Basenthwaite lake (Lake District)

[Robmac]

Sadly I never learned to sail so have always had motor boats. 22 cabin cruisers up until now. I sold my last one last year but I am getting the itch again now.

This is the one I am test driving in a few weeks. I plan to put some metal hoops on the gunnels so I can throw a canvas over sort of Thames skiff style and I can then camp on the boat.

 

[barryd]

Did a lot of sailing and believe it or not windsurfing in the lakes but always owned powerboats myself. Ullswater is an extremely flukey lake. Especially around Howtown bay. Really challenging. A fair few times I remember rescuing people who got into trouble on Windsurfers, dinghies etc out there. Got rescued myself once on Derwent water on a Lazer I think it was. Wind got up to a gusty force 8 or something ridiculous. I spent about an hour trying to get back to the Marina at the top end of the lake but reluctantly caved when the rescue boat arrived and suggested I just give it up as a bad job.

 

[Tonybvi]

Sadly I never learned to sail so have always had motor boats. 22 cabin cruisers up until now. I sold my last one last year but I am getting the itch again now.

This is the one I am test driving in a few weeks. I plan to put some metal hoops on the gunnels so I can throw a canvas over sort of Thames skiff style and I can then camp on the boat.

I just love sailing and have spent a lot of hours on the water, even having to be rescued from a 42ft yacht by 3 lifeboats, a coastguard cutter and a helicopter off Arran! However when we moved to Norway it was more suited to motor boating so we started off with an 18ft Askeladden with outboard then graduated to an inboard Yanmar powered Marex 24 snekke. Great times but back to yachting when we came back to Scotland.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Ferox Trout

View attachment 127424

fuggly bugger.

 

[Robmac]

I just love sailing and have spent a lot of hours on the water, even having to be rescued from a 42ft yacht by 3 lifeboats, a coastguard cutter and a helicopter off Arran! However when we moved to Norway it was more suited to motor boating so we started off with an 18ft Askeladden with outboard then graduated to an inboard Yanmar powered Marex 24 snekke. Great times but back to yachting when we came back to Scotland.

I tried sailing twice. Once in a boat you probably wouldn't be keen on as it was a hybrid and not really for purists (MacGregor 26). We sailed for a couple of hours from Falmouth which was lovely but I'm told it's not the best of sailing boats due to it being a compromise. We then ditched the water ballast and motored for a couple of hours getting an impressive 20 knots from the 50 hp outboard. It was a very roomy boat for a 26 footer but I didn't buy it in the end as it wasn't really suitable for our local river.

The second time my wife bought me a days sailing in the Solent for my 50th birthday on a 40 footer. We both went along with my mate and his wife and again, a lovely day with nice food and drink laid on when we moored in the harbour at the Isle of Wight. The skipper and 1 crew member did most of the work though. We then stayed in a hotel in Lymington overnight. I really do see the appeal of sailing but I should have learned how to do it at an early age.