{"id":54,"date":"2012-11-03T15:00:49","date_gmt":"2012-11-03T14:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/?p=54"},"modified":"2025-02-22T13:43:42","modified_gmt":"2025-02-22T12:43:42","slug":"an-english-raid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/?p=54","title":{"rendered":"British Raiding"},"content":{"rendered":"

2025 Mon. 21st – Sat. 26th July\u00a0<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Firth of Forth<\/h1>\n

Update<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please see Programme 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/?page_id=1136<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

for further details of costs and conditions.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Geoff Probert (13 December 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n

2025 Mon. 21st – Sat. 26th July\u00a0<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Firth of Forth<\/h1>\n

Dear Raiders,<\/p>\n

A return to Scotland but this time to the East.\u00a0 Because of the distance to\u00a0 travel to get there (for most Raiders) we have gone for 4 days of sailing.<\/p>\n

I have been able to obtain accommodation at Fettes College, Edinburgh.<\/p>\n

Granton Harbour, from where we will be sailing initially is approx. 1.5 miles away.<\/p>\n

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).<\/p>\n

All rooms at Craigleith House are en-suite and breakfast, a packed lunch and dinner will be provided by the College.<\/p>\n

To view the programme and costs click on the Programme 2025<\/a> link.<\/p>\n

To register your interest in attending please click on the \u00a0link\u00a0Register 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Geoff Probert (December 2024)<\/p>\n

2024 Monday 19th \u2013 Friday 23rd August<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Plymouth<\/h1>\n

NOW FULL – Please do not Register<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dear Raiders,<\/p>\n

I was prompted about the possibility of a 2024 Raid (thanks Ian and Gareth).\u00a0 Due to the late start in organising this Raid we are therefore going back to Plymouth and the Mountbatten Centre.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The 2024 English Raid (the 11th) will be based at the Mountbatten Centre again giving perfect access to Plymouth Sound.<\/p>\n

I am deeply indebted to Peter Chesworth again for agreeing to help me organise this Raid.<\/p>\n

The dates for the 2024 Raid will be Monday 19th August \u2013 Friday 23rd August 2024.<\/p>\n

The Raid is in the School holidays in order to encourage those raiders with children or grandchildren still at school to join in.<\/p>\n

To view the programme and costs click on the\u00a0Programme 2024<\/a>\u00a0link.<\/p>\n

To register your interest in attending please click on the \u00a0link\u00a0Register 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

Geoff Probert Easter 2024<\/p>\n

2022 Raid dates are 9-13 August 2022<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Dear Raiders,<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
After having to cancel the the 2020 and then the 2021 Raid I am delighted to confirm that the 2022 Raid is ON !<\/div>\n
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).<\/div>\n
Most crews that were registered for the 2020 Raid have carried over their registration and we also have quite a long waiting list.\u00a0 We are therefore not in a position to accept any new entries.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
If anyone has suggestions for a location for the 2023 Raid then please do let me know.\u00a0 A volunteer willing to do the necessary local groundwork would be even better !<\/div>\n
Looking forward to seeing you in Essex.<\/div>\n
Geoff Probert May 2022<\/div>\n

2020 Raid postponed to 9-14 August 2021<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Dear Raiders,<\/div>\n
It is with the\u00a0greatest\u00a0reluctance that we have come to the conclusion that we must postpone this year’s\u00a0English Raid.<\/div>\n
\n
When the Coronavirus pandemic first started we had\u00a0thought that August was sufficiently far away for us not to be affected.<\/div>\n
However now that we have a better understanding\u00a0of 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.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The absence of a proven effective vaccine means that social distancing will continue for some time in the UK.<\/div>\n
Very few Raid boats allow crew to keep the required\u00a02m distance apart.<\/div>\n
The Outdoor centre is currently\u00a0shut\u00a0until at least 30th June.\u00a0 There is\u00a0no knowledge whether it will open before the schools return after the Summer holidays (it is owned by the local authority).\u00a0 Given the number of crew enrolled for this\u00a0Raid we would not\u00a0 be able to maintain the necessary separation within the Centre or the Marina.<\/div>\n
All sailing clubs (i.e. our daily targets) are currently shut with no knowledge as to when they will be allowed to re-open.<\/div>\n
It seems likely that pubs and clubs will be among the last commercial premises to re-open.\u00a0 With the\u00a0requirement to maintain social distancing\u00a0within them we would not be able to house the Raid\u00a0 participants for the evening meals.<\/div>\n
Our participants are, for the most part in, ahem…, the second most vulnerable group.\u00a0 40% of the deaths in hospital in England have been in the age group 60-79.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Raids are not just about sailing.\u00a0 It is the social aspect near and off the water that make up a large part of the enjoyment\u00a0of these events.\u00a0 Without the possibility of being able to mix-in with the whole group a huge\u00a0part of the Raid is lost.<\/div>\n
We also have to consider the possibility that a further\u00a0lock-down could occur possibly leaving visiting overseas crews stranded.\u00a0 This would give them very grave doubts as to whether they should travel in the first place.\u00a0 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”.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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.\u00a0 I do hope that you will understand our reasoning and agree with it.<\/div>\n
I am delighted to tell you that Moray Macphail has kindly agreed to continue to organise the logistics for next\u00a0year and has advised that the dates (for Tide Reasons) for the 2021 Raid will be 9th-14th August.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
If you would prefer to have your deposit re-funded\u00a0then please\u00a0let me know your\u00a0bank details, including the correct account name (replying to\u00a0geoffprobert@gmail.com<\/a>) and I will take\u00a0you off the list for next year and refund your deposit.\u00a0 For overseas refunds I typically need a surprising amount of information nowadays and I will let\u00a0you know what that is on an individual basis.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
If you no longer wish to be on the waiting list then please also let me know and I will remove you from it.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Hope to see you in 2021<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Best wishes<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Geoff Probert\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Moray\u00a0MacPhail<\/div>\n
Peter Chesworth<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

