Isle of Man Sailing & Scottish West Coast Islands Sail Yacht Cruises

The Isle of Man:
Known to Islanders as ‘Our Ordinary – Your Extraordinary’.
A real favourite of the Yachtforce Team! Our Director came here 27 years ago – he loves it and has never left!
Situated in the middle of the Irish Sea, 29 miles from Ireland, 16 miles from Scotland and 27 miles from Cumbria it is 33 miles long and 12 miles wide the Isle of Man is perhaps best known for the motorbike TT Road Races. However, it boasts fantastic scenery, stunning cliff, glen or hill walks, great beaches, incredible marine wildlife with seals, whales, dolphins and basking sharks, cracking seafood right off the boats and people that just love to chat. It has the longest running parliament in the world and is a Crown Dependency which is separate from the UK. The Island has its own laws and money (you can use UK pounds 1:1  on the IOM but will get IOM currency in change that you cannot use in UK).
It may seem about 50 years behind the rest of the world with its relaxed atmosphere and extremely safe rural environment. It has an extremely supportive local community where people go out of their way to help and that is really its charm.

Isle of Man Airport:
12 miles (23 mins) away from Peel marina, 3 minutes from Castletown and 20 minutes from the Capital, Douglas.
Easyjet (Gatwick, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Belfast)
Loganair (Birmingham, London City, Heathrow, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh)
Aer Lingus (Dublin)

Isle of Man Sea Terminal – Ferry Travel – (Sailings 2-4 per day)
Ferry Travel Here.
11 miles (25 mins) from Peel Marina.
Liverpool – Douglas 2.5hrs
Heysham – Douglas 3hr 45min

Isle of Man Transport:
Taxi is fastest transport to the marina from the airport or a bus is available via Douglas and buses are available Island wide. There is a Victorian Steam Railway that has regular trains from the South of the Island to Douglas and Douglas to Ramsey can be taken aboard a Victorian electric tram. The electric tram also climbs to the summit of the  Snaefell Mountain (2,036 feet) – On a clear day you can see seven Kingdoms from its top: The Isle of Man, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Kingdoms of Neptune and Heaven! There are Victorian horse drawn trams that operate along the Promenade in Douglas.

Wildlife:
A variety of dolphins and cetaceans are regularly seen all around the area and Orcas are frequently seen near Arran in the Firth of Clyde. Yachtforce staff spotted a sunfish off the Calf of Man last year, which is a rare occurrence.
Seals are in abundance in many locations around the Isle of Man and can be quite cheeky with it too if you are out fishing! They will quite gladly try to pinch your catch.
August is the basking shark season and these magnificent animals grow to 8 metres in length often to be seen feeding on the surface in settled weather hoovering up the plankton. They are the worlds second largest fish! Sightings used to be common in the Isle of Man but these incredible fish have tended to move further North to Scotland as the sea temperatures and plankton blooms change.

The sea bird life is just fantastic with the cliff nesting at the beginning of March. You will see guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes at Sugar Loaf and a small colony of puffins around Peel Hill, while black guillemots nest in Peel harbour wall. Gannets dive from fantastic heights to feed and shags dry their wings whilst stood on rocks. There is a thriving breeding population of the rare chough, which can be seen on almost any visit to the coast along with their acrobatic and noisy diving and swooping!

Seafood:
If you love seafood then there is fresh seafood in abundance on the Isle of Man! Lobsters, Queenies (Queen scallops) King Scallops, Crab and fresh fish all locally caught and often served in quayside kiosks! Local fish and chip shops serve locally caught produce and even serve scallops! Local fish is often caught as bycatch but can be found fresh on the fishmongers slabs. If we are out fishing we may catch as many as 6 different species in one session.

The Yacht:
The Jeanneau 37 is a comfortable cruiser and has 3 double cabins

with both a double and a single berth in the saloon. She is well equipped and comes with a new set of sails plus new engine in 2024. She has a slab reefed main (with 3 reefs) and a roller furling genoa.  There is a storm jib plus both asymmetric and symmetric spinnakers aboard. She has chart plotter / radar / AIS transponder and auto pilot. She has a inflatable tender and outboard engine. She is MCA coded for 10 day sail / 9 night.

