The Great Motorboat Tour: UK

Click on our playlist above to watch all 32 episodes of the Great Motorboat Tour. This trip took our intrepid duo John Boyle and Fionn Crow Howieson on a circumnavigation of the UK on John's Sealine S34 Shark Bay . You can click on the video names below to watch individual episodes in the series. First leg: Leaving Falmouth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0KFDy6WkdA It's time for John and Fionn to slip their lines and leave Falmouth, next stop Salcombe. Second leg: Salcombe to Weymouth, next stop the Needles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiSxecx_Z60 John and Fionn leave Salcombe and head across Lyme Bay to Weymouth. From here, it's a pleasant cruise along the white chalky coastline of Dorset to Old Harry Rocks - we almost forgot how beautiful this part of the UK is. Next time, we'll pick up the cruise from the Needles. Third leg: The Needles to Brighton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cehAf21gve0 This latest video picks up the story as John and Fionn cruise from the Needles all the way to Brighton Marina. Fourth leg: Brighton Marina to Harwich https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJgf9IywgOk&list=PLzuE6AGzwmIkknsM8ov5SMu1_YsQWEiAX&index=7 In the latest instalment from our footage of Britain and Ireland's incredible coastline, John and Fionn refuel their Sealine S34 before setting off from Brighton Marina in the hope of rounding the southeast corner of England, via Beachy Head. Fifth leg: Harwich to Cromer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNeA7OCoycA After a hearty breakfast on the jetty at Harwich, John and Fionn head north up the coast to Lowestoft, before cruising past the wind farm off Great Yarmouth, all the way to Cromer. Sixth leg: Cromer to Hull https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qF4HMEa4Rc Leaving Cromer behind, John and Fionn head out across The Wash towards Hull and they are astounded by the lack of other leisure boats on this stretch of England's east coast. Once they reach the Humber though, there's a familiar-looking boat on the water. Seventh leg: Flamborough Head to Sunderland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XWoLbm0e7c John and Fionn leave the Humber, stopping to marvel at the busy birdlife at Flamborough Head. From here it's a cruise northwards towards Whitby and Staithes Harbour , en route to Sunderland . But on the way they hit an unseen bit of debris - will it hamper their trip? Eighth leg: The Tyne to Amble Marina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0CvgBI-cYU In the next leg of their round Britain cruise, our duo take shelter at Royal Quays Marina in North Shields on the Tyne before popping into Amble Marina to refuel. As they head further away from the south coast, John and Fionn are finding it increasingly difficult to refuel and find they must top up where they can. Ninth leg: Amble to Eyemouth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S97hb7hBU9k Our cruising duo visit the Farne Islands during bird breeding season before cruising past Bamburgh Castle and stopping off at Lindisfarne. They see plenty of seals and sea birds en route before finally reaching their berth for the night at Eyemouth. Tenth leg: Eyemouth to Lossiemouth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Q_KZPuRjg With winds picking up, John and Fionn leave Eyemouth and head all the way to Lossiemouth, via Bell Rock Lighthouse and its seal inhabitants; Aberdeen Harbour, where they are joined by a pod of dolphins; and the Moray Firth where they are once again astounded by the amazing concentration of sea birds. John also names his pick of the prettiest town he has seen so far: Gardenstown, Aberdeenshire. Eleventh leg: Lossiemouth to Inverness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-QyUTHA0yg Shortly after setting off from Lossiemouth, John and Fionn encounter some engine problems. After a quick phone call to their engineer back home they decide to motor on to Inverness, but will they reach the tranquillity of the Caledonian Canal or will they come a cropper in the wilds of the Moray Firth? Twelfth leg: Entering the Caledonian Canal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSFREFLSPss John and Fionn escape to the sanctity of the Caledonian Canal where they cruise through Loch Ness and past Urquhart Castle, deep into the Scottish Highlands. Plus, Fionn talks us through all their grab bag essentials. Thirteenth leg: Along the Caledonian Canal to Fort William http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO79zFWmLxM In the latest video from our round Britain cruise, John and Fionn continue their detour from the coast as they cruise the length of the Caledonian Canal, to Fort William and back to Inverness. Fourteenth leg: From Inverness to Scrabster http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIYw1dNKjaQ In the latest video from Motor Boats Monthly's circumnavigating duo, John and Fionn resume their coastal journey as they leave the tranquillity of the Caledonian Canal behind at Inverness and cruise north, all the way to Scrabster, via the fearsome Pentland Firth. Click the image to watch the video Fifteenth leg: from Stromness to Kinlochbervie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKkDrYXImX0 In the latest instalment, our circumnavigating duo set off from Stromness towards the notorious Cape Wrath via the Isle of Hoy. On arrival at mainland Scotland's most northwesterly point, they are in for a bit of a surprise, and when they round the headland to Kinlochbervie they are greeted by an unidentified sea creature - can you tell what it is? Sixteenth leg: Kinlochbervie to Stornoway (Outer Hebrides) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odlejqY4lcQ In this, Leg 16 of Motor Boats Monthly's Great Motorboat Tour, John and Fionn endure a 45 mile, wet and wild ride from Kinlochbervie to Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, on the Outer Hebrides. The weather then took a turn for the worst, which provided an opportunity for the boys to enjoy a spot of tourism – something we think they secretly enjoyed. Click the photo to find out what happened. Seventeenth Leg: Stornoway to Mallaig http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCfC80s4xWo John and Fionn experienced a bit of a wet, stormy crossing to Portree, on the Isle of Skye, but cheered themselves up with a hearty breakfast before setting off for their final leg of the day, to Mallaig. Eighteenth Leg: Mallaig to Oban http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeRgRIY2de0 