Isle of Man Smaller Harbours
May 23, 2023
Isle of Man smaller harbours. May 23.
Manx has one Harbour Master, Michael MacDonald, but many "Harbour Keepers". These keepers look after a total of eight harbours. Going clockwise from Douglas they are: Derbyhaven, Castletown, Port St Mary, Port Erin, Peel, Ramsey and Laxey.
We sailed into all but two. Ramsey, we visited on the back of a motorbike (of course!) and we failed to get to tiny drying Laxey - next time.
The island is nearly a "perfect size" and it is possible to sail right around in a day. In the south east, tiny Derbyhaven is named after the Earl of Derby who was given the Isle in 1405 by King Henry IV and whose descendents ruled it as Kings of Man until 1736. Sorry Charles III - you are a bit of a newcomer!
Castletown is a divine harbour, the former capital of the Island with its routes goung back to 1090. The castle was built for a Norse King - sorry Teddy Stanley, that even beats you!*
In the deep water of Port St Mary we met delightful Assistant Keeper Mark. Ex army (REME), it was not long before my crew and I had pulled up a sandbag in his office to discuss life over a brew! Originally from Liverpool, he told us only 48% of people are born on the island. He also looks after neighbouring Port Erin - probably the prettiest harbour of all.
Peel was our final stop, mooring in the shadow of the castle, we went ashore by tender. Distracted by freshly smoked kippers and then the "lively" locals in the incredible White House pub, we nearly "had a moment" on our return to Good Dog!
A sad farewell to the idiosyncratic Island of Manx.
Manx has one Harbour Master, Michael MacDonald, but many "Harbour Keepers". These keepers look after a total of eight harbours. Going clockwise from Douglas they are: Derbyhaven, Castletown, Port St Mary, Port Erin, Peel, Ramsey and Laxey.
We sailed into all but two. Ramsey, we visited on the back of a motorbike (of course!) and we failed to get to tiny drying Laxey - next time.
The island is nearly a "perfect size" and it is possible to sail right around in a day. In the south east, tiny Derbyhaven is named after the Earl of Derby who was given the Isle in 1405 by King Henry IV and whose descendents ruled it as Kings of Man until 1736. Sorry Charles III - you are a bit of a newcomer!
Castletown is a divine harbour, the former capital of the Island with its routes goung back to 1090. The castle was built for a Norse King - sorry Teddy Stanley, that even beats you!*
In the deep water of Port St Mary we met delightful Assistant Keeper Mark. Ex army (REME), it was not long before my crew and I had pulled up a sandbag in his office to discuss life over a brew! Originally from Liverpool, he told us only 48% of people are born on the island. He also looks after neighbouring Port Erin - probably the prettiest harbour of all.
Peel was our final stop, mooring in the shadow of the castle, we went ashore by tender. Distracted by freshly smoked kippers and then the "lively" locals in the incredible White House pub, we nearly "had a moment" on our return to Good Dog!
A sad farewell to the idiosyncratic Island of Manx.