Advice on Menai launching

M

michaelh

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 Jun 2005
Messages
1,001
Location
Lancashire; UK
Visit site
I know there are a number of N Wales experts on here. We have a 6.5m rib which we usually take up to the west coast of Scotland. We fancy the idea of rock dodging in the Menai and environs next week and the concept would be to drive down Saturday, launch & moor up & B&B overnight then retrive and go home Sunday pm.

Now, I have not checked tides or anything like that yet, but assuming these are favourable, where would be a good place to drop the boat in and leave the trailer & boat secure? I've looked at boatlaunch but the information there doesn't seem to answer these particular neeeds

I'm not bothered where on the straights this could be; either Angelsey side or the mainland or even somewhere off the straights if it would suit better.

Muchas ta for any input.
 
The best place to launch on Anglesey is Menai Bridge.
The slipway has been widened.
There is always somewhere to park the car and trailer.
The slipway is virtually 24/7
Only on Springs the end of the slipway drops away a bit fierce
Springs at low water appear at about 19.00 hours and 0.6.30 hours ish.
The former doesn't interfere too much with imbibing hours and the latter too much with the breaking of the fast!
The beauty of launching in the Strait is that you can go with the flow as it where
Mind You the flow does flow quite quickly now and again
However, if the wind is a bother from one end of the Strait one can beggar off tother way
That's the beauty of the place
You will never be short of somewhere to play, whatever the conditions.
 
Other possibilities;
Morfa, Conwy (near the marina) has a decent car park & floating landing stage. but about 10 miles from the N end of the Straits.

Also sailing club slipway at Llanfairfechan

Plas Menai. I believe you can use their slipway for a charge, but check first.

Opposite Port Dinorwic on Anglesey there is a slipway at the end of a little lane.

At the Gazelle Inn (off the Beaumaris road) opposite Bangor there is a slipway & some car parking - phone the Gazelle for info.

There is a public slipway between Bangor Pier & Dickies. parking is limited & charged for but Dickies may help out for a small charge if you ask them.

There are two slipways along the Sarn Helen road just the opposite side of the R Seoint from Caernarfon. I think they are club owned but will probably accept visitors for a fee.

The Dinas boatyard have a slipway at the S end of the prom in Felinheli (Port Dinorwic)

Anglesey Boat Company (Beaumaris) has a concrete slipway & will allow visitors to use it for a fee.

There is a huge slipway just beyond Beaumaris (used to be used for flying boats!) and the lifeboat one by the pier at Beaumaris - but do not block that!

There is the ferry slipway near Victoria Dock, Caernarfon, but I don't think there is any vehicular access, but the boatyard which builds RIBs in the Dock may allow visitors to launch there.

Can't think of any others, but I'll bet there are more. Do a bit of "Google-earthing"
 
Menai Launching

I knew that you guys would have some answers.

I don't mind paying (shock horror) for security and convenience so I'll have a look at these options. Especially if we want to leave the boat somewhere overnight

Google Earth is probaly the next step.
 
Quite comprehensive Mr Searush Sir!
The Gazelle 'jetty' is a bit rough nowadays, I wouldn't recommend there these days.
The one opposite Dinorwic has been renovated by Ynys Mon Maritime section but has a 'drop off'.
Plas Menai has a nice slip but is usually quite busy with their own usage and the car park can get 'choka'
Slip[ at ABC is quite tidal
Dinas boatyard's slip is OK about 4 hours either side for a small vessel but again parking is restricted.
The one by Bangor pier is really difficult to use ref parking and access
Etc Etc
Not knocking your post me awl Mate.
Conwy and Llanfairfechan are ok if you want to explore that end.
Oh, the big un (where they chucked flying boats in) had a barrier on it last time I looked.
Wierd history with that one
Because of lack of use (the current owner of the old Saunders Roe factory area) did put a barrier on it some time ago, then cos of lack of use as mentioned 'ownership' was returned back to the Bulkely estate I think
Might have been garnered by Ynys Mon now.
So really, I,m not sure what's going on there !!!!

On the east side peeps do launch at Traeth Bychan and Cemaes plus Amlwch.
Tother side at Rhosneigr (tractor service) and Trearddur Bay.
Obviously Holyhead too.
I,ve racked me pea brain and I can't come up with a better venue than Menai Bridge
 
I'd go for the one Kwackers suggests. There looks to be some sort of security in the yard and theres a pontoon close by where you can get ashore from. Also a hotel across the road, Know nothing about the hotel and never been in it.
 
