British Raiding

November 3rd, 2012 | Author: Geoff Probert

2025 Mon. 19th – Sat. 26th July

Firth of Forth

Update

Following further negotiations we are now able to allow live-aboards and off-site camper-vanners to attend the Raid with lunches and evening Dinners provided by Fettes. However, they have asked, for security reasons, that these raiders are off school grounds by 22:00.

Please see Programme 2025

https://www.raidengland.org/?page_id=1136

for further details of costs and conditions.

Geoff Probert (13 December 2024)

2025 Mon. 19th – Sat. 26th July

Firth of Forth

Dear Raiders,

A return to Scotland but this time to the East. Because of the distance to travel to get there (for most Raiders) we have gone for 4 days of sailing.

I have been able to obtain accommodation at Fettes College, Edinburgh.

Granton Harbour, from where we will be sailing initially is approx. 1.5 miles away.

At this stage, due to restrictions, I regret that we are unable to allow live-aboards or camper vans (except as a mode of transport).

All rooms at Craigleith House are en-suite and breakfast, a packed lunch and dinner will be provided by the College.

To view the programme and costs click on the Programme 2025 link.

To register your interest in attending please click on the link Register 2025

Geoff Probert (December 2024)

2024 Monday 19th – Friday 23rd August

Plymouth

NOW FULL – Please do not Register

Dear Raiders,

I was prompted about the possibility of a 2024 Raid (thanks Ian and Gareth). Due to the late start in organising this Raid we are therefore going back to Plymouth and the Mountbatten Centre.

Due to the popularity of the Centre, the only dates that I was able to get are those above, which should allow many of you to fulfil your Grandparenting duties over the “bookending” weekends.

The 2024 English Raid (the 11th) will be based at the Mountbatten Centre again giving perfect access to Plymouth Sound.

I am deeply indebted to Peter Chesworth again for agreeing to help me organise this Raid.

The dates for the 2024 Raid will be Monday 19th August – Friday 23rd August 2024.

The Raid is in the School holidays in order to encourage those raiders with children or grandchildren still at school to join in.

To view the programme and costs click on the Programme 2024 link.

To register your interest in attending please click on the link Register 2024

Geoff Probert Easter 2024

2022 Raid dates are 9-13 August 2022

Dear Raiders,

After having to cancel the the 2020 and then the 2021 Raid I am delighted to confirm that the 2022 Raid is ON !

Moray has worked hard to find alternatives to the pubs that were originally going to provide our evening meals (one is currently closed pending a sale and another decided that they couldn’t cope with our numbers).

Most crews that were registered for the 2020 Raid have carried over their registration and we also have quite a long waiting list. We are therefore not in a position to accept any new entries.

If anyone has suggestions for a location for the 2023 Raid then please do let me know. A volunteer willing to do the necessary local groundwork would be even better !

Looking forward to seeing you in Essex.

Geoff Probert May 2022

2020 Raid postponed to 9-14 August 2021

Dear Raiders,

It is with the greatest reluctance that we have come to the conclusion that we must postpone this year’s English Raid.

When the Coronavirus pandemic first started we had thought that August was sufficiently far away for us not to be affected.

However now that we have a better understanding of the pandemic and the measures required to combat it we fell that we should not hold the Raid this year but postpone it until next year.

The absence of a proven effective vaccine means that social distancing will continue for some time in the UK.

Very few Raid boats allow crew to keep the required 2m distance apart.

The Outdoor centre is currently shut until at least 30th June. There is no knowledge whether it will open before the schools return after the Summer holidays (it is owned by the local authority). Given the number of crew enrolled for this Raid we would not be able to maintain the necessary separation within the Centre or the Marina.

All sailing clubs (i.e. our daily targets) are currently shut with no knowledge as to when they will be allowed to re-open.

It seems likely that pubs and clubs will be among the last commercial premises to re-open. With the requirement to maintain social distancing within them we would not be able to house the Raid participants for the evening meals.

Our participants are, for the most part in, ahem…, the second most vulnerable group. 40% of the deaths in hospital in England have been in the age group 60-79.

Raids are not just about sailing. It is the social aspect near and off the water that make up a large part of the enjoyment of these events. Without the possibility of being able to mix-in with the whole group a huge part of the Raid is lost.

We also have to consider the possibility that a further lock-down could occur possibly leaving visiting overseas crews stranded. This would give them very grave doubts as to whether they should travel in the first place. As Giorgio Pavan, one of the Venice Raid organisers, has said when announcing the cancellation of the Venice Raid “A Raid without our overseas friends would be unthinkable”.

For the above reasons I therefore propose that the Raid is postponed for a year and that deposits and places (including the waiting list) are held over until next year. I do hope that you will understand our reasoning and agree with it.

I am delighted to tell you that Moray Macphail has kindly agreed to continue to organise the logistics for next year and has advised that the dates (for Tide Reasons) for the 2021 Raid will be 9th-14th August.

