British Raiding
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
2020 Raid postponed to 9-14 August 2021
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