There is secure parking for a vehicle and trailer at Menai for 6 nicker
Plus the renovated and widened slip has a provision for parking the trailer with a chain you can lock on to
Beware though said area WILL flood on H.W.S.
The cost for uysing all of said slips on Anglesey, plus Arfon is £130 annually.
Or £80 if the user has a basic cert say RYA PB2.
Daily tiss £13.
During the week and quieter weekends a parking space can be found for nowt at Menai
 
hlb said:
Also a hotel across the road, Know nothing about the hotel and never been in it.
Click to expand...

Now if yer wants any info on Drinking establishements etc about Menai
I can construct a post on that theme that will make Rushi'es excellent slipway guide look a little stunted:D
 
I quite agree Richard, I just had a pleasant mental sail up & down for a happy ten minutes. Thanks for the updates - I don't generally see them from the road.

Deffo start by checking out the Menai Bridge slip first - there's fuel there and water on the St George's Pier.
 
All the suggestions above are great, but for ultimate ease of launching try Ty Calch (Ronnies) tractor service. Situated about 2 miles south of Caernarfon on the Southern end of the straights.Friendly and helpful,you dont even need to get your feet wet, free parking and all for £15. Loads of places to go from there, we have left the boat in Caernarfon and stayed in B&B in the town.
Its one of only a couple of launch sites in North Wales that you dont need to be registered to use.
Information on boat launch, just turn up 8 to 8 in summer and they put you in when ready.
 
Ahh, "Ronnies Tractor Service" that will be the second of the two down the Sarn Helen Road. I've seen loads of boats & trailers there - that's why I thought it was a club.

Big bonus from there is that, given the right weather, you are only a hop & a skip from Llandwyn Island just over the bar. If you go into Caernarfon, remember that at the Slate Quay the river dries out, so use the Victoria Dock if you can't take the ground.
 
Too much good info

Keep pouring this good information and I'll get working on it tomorrow.

We've just ought into this new boat after the last 6 years with a small rib. We spend most of our time on the West coast of Scotland, but the new boat gives us much greater range - due to its size- and needs using since it cost us a lot and and its useless parked on the drive.

its also got all this new fangled technology, so have been off doing our radio course today @ Heysham. So both SWHMBO & I are now qualified to use the VHF.
 
Just a couple more suggestions, Launch off the beach at Beaumaris above half tide opposite sailing club or with a better choice of b&b at Deganwy.Plenty choice of accomodation at Llandudno.
 
Incidentally, if it's a sport boat think carefully before you "blast round Anglesey". It isn't that far at speed, but the tides & overfalls can be a nightmare. I have often seen very wet & bedraggled - and near hypothermic couples in sport boats arriving back in the Straits very glad to still be alive after undertaking that little jaunt on a "nice day" that turns out to be not so nice on the windward side of the island.
 
michaelh said:
We have a 6.5m rib which we usually take up to launch & moor up & B&B overnight then retrive and go home Sunday pm.
Click to expand...

Look you Searush , tiss a R.I.B!!:p
Ideal for bashing around Anglesey.
However you are quite correct in mentioning overfalls and stuff.
Tother thing michaelh, you can plonk the R.I.B on the landing platform overnight at Menai Bridge pier.
You may incur a small fee but it,s ideal , plus there are B@B's and a few Pubs within walking distance:cool:
There may be a 7.85 Ribeye there this Sat night;) so carefull how you tie up:)!
 
Overfalls

I'll take good note of what you say. However, we spent a week in May @ Croabh Haven. Circumnavigated Jura; Mull and environs and had a major play in the Grey Dogs and the Corryvreckan. Mind the weather was good ( apart from the Jura bit)



So, with the knowledge of what tides can be like when they turn nasty, and with all the foul weather gear that we have we should be OK.

I've looked into Ronnies and seems like good access. If we wanted to launch there, Is there anywhere with pontoons that we could leave it afloat overnight, that is not too tide restricted?
 
Yeh, use the Pier lots
Came in handy earlier today too.
Nearest places to tie up at the 'Ronnie' end is Victoria Dock 3 hours either side.
Up the Seiont agin the wall, bigger window there.
Then the 'Basin' at Dinorwic Marina , almost 24/7 on smallest neaps.
 
There is another slip alongside it with direct access from a car park (usually has a couple of PWC on trailers in it too).

MichaelH If your boat can take the ground then the River Seoint in Caernarfon is very sheltered and tempy moorings for small boats (under 20') are not expensive.

If going out over the Bar, get the new chart from Caernarfon Harbour Master (it's free) as they have just moved the bouys. It is generally acknowledged that the bar is "uncomfortable" - even unsafe, SW'ly F5 or above over the ebb.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top