John and Fionn really put their Sealine S34 - Shark Bay - to the test during the 18th leg of The Great Motorboat Tour. During the two and a half hour stint from Mallaig to Oban they battled strong headwinds and big seas, and eventually pitched up in the relative shelter of Oban Marina. Nineteenth leg: Transiting the Crinan Canal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=httg82Unxjw After being storm-bound in Oban for two weeks, John and Fionn take a short cut to Ardrishaig via the Crinan Canal, saving themselves a 100-mile trip round the Mull of Kintyre. Twentieth leg: Ardrishaig to Portrush http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwzGXJACH28 John and Fionn leave the Crinan Canal and stop off at Portree on the Isle of Skye , near Carradale , which the wildlife filmmakers know better as the place where the first ever human recorded deaths from sharks was recorded. From here, they motor on to Campbeltown where they overnight before heading across the Irish Sea the next morning to Portrush in Northern Ireland. Twenty first leg: leaving Portrush http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZjYMhcQjS0 John, Fionn and their third crewmember, Eddie, refuel and stock up on supplies in Portrush before deciding to make the most of the weather by heading towards Burtonport . However, with conditions worsening throughout the day, all does not go to plan so they decide to take shelter for the night in Sheephaven Bay, Donegal . Will they reach Burtonport, and if so, what will they make of the entrance when they get there? Twenty second leg: Cleggan to Kilrush http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFGWf2n4V84 It's time to see a bit more of the west coast of Ireland as the duo cruise past the magnificent Cliffs of Moher , but disaster soon strikes: they hear a clunk, and thinking they've hit some lobster pots they stop to assess the damage, only to realise they have hit a giant sun fish. And the drama is not over yet, as shortly afterwards there's another collision... Twenty third leg: Kilrush to Dingle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmsaHBlmqw0 The 23rd Leg of John and Fionn's voyage around Britain and Ireland proved troublesome, but the dolphins who came to meet them after their four hour trip from Kilrush to Dingle , more than made up for the engine problems they encountered. Engine repairs and strong winds hampered their progress but after a good night's sleep in Dingle, the duo were ready to face the elements once again and head off on the next leg of the trip. Twenty fourth leg: Kilrush to Dingle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZshE1N73ubs On this, the 24th leg of The Great Motorboat Tour, John and Fionn enjoy welcoming calmer conditions as they head from Dingle to the Fastnet Rock aboard their Sealine S34 - Shark Bay. A visit to Skellig Michael, the most remote and wildest island on the west coast, brings back a few boyhood memories for John as he remembers the time he spent their working on a ferry. The wildlife on Little Skellig keeps the adventurers entertained, and a hearty breakfast in a drizzly Derrynane Harbour prepares them for the final hop south to Bantry Bay, Castletownbere and the imposing Fastnet Rock, on the south-west tip of Ireland. Twenty fifth leg: Shirkin Island to Kilmore Quay http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut0yvYC5OWM Leg 25 of the Great Motorboat Tour from Sherkin Island to Kilmore Quay in Ireland brought a host of surprises for John and Fionn including a fine evening's entertainment on Sherkin Island. The following day's trip to Kinsale saw the boys heading east for the first time since the tour started which made them feel as though they were really heading home. However, big winds the following day really hampered their progress once again which meant they had to spend two nights in a place with no pub and really expensive showers! Twenty sixth leg: Kilmore Quay to Padstow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqbKeC5UPyo A stream of misfortunes hit John and Fionn on the 26th leg of The Great Motorboat Tour from Kilmore Quay to Padstow. The day started positive with glorious sunshine and a pleasant breeze but shortly into their trip they were advised to make a detour off Lundy Island to avoid a firing range. Once on track again they discovered the nagging engine problem had raised its ugly head again and the result was not good. Twenty seventh leg: Padstow to St Michael's Mount http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIvGc4QtRoE After a problematic journey on the previous leg, John and Fionn conquer the engine problem and enjoy the penultimate leg of the tour. However, the weather took another turn for the worse, which left the adventurers champing at the bit waiting for a weather window. After two weeks, John and his grandson, Josh, and Fionn finally set off from the pretty harbour of Padstow, rounded Longships Lighhouse 1.5 miles off Land's End, and experienced a pleasant cruise along the coast passing Porthcurno, Mousehole, Newlyn, and Penzance, and ended up at St Michael's Mount. Twenty eighth leg: Back to Falmouth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqRiguubsnM John and Fionn return to their home of Porthleven, Cornwall after what has been one of the most enjoyable trips of their lives. The pair succeeded in cruising all the way round Britain and Ireland and in doing so brought us one of the most enjoyable series of videos we've seen. We hope you have enjoyed it too. Their trusty Sealine S34 - Shark Bay - is now back at its home port of Port Pendennis Marina, Falmouth but it won't be long before they are off touring again. Keep an eye on Motor Boats Monthly magazine and website to see what John and Fionn are up to next. Wildlife footage from The Great Motorboat Tour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjzKZUlFnLs The recently completed Great Motorboat Tour was a great success and ended with John and Fionn returning to their home of Porthleven, Cornwall. They enjoyed their cruise around Britain and Ireland so much they wanted to share one last gem with MBM readers. The Wildlife video is a culmination of some of the best wildlife footage from around the coast including sea creatures of all shapes and sizes filmed above and below the water line. The sighting of a Giant Fin Whale off Falmouth was one of the highlights, while the underwater filming of the basking sharks was a real eye-opener!

Twenty eighth leg: Back to Falmouth

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