Five East coast boats completed the Round Britain Cruise in 2023: ‘Barbarossa’, ‘Lahloo’, ‘Bonita’, ‘Cygnet of London’ and ‘Onward of Ito’. Find out more on ‘Sailing By’.
Six East Coast boats were joined by two from the Netherlands to set out from Ramsgate on 1 May, 2023 to join the OGA60 Round Britain Cruise. Sadly, ‘Mutual Friend’ was forced to retire having reached Poole due to an injured crew member. The fleet’s numbers grew as they left Cowes on 7 May, after a fine party organised by the Solent Area of the OGA. They sailed on towards Plymouth where the South West OGA organised another great event for them. Sadly, a few missed the party due to stormy weather. The fleet sailed on westwards, stopping at Falmouth and Newlyn before rounding Lands End, 16 May 2023.
After rounding Lands End and the long overnight passage across the Bristol Channel, the OGA60 fleet arrived in Milford Haven for a party hosted by the Bristol Channel Area of the OGA at Neyland, 19 – 21 May. On Sunday, 21 May, seven OGA60 Round Britain boats left Milford Haven, including two from the East Coast Area, heading for North Wales and Ireland.
The majority of the OGA Round Britain Cruise fleet sailed to Poolbeg as guests of the Dublin Bay Area of the OGA 26 – 29 May. Three of the smaller boats did not cross to Ireland, preferring to sail north up the coast of Wales. After the party in Poolbeg, Dublin Bay the OGA60 Round Britain Cruise fleet continued northwards, where they met up with the five boats making passage up the coast of Wales.
On passage to Scotland, some of the RBC60 fleet visited the Isle of Man, four sailed up the coast of North Wales and ‘Charlotte Elizabeth’ was trailed from Milford Haven to Largs where she sailed to the Isle of Arran. The fleet made steady progress to the next ‘party port’ in Oban as guests of the Scotland Area of the OGA, 16 – 18 June. After departing Oban following the ‘gathering’, four chose to go ‘over the top’, including ‘Onward of Ito’ whilst the rest of the fleet decided to transit the Caledonian Canal. Meeting up again on the east coast of Scotland, again hosted by the Scotland OGA, the RBC60 fleet enjoyed a rather bumpy weekend at the ‘gathering’ on the River Tay, 14 – 16 July with visits to Arbroath, Dundee and Broughty Ferry.
The OGA60 Round Britain Cruise fleet then made passage south down the east coast of England having enjoyed the last ‘party port’ gathering in Blyth, hosted by the North East Area of the OGA on a rather wet but very well organised weekend of activities, 21 – 23 July. They joined the party of over 100 boats including a small group of gaffers sailing up from the Solent and about 30 trailer sailors as well as many local East Coast boats.