Wet Weather Gear:
Gill wet weather jackets and bib pants can be hired for Yachtforce trips. This is a mix of the Gill OS2 and also Gill Coastal range. More information regarding fitting sizing can be found here. We do not supply boots or gloves. Price: £10 set p/day

For more information :

Call Buster or Paul for a discussion on 02380 016450
Email us at: info@yachtforce.co.uk

Peel (IOM), Bangor (NI), Glenarm (NI), Cambletown (Sco), Lochranza (Arran Sco), Colintraive (Bute Sco),  Inverkip (Sco)
Price: Single saloon berth £1099 / £1999 Double Cabin – 2 persons / Single Occupancy of double cabin £1799

Accommodation on Board – Peel Isle of Man:
Any people wishing to arrive a day or so earlier between 1-8th August and take advantage of the base the boat provides right in the centre of Peel can do so for a berth fee of £60pp p/night. Please enquire.

Overview:
This 7 day event gives a real flavour of the Countries, towns and villages visited, their culture, scenery and wildlife with a visit to distillery on the Mull of Kintyre at Cambeltown. We meet up in the Isle of Man on a Saturday evening.
There are some longer passages to eat up the miles but also some shorter days to allow for flexibility to give time to explore ashore (or make up time by ‘doubling up’ distance for any bad weather days). Everyone is included in the all sailing aspects and fully immersed in the process of running the boat with a fair share of chores. The below itinerary is a sample of what can be achieved but is subject to weather and crew capability and when we get time to go ashore and explore we will do so.
Food eaten aboard is included in the price but not alcohol. We do our best to cater for dietary requirements. Crew can bring their own alcohol aboard for consumption when tied up safely and there is no danger of having to put to sea. There will be a minimum of 3 meals taken ashore in local hostelries at own cost often as a ‘group’ on a social basis but people are welcome to eat separately. The mooring fees will be shared between the clients.

Sample Itinerary: Approx 170Nm
Meet Day   1:  1830hrs Peel Harbour Marina (Isle of Man)
Sailing Day 2:   Peel (IOM), 44Nm to Bangor (NI),
Sailing Day 3:   Bangor (NI) 22Nm to  Glenarm (NI)
Sailing Day 4:  Glenarm (NI) 33Nm to Cambeltown (Sco)
Sailing Day 5:   Cambeltown (Sco) 28Nm to Lochranza (Arran Sco)
Sailing Day 6:  Lochranza (Arran Sco) 16Nm  to Colintraive (Bute Sco)
Sailing Day 7:  Colintraive (Bute Sco) 20Nm to Inverkip (North Ayrshire Scotland) Depart Inverkip 1500hrs

Whisky Distillery Tour
We will, of course do our best to be visit Cambeltown and its small marina on the Mull of Kintyre. For those interested in the local whisky distilleries Cambeltown hosts Springbank, Glen Scotia and Glengyle’s Kilkerran. All  produce whisky with unique characteristics and tours are available at own cost starting from £15.

For More Information or To Book:
Email info@yachtforce.co.uk
Tel: 02380016450

Inverkip (Sco), Colintraive (Bute Sco), Lochranza (Arran Sco), Cambletown (Mull of Kintyre Sco), Brodick Arran Sco), Largs (Sco).

16 -21 August  2025 (5 nights / 6 days)
Jeanneau 37 – 3 Double Cabins / 1 Heads
Prices:   Single saloon berth £999 / £1899 Double Cabin – 2 persons / Single Occupancy cabin £1659

Overview: A great six day event cruising around the Clyde and Islands. It gives a real flavour of the local towns and villages visited, the culture, scenery and wildlife. We allow some time to explore these fantastic locations and visit one of the three whisky distilleries at Cambeltown. Using a mixture of marinas, anchoring and mooring buoys we will pass through the beautiful Kyles of Bute either anchoring off the Hotel close to the chain ferry or continuing on a bit further to the fantastic marina facilities at Portavadie opposite Tarbert.  We then head South to the anchorage at Lochranza before circumnavigating the Island of Arran.

