Celtic

The history of the Western Isles is fascinating but complex – rarely taught in schools and often a mystery even to Scots.  The Vikings travelled (marauded!) and settled extensively across Celtic waters – including what is now Scotland, Ireland and the many islands, including the Isle of Man.  Ownership was disputed between the King of Norway and the emergent Scottish Kings - with the fiercely independent Lords of the Isles dominating the area .

Simon and Fiona Hampton-Matthews recount a tale of a loop around the top of Scotland with the ship's cat, wildlife in unexpected places, an unintended extensive exploration of Stromness and a broken water pump.

CA President Robin Baron will talk about cruising Scilly. (NEVER the Scillies!) This archipelago out into the Atlantic, off the SW tip of Cornwall, provides a delightful cruising area. The weather is generally mild and the islands varied and peaceful. There are plentiful sheltered anchorages but unfortunately none of which are sheltered from all wind directions and so you need to keep a keen eye on the weather forecast and be prepared to move.

This year we will be exploring the full range of the beautiful Celtic waters, including the less frequently visited Western edges!   Speakers will include:-

An interactive Chat & Share session focussed on Cruising in Scotland.

Rather than a formal presentation, this is intended as an opportunity for CA members who have cruised these waters, or are thinking of doing so, to get together via Zoom to discuss:

     >  Places they have been to that they would recommend visiting – or avoiding!

Mark’s undertook a four year quest to visit every HM around Great Britain
and its offshore Islands and raise funds for the Seafarers’ Trust along the way. In 2023 he turned his attention to Ireland and was so impressed that he is already planning a return visit. Find out why he loved it so much, what not to miss and how to make it as enjoyable as possible with the Celtic Sections final webinar of winter 2024.

Anglesey sits at the centre of the Irish Sea and The Isle of Man at the centre of the Northern part - almost equidistant between the NW coast of England, Anglesey and Belfast or Dublin. For most they provide a single stop on the way to Scotland but they both provide considerable options as a cruising destination. Both of Celtic origin, Anglesey has a strong Norman influence while the Isle of Man, more of a Viking history. Given time the speaker may also stray over to the Lancashire and Cumbrian coast.

The west and north coasts of the British Isles offer some of the finest cruising grounds in the world. The scenery is spectacular, the wildlife abundant and the costs  low by South Coast standards.

Discover the joys of cruising Orkney and Shetland from HLRs Mike Cooper and Andrew Halcrow. Mike Lives in Kirkwall and has cruised the island group for many years and is the author of much of the excellent cruising advice on the Orkney Marinas website. Andrew is based in Shetland and is a former skipper of Swan, a sailing training vessel owned by the Shetland based Swan Trust. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about cruising this rich and remote area from two such knowledgeable local sailors.

Date: Thursday 16th March
Time: 19:00
Venue - via Zoom

The crew: John and Maggie. The boat: 1992 Moody 44.  The plan: Leave Preston early June, destination Plymouth by summer's end. The cruise: Our maiden voyage, a slow exploration of unfamiliar Irish waters. The secret hope: visiting the Isles of Scilly, did we get there?