25th July 2024 to 3rd August 2024
Orkney’s Explorer : Wick to Stornoway
From £2495 per person
Deposit 25%. Balance due 12 weeks before departure.
Embark on a week of practical sailing with an experienced skipper as you explore the beautiful coastal city of Split, Croatia. This Expedition is perfect for sailors with day skippers or similar who want to gain more sailing experience in Croatia.
9 Nights: 25 July - 03 August 2024
Price: From £2,495 per person
Join us on a wonderful adventure, weaving our way South from Wick through the Orkney Isles to Stornaway. There are incredible stops at isolated communities such as Stromness and stretching sailing passages with lots of opportunities to understand the tides and weather considerations. The trip is led by Jim Dobie who has experience sailing these waters on board “Big Blue” which is a comfortable cruising yacht with plenty of space. There are flight options from Stornoway and we offer a free transfer to Wick to Glasgow before the trip to those that need it.
Jim Dobie is a hugely experienced Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Examiner meaning you can use the trip to brush up on sailing skills, with plenty of time for one-to-one mentoring, or simply enjoy being part of the voyage. With a maximum of six crew aboard our comfortable yacht, you will have space to relax and plenty of opportunity to adapt the itinerary to the group's wishes.
Join us on a wonderful adventure, weaving our way South from Wick through the Orkney isles to Stornaway. There are incredible stops at isolated communities such as Stromness and stretching sailing passages with lots of opportunity to understand the tides and weather considerations. The trip is led by Jim Dobie who has huge experience sailing these waters on board “Big Blue” which is a comfortable cruising yacht with plenty of space. There are flight options from Stornoway and we offer a free transfer to Wick to Glasgow before the trip to those that need it.
Jim Dobie is a hugely experienced Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Examiner meaning you can use the trip to brush up on sailing skills, with plenty of time for one to one mentoring, or simply enjoy being part of the voyage. With a maximum of six crew aboard our comfortable yacht, you will have space to relax and plenty of opportunity to adapt the itinerary to the groups wishes.
Day 1: DEPART FROM WICK
We will join the yacht at Wick marina in the afternoon. For those that need it, we can arrange transportation from Glasgow in the morning to ensure you can join the yacht.
Day 2 – 3: WICK TO KIRKWALL (45NM)
We will run a full safety briefing on board and spend the day preparing for the passage ahead. We will then slip lines and depart from Kirkwall
Day 4: KIRKWALL TO FAIR ISLE (50NM)
A highlight of the trip is surely the sail to Fair Isle, the most isolated inhabited location in the United Kingdom with just 45 inhabitants. This is a beautiful, remote place, famed for and abundance of birds and a rich history, right back to Neolithic times. We will stop over and take time to explore this magical island
Day 5: FAIR ISLE TO WESTRAY (45NM)
Departing after breakfast, we will continue our sail South towards Westray
Day 6: WESTRAY TO STROMNESS – (40NM)
Today we make a beautiful passage to Stromness – a wonderfully challenging and rewarding passage with a magnificent arrival in the early evening.
Day 7: RELAXING IN STROMNESS
We start the day, taking time to enjoy the lovely hospitality of Stomness. With the steep Brinkies Brae to the west and the sea to the east, Stromness is a tumbling network of flagstone streets, lanes, piers and slipways. There’s a timeless feel to the town, and it’s wonderful to explore. You may visit the world renowned arts centre, or take a hike up to the Ness battery, whose gun emplacements were set during WW2 to protect the entrance to Scapa flow.
Day 8: STROMNESS TO LOCH LAXFORD- (75NM)
This is great day’s sailiing with plenty of time to get accustomed to helming, trimming and especially passage making since the tides can run strongly in Hoy Sound, which makes timing especially important.
The loch is a Special Area of Conservation with a wide variety of marine habitats and species. It is mostly sheltered because of the reefs and islands but the outer region of the loch is very exposed.
Day 9: LOCH LAXFORD TO STORNOWAY (50NM)
After slipping lines after breakfast, we will depart for Stornoway – A long and relaxing passage, perfect for the last day of sailing. We will soon see the lights of Stornoway, welcoming us to our final destination.
Day 10: ARRIVAL AND DISEMBARK STORNOWAY
Our adventure ends at Stornoway, which is the main town of the Western Isles and the capital of Lewis and Harris in Scotland.
