Sailing round Wales in a 20ft Vivacity

When we first moved to Deganwy I saw a programme on Welsh television with a couple of guys from Aberaeron who had circumnavigated Wales in a Drascombe longboat. That looks fun, I thought! The memory stayed with me, and when I approached retirement from my role as Rhyl harbourmaster, I wondered if I’d like to do the same. Years ago, when the kids were small, I’d sailed on the River Avon on a wide-bodied canal boat, but since then I’d stuck to the coast.

Around this time the local RNLI, who I’d worked closely with for many years, launched an appeal to raise funds for a new Shannon-class lifeboat. I could raise money for them along the way. The idea was set in motion: I would sail clockwise around Wales, starting with the rivers and canals, and finishing around the coast.

Now I just needed a boat. I wanted a cuddy so I could sleep on board and not have to stay in B&Bs. Initially I considered a Drascombe Coaster; it has a lifting keel (essential for the shallow rivers), and its design is based on the traditional long-keel boats that are said to have good sea-keeping qualities.

But my search came to an end when I realised the yacht I needed was right under my nose! I got chatting to some guests at a gathering at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port. Previously I’d thought the minimum canal depth would be around 3ft, but they told me it was between 4ft and 6ft. It dawned on me that my wife Sandra’s Vivacity 20 drew just 2ft 4in and would comfortably meet the draught requirements. I went home and measured the width at 6ft 10in. Perfect! With two berths Scooby would give me the accommodation I needed as well as being seaworthy.

I started planning the voyage. I wanted to go from Rhyl into the