Find updates gathered from Vicky & Tom’s logs of their passage around the UK. After spending a couple of months off the beautiful coasts of Scotland they headed south from Stonehaven last month to reach home at Walton Backwaters.
UPDATED: 26 September 2026|
Leaving Stonehaven at 2300, ‘Rely’ headed south for Holy Island (Lindisfarne), anchoring late afternoon. Making steady passage south, they stopped at Tynemouth, Whitby, Filey, crossing the Humber to reach Wells-next-the-Sea (not recommended for a night-time arrival) for a week to relax in Norfolk. On Thursday 24 September they made the final push home, spending one last night in Lowestoft before reaching home waters . . . ‘We were spotted by lots of friends and locals! We’ve been sent so many pictures by old gaffers and local east coasters saying welcome home – which is just so lovely!’
UPDATED: 12 September 2026
Returning to Fort William, with additional crew to help with the locks, they tackled Neptune’s Staircase to enter the Caledonian Canal for the passage across to the East Coast. From Gairlochy they managed to tack all the way up Loch Lochy to Lagan Locks. On to Fort Augustus with more locks into Loch Ness, trips ashore for Urquhart Castle and finally out into the North Sea at Inverness. One of the aims of the voyage was to take ‘Rely’ to her home port, where she was built in 1911. It was a long passage from Inverness, but they arrived on 11 September: ’80 sea miles down and a bit weather beaten we headed to bed at around 0200′. Continuing to head south another 50 mile passage finds them in Stonehaven.
UPDATED: 24 August 2026
After making passage through the Crinan Canal, ‘Rely’ spent August exploring the Western Isles, navigating the challenging tides and shallow, narrow rocky passages with sightings of mountains, dolphins and whales in what may be described as one of the best sailing ground in the world! After sailing up to Oban/Kerrera they set off again up the Sound of Mull calling at Tobermory before stopping for a few days at Mallaig. Apart from all the sailing, Vicky & Tom managed to bag a Munroe, in the rain, hiking up from Glenfinnan up Sgurr Thuilm! The weather looked fair to explore some of the Inner Hebrides, Eigg, Rúm, Canna, Rona and back to the Kyle of Lochalsh visiting deserted beaches, small villages and castles.
UPDATED: 24 July, 2026
On 28 June a weather window appeared and with an early start, ‘Rely’ sailed to Padstow where they spent a week for a few repairs. After a short trip to Lundy Island they headed up the Welsh coast stopping at Milford Haven, Fishguard, Abersoch, Pwhelli, Morfa Nefyn and Holyhead. ‘Rely’ made swift passage from Holyhead for the Isle of Man, crossed the Irish Sea for a fuel stop in Bangor arriving in Troon, Scotland in 40 hours, 177 sea miles! They’re now making passage up the west coast of Scotland calling at Arran, Rothesay, Tarbert and Ardrishaig to transit the Crinan Canal.
We’ll be bringing monthly updates of progress but you can also follow ‘Rely’ on Instagram @finding_rely and Classic Boat Magazine online and in print (July Issue no. 457).
24 JUNE: As reported in the July issue of Classic Boat Magazine, East Coast Young Gaffers Vicky and Tom, with puppy Nyx, set out in ‘Rely’ on 20 May, 2026 to sail Round Britain. By early June they had to take refuge from storms in Dartmouth having also spent time stormbound in Poole and Weymouth . . . hoping to make passage to Salcombe when the weather improved. As the storms abated, they made good progress enjoying life aboard along the south west coast calling at the Yealm, Fowey, St Mawes, Helford River, Falmouth and Newlyn. On 24 June, after a long but enjoyable passage, ‘Rely’ arrived at St Mary’s, largest of the Scilly Islands. As the wind increased overnight and into the next day, they crossed the Tresco flats for a more comfortable mooring.
Our ‘featured boat’ in October 2024, ‘Rely’ is a well-known member of the East Coast Gaffers fleet.
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