We will depart after breakfast, having made friends and shared a beautiful adventure.
- All food and drink (non-alcoholic) on board
- Safety equipment including life-jackets.
- All mooring and port entry fees for the boat.
- Hands on sailing, watch keeping, helming and opportunity to fully immerse in life on board.
- Overnight accommodation onboard, your own bunk and bedding
- Waterproof Clothing available to hire
- Travel to and from Oban
- Meals Ashore
- Entrance fees to visitor centres or distilleries
- Sailing & Travel Insurance
JIM DOBIE
A hugely experienced Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Examiner who has sailed almost every ocean of the world, leading expeditions to some of the remotest places including the Galapagos, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Tasmania. Jim is experienced, not only on, but also underwater, as a Scuba Diving Instructor delivering expeditions to the Great Barrier Reef, Oceania and Asia. Jim has a long history of successful race campaigns including being skipper for the 09-10 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, competing in five Sydney to Hobart races, two Fastnet races, Round Britain and Ireland Race and many other offshore race events.
Wick
Stornoway
Join us on a wonderful adventure, weaving our way South from Wick through the Orkney isles to Stornaway. There are incredible stops at isolated communities such as Stromness and stretching sailing passages with lots of opportunity to understand the tides and weather considerations. The trip is led by Jim Dobie who has huge experience sailing these waters on board “Big Blue” which is a comfortable cruising yacht with plenty of space. There are flight options from Stornoway and we offer a free transfer to Wick to Glasgow before the trip to those that need it.
Jim Dobie is a hugely experienced Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Examiner meaning you can use the trip to brush up on sailing skills, with plenty of time for one to one mentoring, or simply enjoy being part of the voyage. With a maximum of six crew aboard our comfortable yacht, you will have space to relax and plenty of opportunity to adapt the itinerary to the groups wishes.
Day 1: DEPART FROM WICK
We will join the yacht at Wick marina in the afternoon. For those that need it, we can arrange transportation from Glasgow in the morning to ensure you can join the yacht.
Day 2 – 3: WICK TO KIRKWALL (45NM)
We will run a full safety briefing on board and spend the day preparing for the passage ahead. We will then slip lines and depart from Kirkwall
Day 4: KIRKWALL TO FAIR ISLE (50NM)
A highlight of the trip is surely the sail to Fair Isle, the most isolated inhabited location in the United Kingdom with just 45 inhabitants. This is a beautiful, remote place, famed for and abundance of birds and a rich history, right back to Neolithic times. We will stop over and take time to explore this magical island
Day 5: FAIR ISLE TO WESTRAY (45NM)
Departing after breakfast, we will continue our sail South towards Westray
Day 6: WESTRAY TO STROMNESS – (40NM)
Today we make a beautiful passage to Stromness – a wonderfully challenging and rewarding passage with a magnificent arrival in the early evening.
Day 7: RELAXING IN STROMNESS
We start the day, taking time to enjoy the lovely hospitality of Stomness. With the steep Brinkies Brae to the west and the sea to the east, Stromness is a tumbling network of flagstone streets, lanes, piers and slipways. There’s a timeless feel to the town, and it’s wonderful to explore. You may visit the world renowned arts centre, or take a hike up to the Ness battery, whose gun emplacements were set during WW2 to protect the entrance to Scapa flow.
Day 8: STROMNESS TO LOCH LAXFORD- (75NM)
This is great day’s sailiing with plenty of time to get accustomed to helming, trimming and especially passage making since the tides can run strongly in Hoy Sound, which makes timing especially important.
The loch is a Special Area of Conservation with a wide variety of marine habitats and species. It is mostly sheltered because of the reefs and islands but the outer region of the loch is very exposed.
Day 9: LOCH LAXFORD TO STORNOWAY (50NM)
After slipping lines after breakfast, we will depart for Stornoway – A long and relaxing passage, perfect for the last day of sailing. We will soon see the lights of Stornoway, welcoming us to our final destination.
Day 10: ARRIVAL AND DISEMBARK STORNOWAY
Our adventure ends at Stornoway, which is the main town of the Western Isles and the capital of Lewis and Harris in Scotland.
We will depart after breakfast, having made friends and shared a beautiful adventure.
