Top 5 sailing adventures, Scotland

Having sailed around the world, cruised in the Caribbean and the Med I’ve been to some awesome destinations and had some great adventures but my top 5 sailing adventures are still all in Scotland.

With Coronavirus making foreign travel very difficult many of you will be thinking about a holiday at home and with beautiful scenery and the best sailing in the world on our doorstep there is no reason to leave Scotland for an adventure of a lifetime.

St Kilda

A trip to St Kilda is on many people’s bucket list, but it isn’t always easy to get there. This cruise will involve some longer sails, night sailing and running a watch system with the ultimate goal being to step ashore at this magical place.

St Kilda is an isolated volcanic archipelago situated 40 miles west-northwest of North Uist in the North Atlantic Ocean. It contains the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides whose sea cliffs are the highest in the United Kingdom.

The islands are home to many species of endangered birds, notably puffins and gannets. Uninhabited since 1930 it bears the evidence of more than 2,000 years of human occupation in the extreme conditions prevalent in the Hebrides.

We offer this trip as a 10 day cruise from Oban and back to Largs or vice versa or as an 11 day race with training and delivery from Largs to Largs

Explore the Clyde

My first sailing adventures were family holidays on the Clyde as a young boy and I’d love to share them with you. Having sailed these waters for thirty years I’d like to say I know every hidden bay, every secluded anchorage, the best ice cream shops and pubs but the Clyde is still full of secrets ready to be explored.  For those who do not have so much time, aren’t keen on the longer sailing passages or may be trying sailing for the first time this is the trip for you. There is so much to see without leaving the relatively sheltered waters of the Clyde. A stop on Arran isn’t to be missed and neither is a trip up loch Fyne or a passage through the Kyles of Bute. 5 days is long enough for this adventure which can take in some remote anchorages and more luxurious marinas with hot showers.

Many of our courses don’t leave the Clyde but dates for a weekend or 5 days can be found on our website.

Hebridean cruise

The Hebrides are known for their white sands, endless horizon and rugged remoteness. A trip to the Hebrides will be a trip to remember. This adventure offers a nice balance between longer sails and shorter hops with secluded bays but also some quaint villages with centuries of character. The Hebrides have a unique culture with a fascinating history waiting for you to discover.

We run this trip as a 10 days trip which allows you to really spend explore the Outer Hebrides.

Visit Ireland 7 days

Although not in Scotland, Ireland isn’t really that far and a days sail over the Irish sea can reward you with some awesome sailing, beautiful scenery and a well earned pint of Guinness. We then decide whether to go West or South. West will take us around the North coast, passing the Giants Causeway to some of the more remote harbours and sea loughs around Malin Head. If we go South, leaving Belfast to Starboard we can visit some of the towns and villages boasting great marina facilities on the trip down towards Dublin with a possibility of passing through the narrows to Strangford lough, an area of outstanding natural beauty.

We run this as a 7 day cruise starting and finishing in Largs.

Race offshore

Despite loving cruising I have a passion for sailing boats quickly, pushing them hard and setting my wits against mother nature and the other competitors. For many, offshore racing is a buzz that they will never forget and become addicted to. Yacht InTuition is well set up for racing and having raced around the world and in many offshore RORC races I know how to get the most out of her and the crew.

For those who are up for the challenge why not try one of our racing courses.