Planned Route
I plan to leave Southampton and turn right and keep turning right. I hope to cross the Irish sea from Fishgarurd and continue west, round the coast of the Republic. Then take an easterly course to Northern Ireland and across the Western Isles, round Cape Wrath to the Northern Isles before heading back south.
The boat’s location is shown here
Preparation
Planning a trip like this inevitably means there are things that need to be done in order to get the boat ready. Xiphias is 10 years old and although she doesn’t look her age, she needs quite a few upgrades and tweaks to ensure a safe a comfortable passage. I’ve written a list of the jobs I want to undertake in the months before I set sail and I’ll be updating this page as things get done or struck off the list. One of the biggest burdens is obtaining all the necessary charts for the passage. I will need loads so if anyone has some UK charts no more than 5 years old I would be keen to get hold of them. To buy new would cost £3,000 so second hand charts that I can update from the admiralty notices to mariners would spare me a great expense.
Task list
- Furling gear – ✔Done
- Main sail boom cover bag repair – ✔Done
- Insert 3rd reef in to mainsail – ✔Done
- Fit a UV protection to Genoa – ✔Done
- Buy a cruising asymmetric sail – ✔Done
- Fit a heater ✔Done
- electronics upgrade AIS, DCS, ✔Done
- Fit a mast-head burgee halyard
- Fit a switch for the deck light.
- Re-wire the bow light
- Fit manual water pumps to galley and heads
- Fit a mast-head all round red over green light
- Fit a SeeMe radar repeater ✔Done
- Extra cockpit bags.
- Obtain a spare autohelm arm
- Replace the bow roller - ordered
- Chain & shackles for buoy mooring
- Bilge pump
- Replace alternator and fit new regulator - ordered
- Batteries check and replace
- Obtain spares kit for engine, belts and impellers -ordered
- Obtain relevant charts and updates ✔Done
- Scrub and antifoul the hull - booked
- New CQR achor and 30m of chain
Hi David
Fanstic trip ahead of you and take my hat off to you for taking time out from work to achieve your goal. Personal goals being so much more important than professional but so few people with the courage of conviction to see them through.
I found out about you through a LinkedIn contact. I have also been in IT for 20 years and my goal is to do a circumnavigation in around 5-8 years time when both my children have flown the nest.
Would love to keep in touch and hear all about your progress and your experiences as you go along. You can be sure I’ll be watching with envy but good envy:-)
Good luck with all the preparations.
Debbie McCrossan
By: Debbie McCrossan on December 9, 2009
at 1:22 pm
Hi Debbie,
thanks for the encouraging words. Right now the project is progressing slowly but I hope to have a generalised route plan published in February. That’s when I’ll be fitting all the lovely new bits and pieces that I will have purchased at the London boat show. I have crossed a few more things off the to-do list this week.
Thanks again,
Dave
By: davequarrellsailsuk on December 11, 2009
at 10:25 am
Hi Dave
I did the circumnavigation a couple of years ago, reaching as far north as Shetland. I had rather more of a sedate trip taking two years. It was a fantastic journey.
If I can be of any help please let me know.
John
By: John DeWitt on February 3, 2010
at 2:13 pm
Hi John,
right now I need more encouragement! I have been plotting and planning and doing things on the boat. I still have a list of chores to do but come mid April when I leave Hamble on my own it’s going to be a big shock to think, this is it I’m off!
What kind of boat did you use? What were the highlights and what would you avoid if were doing again? Why didn’t you write a book?
Thanks for your kind wishes
Dave
By: davequarrellsailsuk on February 5, 2010
at 3:53 pm
Hi I’m an old sailing chum of Swanny. I am joining him to bring his new Catermeran back to the Azores from the BVIs. He mentioned you were looking for crew for different legs of your journey. If that is so… could you let me know where and when? Colin
By: Colin Bridges on May 5, 2010
at 7:23 pm
Hi DQ,
Looks like you are having an awesome trip, good to see that Xiphias going strong and your out sailing her.
Hope you are enjoying the trip (it must be less stressful than racing)
I’m living up in the north of scotland in a wee town called Cromarty a bit north of Inverness.
It would be lovely to meet up if you have time when you are up north.
Paul
By: Paul Connell on July 23, 2010
at 9:45 am