remote alternative is to anchor off the strange lump of rock known as Paddy’s milestone by those travelling between Glasgow and Ireland. Otherwise known as Ailsa Craig this large seastack is a huge gannet colony. Classic Sailing’s Director Debbie climbed to the top many years ago, but landing is not always allowed.

DAY THREE (Sunday)

If the wind is from the south or west you could have a cracking sail back and around the southern end of Arran. It you make an early start, or are beginning from an anchorage a bit closer, perhaps you might fit in a lunchtime anchorage in Lamlash or Brodick Bay, or even a swim in late summer / autumn, before returning to Largs for 1700hrs. Whatever you do it will always feel like a longer holiday because you have fitted so many experiences into 3 days, from the first apprehension about joining the boat, to a return to port feeling like a true sailor.

See port details pages for travel tips and ideas to extend your short break.

Getting to Glasgow

By Road

Head up the M6 into Scotland it becomes the M74 which takes you right into Glasgow.

By Coach

National Express

By Train

Raileasy

By Plane

Accommodation
There are lots of places to stay in Glasgow Visit Scotland has a good local directory.
 

Getting to Glasgow

By Road

Head up the M6 into Scotland it becomes the M74 which takes you right into Glasgow.

By Coach

National Express

By Train

Raileasy

By Plane

Accommodation
There are lots of places to stay in Glasgow Visit Scotland has a good local directory.
 

Lizzie May sister ship to Eve of St Mawes sailing together in the Fal with St Mawes in the background.

Click here for all Lizzie May Voyages 2010

Lizzie May—Specifications

Lizzie May was built new in 1999 by Luke Powell of Working Sail using traditional construction techniques to create a wooden pilot cutter with real character. Her frames are oak with larch planking and hardwood deck. Lizzie is 42ft on deck with a long 13ft bowsprit and lofty topmast. Her beam of 12ft gives her plenty of flat deck space and her low profile coach house is barely visible so all onlookers see is a traditional boat with lovely sheer lines.

The coach house also provides outward facing seating so you wont miss the scenery. All the rigging is ash blocks and tackles so you wont be sitting down for long.

There are no winches on board so everybody keeps warm and active pulling together. Sailing in Scotland requires a good anchor and true to her working boat origins Lizzie May has a barrel windlass to raise the anchor.

The vessel weighs 18 ton with a long deep keel—ideal for open sea sailing. The large mainsail can be slab reefed and even the staysail can be reefed in strong winds, so with a storm jib too she can make the most of the wilder days.. On light wind days she can glide up the lochs and narrows with a large flying jib and gaff topsail. 

Below Decks

Below decks is very light with loads of character and varnished wood. There are two single berths in the forepeak, three berths in the saloon and a double berth in the starboard quarter with limited headroom (back of the boat). Please remember this is only a 42ft boat with an elegant raked stern so spaces are communal, there are a few low beams and limited storage.

Lizzie has a lovely oak table, a small heater in the saloon, hot and cold water and WC, galley and modern navigational equipment. She carries all safety equipment required for her commercial coding under the MCA (Marine Coastguard Agency) and licensed to sail offshore up to 60 miles from a safe haven.

Lizzie May Skipper Jerry & Skipper- Chef Laurie

Jerry Headley bought Lizzie May in 2007- with the intention of setting up his own charter company, after a rather life changing voyage to Paimpol Shanty Festival on 'Eve of St Mawes.' He was not the only Eve crew on that voyage to find themselves owning a classic wooden boat. (Classical Guitarist James Boyd bought classic yacht Concord - currently nominated for Classic Boat Magazine Restoration of the Year)
 

Jerry's enthusiasm for pilot cutters shone through and it was evident he would make a sociable and relaxed charter skipper. Classic Sailing were thrilled to work with Jerry to establish Eve's  'sister ship' on the West Coast of Scotland, near Jerry's home.  Either Jerry or Laurie Mills will usually be your skipper on Lizzie May.

Skipper Laurie is also a chef. When he is not on Lizzie May he has his own company cooking private dinner parties and performing chef cooking demonstrations at farmers markets with fresh organic produce. Laurie is a former restauranteur and made his name running an award winning restaurant in Royal Deeside.

Photo: Jerry - mid English Channel on Eve's bowsprit  2007

What to bring

Boats have very limited stowage space so please limit yourself to one soft collapsible bag or rucksack (not a suitcase).
Bring a sleeping bag (we provide pillows and pillow cases).
We can supply waterproof jackets and trousers but you may prefer to bring your own if you have them.
A hat for sun or cold weather.
Swimsuit, towel and sun cream.
Flat shoes with a good grip e.g. trainers or deck shoes. Sailing boots or wellies as the sea can wash over the deck (an alternative to boots in the summer is another pair of trainers in case the first pair get wet).
A small rucksack is useful for going ashore.
Camera, binoculars, sketchbook and a good read.
Any medication, spare spectacles, seasick tablets (check which brand with your doctor if you are on any medication)

RYA Cruising Logbook if you are keeping a record of your experience for qualification purposes.

Musical instruments are most welcome.
 

Click here for all Lizzie May Voyages 2010