Sample Itinerary: Approx 105Nm
Meet Day   1:  1830hrs Inverkip Marina (North Ayrshire Scotland)
Sailing Day 2:  Inverkip (North Ayrshire)  20Nm to Colintraive (Bute)
Sailing Day 3:  Colintraive (Bute) 16Nm to Lochranza (Arran)
Sailing Day 4:  Lochranza (Arran) 28Nm to Cambeltown (Mull of Kintyre Sco)
Sailing Day 5:   Cambeltown (Mull of Kintyre) 22Nm to Brodick (Arran Sco)
Sailing Day 6:  Lamlash or Brodick (Arran) 18Nm  to Largs (North Ayrshire) Depart Largs 1500hrs

Everyone is included in the all sailing aspects and fully immersed in the process of running the boat with a fair share of chores. The itinerary is a sample of what can be achieved but is subject to weather and crew capability and when we get time to go ashore and explore we will do so.
Food eaten aboard is included in the price but not alcohol. We do our best to cater for dietary requirements. Crew can bring their own alcohol aboard for consumption when tied up safely and there is no danger of having to put to sea. There will be a minimum of 3 meals taken ashore in local hostelries at own cost often as a ‘group’ on a social basis but people are welcome to eat separately. The mooring fees will be shared between the clients.

Whisky Distillery Tour
We will, of course be visiting Cambeltown and its small marina on the Mull of Kintyre. For those interested in the local whisky distilleries Cambeltown hosts Springbank, Glen Scotia and Glengyle’s Kilkerran. All  produce whisky with unique characteristics and tours are available at own cost starting from £15.
We then sail South of Arran to anchor off Lamlash or  Brodick for the last night before our final leg to Largs Marina.

Scottish Wildlife in Argyle and Bute:
August is basking shark season so if you are lucky you may get to see these amazing fish – second largest in the world growing in excess of 9 metres. Members of our Yachtforce team have previously sailed right alongside 8 of these fish in the Kyles of Bute. You may see minke whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals, and closer to the shoreline you may be able to spot sea otters. On land you may see red squirrels, otters, red deer, golden and white tailed eagles.

Largs (Sco), Tighnabruaich, Lochranza (Arran Sco), Largs (Sco)
Price: Single saloon berth £599 / £1099 Double Cabin – 2 persons / Single Occupancy of double cabin £999

Also available as Private Skippered Charter.
You determine the route and itinerary and we provide the Skipper to keep you safe, teach or mentor you so that you may develop skills.
Self catering price £2350 – please enquire.

Overview:
A great long weekend cruise of a more relaxing nature with smaller sailing distances to allow some great sailing around Bute and exploration of the lochs and the Kyles of Bute. The itinerary will very much depend upon the forecast and we will be using a mixture of marinas, anchoring and mooring buoys.
We may well pass through the beautiful Kyles of Bute either mooring off the Hotel close to the chain ferry or continuing on a bit further to the fantastic marina facilities at Portavadie opposite Tarbert.
Everyone does as much or as little as they want aboard. Most people are included in all sailing aspects and fully immersed in the process of running the boat but if you wish to sit back and relax that is no problem.

Catering / Mooring Fees: Food eaten aboard is included in the price but not alcohol. We do our best to cater for dietary requirements. Crew can bring their own alcohol aboard for consumption when tied up safely and there is no danger of having to put to sea. There will be a minimum of 1 meals taken ashore in local hostelries at own cost often as a ‘group’ on a social basis but people are welcome to eat separately. The mooring fees will be shared between the clients.

Sample Itinerary:
The below itinerary is a sample of what can be achieved but is subject to weather and crew capability and when we get time to go ashore and explore we will do so. Distances on the map next to place names have been shown as distance from Largs. The area around Bute and the Kyles give us opportunities for moorings dependant upon the weather, wind direction and the group.

Meet Day   1: 0930hrs Largs Marina (North Ayrshire Scotland)
Sailing Day 1: Largs North Ayrshire) 14Nm to Tighnabruaich (Kyles of Bute)
Sailing Day 2: Tighnabruaich (Kyles of Bute) 14Nm  to Lochranza (Arran)
Sailing Day 3: Lochranza (Arran) 16Nm to Largs (North Ayrshire Scotland) Depart Largs 1500hrs

Scottish Wildlife in Argyle and Bute:
August is basking shark season so if you are lucky you may get to see these amazing fish – second largest in the world growing in excess of 9 metres. Members of our Yachtforce team have previously sailed right alongside 8 of these fish in the Kyles of Bute. You may see minke whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals, and closer to the shoreline you may be able to spot sea otters. On land you may see red squirrels, otters, red deer, golden and white tailed eagles.