Around Britain by Sail: Nestor Montagu

Nestor Montagu Reaches the Homeward Leg of His Circumnavigation

The Finish Line Draws Closer

From remote Scottish anchorages and the dramatic rounding of Cape Wrath to navigating the Pentland Firth, battling heavy fog and completing consecutive overnight passages, this stage has tested every aspect of offshore sailing. Changing weather, powerful tides, sail damage, rough seas and busy shipping lanes have all been part of the challenge. With the north of Britain now behind him, Nestor has firmly entered the final homeward leg of his remarkable circumnavigation, with every mile bringing him closer to completing an incredible journey around the entire coastline of Great Britain.

From the Summer Isles to Cape Wrath

At just 19 years old, British sailor Nestor Montagu is undertaking an extraordinary circumnavigation of Great Britain, sailing the entire coastline rather than taking the shortcut through the Caledonian Canal. His route has taken him through some of the country's most remote and exposed waters, demanding careful navigation, resilience and self-sufficiency. One of the latest stages began in the beautiful Summer Isles on Scotland's west coast, where Nestor prepared for the challenging passage north. After leaving the islands ahead of an approaching squall bringing winds of around 25 knots, he continued towards the iconic Cape Wrath.

Turning East Across the Top of Scotland

Rounding Cape Wrath, Britain's north-westernmost point, marked one of the most significant milestones of the expedition. Having spent weeks sailing north along the rugged west coast, Nestor finally turned east for the first time since setting out, beginning his passage across the top of Scotland. The route then led through the notorious Pentland Firth, renowned for its powerful tides and complex conditions. Shortly afterwards, further bad luck struck when the spinnaker ripped once again, forcing him to continue the homeward journey without one of his key downwind sails.

Fog, Overnight Passages and Long Miles South

Continuing solo down Scotland's east coast, Nestor eventually reached Lindisfarne, where he dried the boat out for the first time during the voyage. As the journey continued south, conditions became increasingly challenging. Thick fog on the approach to the Humber Estuary reduced visibility to almost nothing in one of the UK's busiest commercial shipping areas. With the horn sounded every two minutes and constant vigilance for nearby vessels, it proved to be one of the most demanding moments of the expedition. Fortunately, the fog lifted as he reached the mouth of the Humber. After stopping at Brancaster during the summer heatwave, Nestor completed a 25-hour, 120-nautical-mile overnight passage to Ramsgate - the longest single leg of the voyage so far.