Is it me being home-sick or is Largs the best dinghy sailing venue in the UK?

Where else has or has had:
ISAF Youth Worlds
Optimist Worlds
18 Skiff Nationals
etc etc
(will add to after some post lunch research)

I'm not talking about the onshore facilites but just the pure sailing area, where else do you get such a large choice and different conditions at your disposal?

Having sailed in many venues both at home and abroad it is just nice to sail somewhere we you can host large fleets, the sail to the sailing area isn't too long the winds are predicatable the tide doesn't do strange things and most importantly you get the place to yourselves without 101 other water users vying for the same stretch

The fact that 49 420's travelled all the way up there just for a weekend, surely goes to show its popularity??

Is this why a large number of  Scottish/National Youth Squad members and Olympic Squad hopefulls have come from this area of the Firth of Clyde?

Let the fighting commence!

Largs???

Did Crewsearch there (dates me....) ended up with 2 boats sailing bow to bow, both reaching stbd tack, about 100 yards apart - wind was 180 degrees different, so yes, huge variety of conditions. The only place I've been where it rains more is Belgium.

Best sailing location in the UK has to be Belfast Lough. Not to tidal, good breezes, unobstructed course, no local wonders.... RUYC and Ballyholme YC have superb facilities.

"head in bra" cup, Laser europeans, GP worlds etc etc....And IMHO the only plausable Americas Cup venue in the UK. Ye cannie hold that in Largs!

Pity the political situation has persuaded people not to go. Don't vote against it 'til you've tried it.

Had the worst event there in my life - Isn't the venue's fault though. Just a bad experience but unfortunately it sticks.

It is impossible, however, to put a "best"sailing venue tag on anywhere in the world - too subjective. Everywhere has it's good and bad points depending on your preference.

You could probably have a "most popular" tag though.

And Ad, "IMHO the only plausable Americas Cup venue in the UK." about Belfast Lough, just proves my point. Humble indeed.

My two pennies worth: I think Grafham has to be up there, at least top 10, huge uniterupted expance of inland water, wind is usually pretty flat as well.

Best place ever (IMHO) has to be Hyeres in the south of France, the olympic guys cant have got it too wrong! (maybe there should be a different thread for best place in the world, but that could go on forever!)

As for Largs, it certainly makes you think!, I guess if you can sail well there you can sail well in a lot of places, nothing like a good challenge.

Did Crewsearch there (dates me....) ended up with 2 boats sailing bow to bow, both reaching stbd tack, about 100 yards apart - wind was 180 degrees different, so yes, huge variety of conditions. The only place I've been where it rains more is Belgium.

You must have been unlucky and had an easterly at the start of the season and been sailing between the mainland and the island. If you had been sailing out in the main channel it would have been some great sailing. Again whatever the weather there is always somwhere within reach that you will get decent sailing. Try that in the Solent when the 2 breezes are coming round each side of the island.

My two pennies worth: I think Grafham has to be up there, at least top 10, huge uniterupted expance of inland water, wind is usually pretty flat as well.

Best place ever (IMHO) has to be Hyeres in the south of France, the olympic guys cant have got it too wrong! (maybe there should be a different thread for best place in the world, but that could go on forever!)

Gratham 2 words - small puddle
Hit the edge too soon and don't get decent waves
Stick mast in mud, not good
Nice Bacon Butties though, but thats another thread

As for Heyers you obvoiously haven't done the olympic week where you have to sail a good 1hr upwind after sailing back to the regatta centre with the mistral blowing against you. Decent waves though!

[QUOTE=Doctor Clifford]....and the best way to take this challenge is to beg
borrow or steal a catamaran, and come to the
TYPHOON SNECCA (Scotland & North of England
Catamaran Class Assoc.)series opener at Largs on
the 1st and 2nd of May!

for more info, email mailto:chris@snecca.org.uk/QUOTE - chris@snecca.org.uk[/QUOTE ]

Definently agree Dr Clifford

A bad experience for the badge in Largs???? Hope it was sailing, and or alchol induced.

If it was the "dry as the sahara" one, please Badger, keep it to yourself. It was burnham that you told me, and my eyesare still watering.....

As I remember, Haggis, it was may / june, and we were between the little island (Little Cumbrae?) and the island. As for direction of the wind - clearly everywhere!

So where is the best location in UK? Where could you hold an AC, should it ever come here? 

Largs of course!
Plenty of deep water,
Plenty of team bases,
the old Oil Rig Yard at Hunterston,
Clydeports Terminal,
old NATO pier,
the diss-used docks at Greenock,
the old Oil Rig yard round at Tarbert,
2 Large Airports both capable of landing Antanov's on,
a Container Terminal for the container shipping,
3 Major road links,
plenty of EU grants for the begging,
a national sports centre,
More under used marinas than you know what to do with

Now tell me where else would you be able to host both the sailing and the associated infrastrucure in the UK?

Weymouth would struggle and so would the Solent!

The pond in my garden could host the infrastructure, great sailing venue as well (If you remove the shopping trolley)

Originally posted by Gael ...and the chances of Canada winning the Cup??????

So does Gael 'big it up' for Largs?

Originally posted by Gael Less bullsh*t Men in kilts

Gael i'm suprised the Y&Y swear o'meter didn't get you on this one also! 'bullsh*t'

After all kids could be reading this and Tiggers need to think about the broad spectrum of young impressionable minds, that make up your readership, they could be being warped with such language?

As for Kilts i'll show you mine if you show me yours?

Are you also admitting to the myth that South Coast sailing has a minoroty that ruin it for the majority by talking complete "Gael Explitife" when anywhere near a bar or crowded public place where they know others may be listening??

Largs best sailing water

Don't think so .

But has many many other advantages and I will go back for many a year yet

and soon !

Never been there,  main reason its flippin MILES away from ANYWHERE. It may be great, but what a silly place to put it lol.

Ahh, the old North-South devide thing again...

This could take a while

Ummmm......   Just checked it out on my Mapsource software Haggis....It gives Edinburgh to Pentewan as 519 miles in 9 hrs means you were averaging 57.6 MPH.  Naughty Haggis

largs sucks pwhelli is a much better location

better waves

better winds

better weather and ohh yeah it actually has a decent events compound

you say largs is miles away from anywhere and you live in cornwall!!! Largs isn't to uncentrall (new word!) Sw rules hmmmmmm?

you can't beat sailing at pwhelli in a force 4-5 south westerly with 4-5 foot rollers.

Largs does suck that stupid chain ferry nearly ran me ova!

Largs changing rooms arnt much bigger any way.

South Norwood Lake near Croydon.  The school I was at had two old herons.  The lake was tiny. Instead of buoys we drifted round various supermarket trollies and assorted rubbish. The Lake was surrounded by fishermen who could cast across the lake and snag the boats. Their bait could also reach us. The travellers parked near by used the shed in the dinghy park as a toilet. It was an ideal venue to get an introduction into drugs (apparently).  If I knew then what the ladies by the bushes were selling I might have gone there again!

In all fairness to this local beauty spot my last visit was 27 years ago so it may well have improved a bit since then. (It certainly couldn't get any worse).

nah it has 2 be gresford i sailed there for 7 years and changed club to corus colors (shotton) 2 years ago due to the fact that the lake was only 5 foot deep in the summer and 6 foot deep in the winter. also the club house i swear was held up by the skirting boards!