If you would prefer to have your deposit re-funded then please let me know your bank details, including the correct account name (replying to geoffprobert@gmail.com) and I will take you off the list for next year and refund your deposit. For overseas refunds I typically need a surprising amount of information nowadays and I will let you know what that is on an individual basis.

If you no longer wish to be on the waiting list then please also let me know and I will remove you from it.

Hope to see you in 2021

Best wishes

Geoff Probert

Moray MacPhail

Peter Chesworth

2020 Monday 17th – Saturday 22nd August

River Blackwater

Dear Raiders,

I am delighted to announce that Moray MacPhail has agreed to organise the 2020 English Raid. Many thanks are due to him.

The 2020 Raid (the 10th) will be based at the Essex Outdoors centre. Boats will be kept at the nearby Bradwell Marina. Day sailing options will be Wivenhoe, Mersea, Brightlinsea, Maldon, Osea etc.

The dates for the 2020 Raid will be Monday 17th August – Saturday 22nd August. The four days of sailing worked well in 2019 on the Clyde and we have repeated this formula.

Whilst the Raid is in the school holidays in order to encourage younger participants the Essex Outdoors centre is not set up for very young children. There are no high chairs, for example.

To view the programme and costs (which are still to be determined at this stage) please click on the Programme 2020 link.

To register your interest in attending please click on the Register 2020 link.

Geoff Probert August 2019

2019 Monday 22nd – Saturday 27th July

The Clyde

Dear Raiders,

As you know I was unable to organise a Raid in 2018 but delighted to say that we are returning to the Clyde for 2019.

The 2019 Raid (the 9th) will be based at the Blairvadach Outdoor Centre on Gareloch, just outside Rhu and Helensburgh, again and will take place mainly in the waters of The Clyde in Scotland.

The dates for the 2019 Raid will be Monday 22nd July – Saturday 27th July. We have added on an extra day as a number of Raiders (especially those from The Netherlands) felt that three days sailing was not enough when we were in the Clyde in 2016.

Whilst the Raid is in the School holidays on order to encourage younger participants the Blairvadach Centre is not set up for very young children. There are no high chairs, for example.

To view the programme and costs click on the Programme 2019 link.

To register your interest in attending please click on the Register 2019 link.

Having the 2019 Raid in Scotland again is not intended in any way to compete with the excellent Sail Caledonia which remains the best test of sail-and-oar adventures in the UK.

Geoff Probert February 2019

2017 Monday 14th – Friday 18th August

Plymouth

Dear Raiders,

Back to Plymouth for some unfinished business (I hope !). In 2015 we were forced to re-work our proposed routes due to the strong and unusual Easterly winds that prevailed at the time.

This meant that we were unable to explore the beauty of the Tamer and missed out on the wonderful villages of Cawsand/Kingsand across the sound, together with the delights of Cornish Ice-cream and a dollop (of clotted cream) available in the shop in the square at Cawsand.

I am hoping to rectify that this year.

The 2017 English Raid (the 8th) will be based at the Mountbatten Centre again giving perfect access to Plymouth Sound.

I am deeply indebted to Peter Chesworth again for agreeing to help me organise this Raid. He has now helped to organise the Mylor, (previous) Plymouth and Clyde Raid; the man is a saint !

The dates for the 2017 Raid will be Monday 14th August – Friday 18th August 2017.

The Raid is in the School holidays in order to encourage those raiders with children or grandchildren still at school to join in.

To view the programme and costs click on the Programme 2017 link.

To see the likely routes click on the Raid Map 2017 link.

To register your interest in attending please click on the link Register 2017

Geoff Probert February 2017

2016 Monday 8th – Friday 12th August

The Clyde

Dear Raiders,

The sharp-eyed (and those with a good memory) will see that we have changed the emphasis from English waters to British waters.

The 2016 Raid (the 7th) will be based at the Blairvadach Outdoor Centre on Gareloch, just outside Rhu and Helensburgh, and will take place mainly in the waters of The Clyde in Scotland.

Last years Raid in Plymouth showed the benefits (to the organisers at least) of a fixed base located at a Watersports Centre.

Using Google maps to investigate the coastline of Britain, searching for places to host a Raid, showed up very few suitable locations but led us to The River Clyde; one of the most famous places for British sailing.

Notwithstanding his sterling work in organising the Mylor and Plymouth Raids (ER5&ER6), which was above and beyond the call of duty, Peter Chesworth has very kindly offered to help me organise this one as well. I am extremely grateful for this and for any offer of help in planning the routes for this year or in finding a location for next year (2017).

The dates for the 2016 Raid will be Monday 8th August – Friday 12th August 2016.

Whilst the Raid is in the School holidays on order to encourage younger participants the Blairvadach Centre is not set up for very young children. There are no high chairs, for example.

To view the programme and costs click on the Programme 2016 link.

To see the likely routes click on the Raid Map 2016 link.

To register your interest in attending please click on the Register 2016 link.

Having the 2016 Raid in Scotland is not intended in any way to compete with the excellent Sail Caledonia which remains the best test of sail-and-oar adventures in the UK.

Geoff Probert December 2016

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