Advice needed Cardiff trip 7/8th July

D

Dutch01527

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Jul 2016
Messages
719
Visit site
We have friends coming down to our boat moored in Cardiff. 28 foot sail boat, realistic speed c. 5 knots. Due to children/work commitments they will arrive Friday at about 8.00pm and need to leave Sunday at about 4.00pm.

I am new to the Bristol Channel and am struggling to plan itinerary. High water Cardiff on the Saturday (Neaps) is 14.34.

Watchet - seems a bit tight, gate closes at 15.54 - leave early and fight the tide with the motor?
Porlock - warnings of doom if anchoring and leaving boat to go ashore
Portishead - ok to get there but Bristol high water 15.16 on the Sunday so difficult to get back to time lines.

Our friends are novice sailors and getting up at 3.30am to catch a tide is not their idea of a fun weekend. A comfortable sail and a decent dinner ashore would be ideal for them.

Any suggestions?
 
Last edited:
Just take them around the cans in Cardiff! If you go out and they don`t like it the day will be ruined for all!
Drinks and eat on the boat, just chill out and enjoy their company.

Forecast not much wind so you would be motoring and drifting!:encouragement:
 
Last edited:
Quimby said:
Just take them around the cans in Cardiff! If you go out and they don`t like it the day will be ruined for all!
Drinks and eat on the boat, just chill out and enjoy their company.

Forecast not much wind so you would be motoring and drifting!:encouragement:
Click to expand...

Thanks but we have already done that. They enjoyed it and expressed an interest in going further on the next visit. The trip is 7/8th of July so not even considered wind yet. Can you get a forecast that is even semi-accurate that far in advance?
 
10 to 15 days are out there .....................but of course forecasts can change, check nearer the date you need.:encouragement:
 
To get back on the on the Sunday really you need to go down channel to use the flood to get back Cardiff around HW or just before get get moored up and sorted so they can leave on time.

Swansea, or anchor at Mumbles or Oxwich Bay? (I've not done any so I have no idea what they're like) are all reachable on one tide from Cardiff (check the lock times at Swansea). I think I would do Portishead if you can talk them into leaving a little later on the Sunday, I hear there's a good curry house over there.
 
Anchor round Flat Holm or Steep Holm, depending on shelter. Have a picnic lunch and then come back in. Plenty of dinner options around Penarth.
 
shan said:
Anchor round Flat Holm or Steep Holm, depending on shelter. Have a picnic lunch and then come back in. Plenty of dinner options around Penarth.
Click to expand...

Apologies for a small gatecrashing of the thread... would you reckon this spot to the west of Flat Holm would be a nice one to anchor through the low tide? Or should I aim for the NE side in sight of the jetty?

flat holm.png
 
The range is limtted.

You can easily go Cardiff to Weston Bay leaving the barrage 4 hours before, and the entrance to the River Axe not nearly as bad as blue book suggest. moor on pontoon.
Nice pub in Uphill.

You can go uptide for few hours to Newport on Usk. No exit from club as inside power station secure grounds but easy access from sea and good pontoon.

Watchet only accessible within 2 hours of HW so hard to do from Cardiff without engine assist and going against rising tide for 2 hours, but going past to anchor in Blue Anchor and rising up to Watchet gets you there in the small hours. However an attempt at Watchet is safe due to proximity of Blue Anchor bay and you can at a pinch row ashore to the Blue Anchor pub. Mud and boulders and you might need to shuttle. Return from Watchet means leave as gate opens about to hours before HW and punch the tide from Lavernock to return keeping well out to avoid fierce tides by the Ranie. Engines are useful in the Channel!

Swansea is possible but you will need engine to push against flood as you get near entrance. Nash passage best so navigation needed and you need to leave Swansea at low water which is Ok at neaps but not possible at springs. The difference in tidal times between Swansea and Cardiff favours the return. (Oxwich is way out of range)

Portishead very practical and easy marina. Leave 4 hours before HW to get there. 1 hour before HW to get back
 
Sounds like Portishead is your best option, easy access and good facilities with a fair choice of eateries
I understand Spicy Aroma will deliver to the marina, meet you by the co op
There is a good selection of alternative options, Bottelinos, Aqua (so long as you're not to hungry), Hall and Woodhouse (expensive pub) the Royal Hotel is ok and quite reasonable
The boat yard cafe or the galley (kiosk) are both good for breakfast
 
Sneds said:
Sounds like Portishead is your best option, easy access and good facilities with a fair choice of eateries
I understand Spicy Aroma will deliver to the marina, meet you by the co op
There is a good selection of alternative options, Bottelinos, Aqua (so long as you're not to hungry), Hall and Woodhouse (expensive pub) the Royal Hotel is ok and quite reasonable The boat yard cafe or the galley (kiosk) are both good for breakfast
Click to expand...
The Town is sadly now becoming Milton Keynes-on-Sea, but the Royal Hotel overlooking the sea is indeed still fine as is the proper café in dockyard, fancy café by co-op, and there the chain pub eatery near the head of the Marina. I don't like H&W but then I'm long in the tooth and not very trendy. And as I and others have noted its a good starter trip to get there
 
At the top end of marina in Portishead there is a wetherspoons good grub fair prices and great beer its called the posset cup
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top