Chat GPT's Passage Plan

PROMPT:

Is it possible to sail around the UK with a dog? We hope to sail at an average of 6 knots, and our dog Svea needs a break at least every 10 hours. We want to stay in marinas overnight so Svea can have a walk. The yacht is 10m in length and has a draft of 1.6m. The direction is anticlockwise, and we will travel through the Caledonian Canal.

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ANSWER:

Yes, you can sail around the UK with a dog, traveling at about 6 knots (around 6 nautical miles per hour), and aiming to find a marina every ~60 miles — but it will require careful planning.

Here’s a breakdown:

1. Speed and Distance:

   At 6 knots, you cover about 60 nautical miles in 10 hours of sailing. That’s a reasonable day’s sail, but weather, tides, and sea state around the UK can vary dramatically, especially around headlands like Land’s End, the Lizard, and parts of Scotland.

2. Dog Considerations:

   • Dogs can absolutely live aboard, but they’ll need regular shore breaks (every day or two ideally) to exercise and toilet.

   • Some people train their dogs to use a patch of artificial turf or a special mat on the boat.

   • Life jackets for dogs are a must.

3. Marina Availability:

   • Along the south coast (e.g., Solent, Devon, Cornwall), East Coast, and much of Wales, marinas are plentiful and usually within 30–40 miles of each other.

   • Scotland’s west coast and parts of the north (around Cape Wrath) have fewer marinas, and distances between safe stops could be much more than 60 miles. There are good anchorages, though — if you’re happy to anchor out, that adds flexibility.

   • You’d need a detailed plan for the Scottish Highlands and the Irish Sea parts especially.

Would you like me to sketch a rough idea?

Yes please - Anticlockwies, starting on May 20th 2025. 

Thanks, 

Got it — anti-clockwise starting from Shotley on 20th June 2025, going north first, then west across Scotland via the Caledonian Canal — much better for summer prevailing winds (southwesterlies).  Here’s high-level plan, aiming for 60 nautical miles per day (or less if sensible), marina or safe harbour stops, and considering a dog onboard:

Phase 1: Shotley to the Caledonian Canal (East Coast)

• Day 1: Shotley → Lowestoft (Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club) (~55 NM)

  (Gentle first leg up the East Anglia coast.)

• Day 2: Lowestoft → Great Yarmouth (Haven Bridge or marina) (~20 NM) (Short day; strong tides.

  (Optional: Can combine with Day 1 if pushing on.)

• Day 3: Great Yarmouth → Wells-next-the-Sea (~50 NM)

  (Careful with Wells bar at entrance; need right tide.)

• Day 4: Wells-next-the-Sea → Grimsby (~60 N

  (Cross The Wash; Grimsby has a good marina.)

• Day 5: Grimsby → Scarborough (~60 NM)

  (Open coastline; no easy stops between.)

• Day 6: Scarborough → Hartlepool Marina (~55 NM)

• Day 7: Hartlepool → Blyth (Royal Northumberland Yacht Club) (~50 NM)

• Day 8: Blyth → Eyemouth (~60 NM)

  (Cross into Scotland.)

• Day 9: Eyemouth → Arbroath (~55 NM)

  (Nice safe marina, tidal access.)

• Day 10: Arbroath → Peterhead (~60 NM)

  (North around Aberdeen.)

• Day 11: Peterhead → Whitehills (~45 NM)

   

  (Or push to Lossiemouth ~60 NM.)

Phase 2: Enter Caledonian Canal

• Day 12: Whitehills/Lossiemouth → Inverness (~50 NM)

   

  (Head for the Caledonian Canal sea lock at Clachnaharry.)

• Day 13–16: Transit the Caledonian Canal (~60 NM total)

  • Loch Ness, Loch Oich, Loch Lochy — stunning, easy days, many dog-walking spots.

  • Marinas at Muirtown, Dochgarroch, Fort Augustus, Laggan Locks, Banavie.

(You’ll probably spend 3–4 days through the canal, depending on lock timings.)

Phase 3: West Coast of Scotland and South

• Day 17: Corpach (end of canal) → Oban (~55 NM)

  • Or anchor en route at Loch Linnhe if needed.

• Day 18: Oban → Crinan (~50 NM)

  (Optional: Take the Crinan Canal for shortcut, dog-friendly.)

• Day 19: Crinan → Campbeltown (~55 NM)

• Day 20: Campbeltown → Bangor, Northern Ireland (~55 NM)

  (Crossing the North Channel.)

• Day 21: Bangor → Peel, Isle of Man (~60 NM)

  (Or via Ardglass then Peel.)

• Day 22: Peel → Holyhead (Anglesey) (~55 NM)

Phase 4: Return to Shotley

• Anglesey to Wales’ coast:

  • Holyhead → Pwllheli (~50 NM)

  • Pwllheli → Aberystwyth (~55 NM)

  • Aberystwyth → Milford Haven (~60 NM)

• Milford Haven → Bristol Channel:

  • Milford → Swansea (~55 NM)

  • Swansea → Cardiff (~45 NM)

• South Coast:

  • Cardiff → Ilfracombe (~40 NM)

  • Ilfracombe → Padstow (~50 NM)

• Land’s End rounding:

  • Padstow → Newlyn (~60 NM)

  • Newlyn → Falmouth (~30 NM)

• Then East Coast:

  • Falmouth → Plymouth (~40 NM)

  • Plymouth → Weymouth (~55 NM)

  • Weymouth → Portsmouth (~60 NM)

  • Portsmouth → Shotley (~100 NM, might split at Brighton or Eastbourne.)

     

Important Notes

• Tides are crucial on the east and west coasts.

• Weather windows are essential around headlands (e.g., Land’s End, North Scotland).

• Dog facilities: Most marinas in the UK are dog-friendly; just call ahead.

• Rest days: You’ll definitely want some; maybe every 3–4 days minimum.

Would you also like me to build a simple calendar schedule (like dates for each stop based on 20th May start)?

Or a rough equipment checklist for sailing with a dog?

(That would help you plan provisioning and gear.)

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