2020\u00a0 Monday 17th – Saturday 22nd August\u00a0<\/strong><\/h1>\n

River Blackwater<\/h1>\n

Dear Raiders,<\/p>\n

I am delighted to announce that Moray MacPhail has agreed to organise the 2020 English Raid.\u00a0 Many thanks are due to him.<\/p>\n

The 2020 Raid (the 10th) will be based at the Essex Outdoors centre.\u00a0 Boats will be kept at the nearby Bradwell Marina.\u00a0 Day sailing options will be Wivenhoe, Mersea, Brightlinsea, Maldon, Osea etc.<\/p>\n

The dates for the 2020 Raid will be Monday 17th August\u00a0 \u2013 Saturday 22nd August.\u00a0 The four days of sailing worked well in 2019 on the Clyde and we have repeated this formula.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

To view the programme and costs (which are still to be determined at this stage) please click on the\u00a0Programme 2020<\/a>\u00a0link.<\/p>\n

To register your interest in attending please click on the\u00a0Register\u00a02020<\/a> link.<\/p>\n

Geoff Probert August 2019<\/p>\n

<\/h1>\n

2019 Monday 22nd – Saturday 27th July\u00a0<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The Clyde<\/h1>\n

Dear Raiders,<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The dates for the 2019 Raid will be Monday 22nd July\u00a0 \u2013 Saturday 27th July.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

To view the programme and costs click on the\u00a0Programme 2019\u00a0<\/a>link.<\/p>\n

To register your interest in attending please click on the\u00a0Register\u00a02019<\/a>\u00a0link.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Geoff Probert February 2019<\/p>\n

<\/h1>\n

2017 Monday 14th \u2013 Friday 18th August<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Plymouth<\/h1>\n

Dear Raiders,<\/p>\n

Back to Plymouth for some unfinished business (I hope !). \u00a0In 2015 we were forced to re-work our proposed routes due to the strong and unusual Easterly winds that prevailed at the time.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

I am hoping to rectify that this year.<\/p>\n

The 2017 English Raid (the 8th) will be based at the Mountbatten Centre again giving perfect access to Plymouth Sound.<\/p>\n

I am deeply indebted to Peter Chesworth again for agreeing to help me organise this Raid. \u00a0He has now helped to organise the Mylor, (previous) Plymouth and Clyde Raid; the man is a saint !<\/p>\n

The dates for the 2017 Raid will be Monday 14th August – Friday 18th August\u00a02017.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Raid is in the School holidays in order to encourage those raiders with children or grandchildren still at school to join in.<\/p>\n

To view the programme and costs click on the Programme 2017<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>link.<\/p>\n

To see the likely routes click on the Raid Map 2017<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0link.<\/p>\n

To register your interest in attending please click on the \u00a0link Register 2017<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Geoff Probert February \u00a02017<\/p>\n

2016 Monday 8th \u2013 Friday 12th August<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The Clyde<\/h1>\n

Dear Raiders,<\/p>\n

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

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.<\/p>\n

Last years Raid in Plymouth showed the benefits (to the organisers at least) of a fixed base located at a Watersports Centre.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Notwithstanding his sterling work in organising the Mylor and Plymouth Raids (ER5&ER6), \u00a0which was above and beyond the call of duty, \u00a0Peter Chesworth has very kindly offered to help me organise this one as well. \u00a0I 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).<\/p>\n

The dates for the 2016 Raid will be Monday 8th August – Friday 12th August\u00a02016.<\/span><\/p>\n

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. \u00a0There are no high chairs, for example.<\/p>\n

To view the programme and costs click on the Programme 2016<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>link.<\/p>\n

To see the likely routes click on the Raid Map 2016<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0link.<\/p>\n

To register your interest in attending please click on the Register\u00a02016<\/span><\/a>\u00a0link.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Geoff Probert\u00a0December 2016<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2025 Mon. 21st – Sat. 26th July\u00a0 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=54"}],"version-history":[{"count":89,"href":"https:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1158,"href":"https:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54\/revisions\/1158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=54"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=54"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.raidengland.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=54"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}