Welcome to Dogsail - The Plan

The Plan: Sail around the British Isles with a Bernese Mountain dog, stopping approximately every 60 miles and enjoy local hospitality, fantastic scenery and learn more about the culture within our fantastic islands.

Sailing around the UK is an adventure that has been on Pete's bucket-list for years. Add a dog to the crew, and it becomes a truly unforgettable voyage. Planning is key to a safe and successful circumnavigation, especially when your first mate barks instead of talks and your second mate Jen will only join the crew for the odd weekend in June and July and then full time in August. The Planning took about three months and started with one big question ... which way round?

⛵️ The Route: Why Anticlockwise?

Having considered both directions, Pete chose an anticlockwise route means tackling the UK’s strongest tidal areas early, while energy and supplies are high. We will start from Shotley, exit the Orwell into the North Sea, and work our way North:

• Up the East Coast of England

• Into Scotland’s East and North (via Inverness) then through the Caledonian canal

• Down the West Coast, past the Hebrides, Ireland, and Wales

• Through the Bristol Channel and along the South West Coast

• Round the Lizard and cruise along the South Coast, enjoying the IOW and the Solent

• Returning to Shotley through the English Channel

  
  

This direction gives better options for hiding from prevailing southwesterlies and allows for more time-sensitive planning in tidal choke points like the Pentland Firth and North Channel early in the voyage. Having bought every Imray chart possible for the trip, Pete spent a weekend meticulously planning the journey. The plan can be found on the Port to Port page of this blog.

Boat maintenance

Before setting sail, we made sure Rimau was in an excellent condition. As well as spending many hours sanding and varnishing the guard rails, a thorough inspection of the hull, sails, rigging, and engine took place in order to address any maintenance issues. Safety equipment such as life jackets, flares, and a first aid kit were checked and location assessed for easily accessible in case of emergencies.

🧭 Passage Planning & Kit

Charts & Tides

• The UK coastline is full of shifting sandbanks, fast currents, and overfalls. Both Jen and Pete use Navionics and Imray charts plus local almanacs. Local knowledge is key too, as well as chatting to sailors circumnavigating in the other direction.

• Know your tidal gates: navigating the Thames Estuary, Farne Islands, and especially the Pentland Firth needs precision.

Weather Windows

• Use AI-powered tools like PredictWind or Windy, but also talk to locals and harbourmasters—especially in remote areas like the West Coast of Scotland will be essential. Apps and subscriptions were updated.

• Download GRIB files for offline planning throughout the trip.

📅 Timing

• Most circumnavigations take 2–4 months depending on speed, weather, and how many “wow” stops you add in. We aimed for a spring start—beginning of June through to September—for longer days and more stable conditions. Jen starts a new job mid October so this window seemed long enough to explore Britain as well as sail.

• We are ready to pause for gales. We are fortunate that we have the flexibility to change plans if needed.

❤️ Final Thoughts

Sailing around the UK is a feat of seamanship, patience, and partnership—especially when your crew has fur and floppy ears. But with smart planning, safety at the forefront, and plenty of treats on board, it’s not just doable—it’s unforgettable.

So pack your kibble, hoist the sails, and let the tailwinds (and tail wags) guide you. Shotley is just the start of something incredible.