Anchorages & Anchor Rhode for North Wales and Anglesey

[Dukester52]

Hi All

With the new season approaching I'm considering replacing my anchor rhode. Our cruising area will be the stunning North Wales and Anglesey.

Our pride and joy draws 2 meters, fin keel, and currently we have 30m chain / 20m rope.

So I have a couple of questions which I thought might also be of use to others ( Conwy MHWS 7.9m / MHWN 6.2m according to visitmyharbour)

1: What (if any!) anchorages could the group suggest in the area, using my current setup (30/20)
2: I was thinking of replacing with 60m chain. Is that sensible or silly? Plus possibly 90m rope - too much? And if we were to increase the chain should we use a clink or replace completely?
3: What anchorages would the increased rhode open up to us?

Would really appreciate your musings!

Thanks in advance

Al

 

[Skylark]

I’m no longer in the lovely waters around Anglesey but I’ve lunchtime and overnight anchored in many places between, say, Bardsey to Conwy over about 20 years. My current boat draws 2.1m and weighs 11t (according to the crane driver at recent haul-out), I have similar anchor rode to yours. It may occasionally take a couple of attempts to dig-in but I don’t recall ever having dragged. Let’s not get into types of anchor, though

 

[dunedin]

Do you have an electric anchor windlass? If so the rope chain join is often a hassle, in which case all chain is often easier.

North Wales is in easy striking distance of other great sailing waters with lots of anchorages. If decide to change I would future proof and get the 60m chain you propose. When the wind is up, you rarely wish you had less chain, and sometime in the next 10 years surely you will be grateful for it.

PS personally I don’t like chain joiners, so I replaced 45m of new chain rather than join, again taking long term view

 

[savageseadog]

There's loads of places to anchor. Abermenai, LLandwyn Island, Abberfraw, done those. There's various places between Abberfraw and Rhosneigr. After Holyhead there's Church Bay and various bays all along the West and North Coasts, Lynas, Moelfre, Red Wharf Bay, Penmon, and temporary anchorages at Puffin Island.

 

[Dukester52]

Thanks for your input guys! I think I’ll go for the longer chain, avoiding a join, to enjoy some of your recommended anchorages.

 

[savageseadog]

Take great care if anchoring more than a few hours. Most of the anchorages will become dangerous lee shores if the wind picks up from the wrong direction. The added complication is that there are tidal gates at Canaerfon Bar, The Stacks and less so Carmel head which will prevent access back into the Strait or Holyhead respectively. Passage in most parts of Anglesey is very tide dependent. Of all the anchorages the most benign one is on the North side of Abermenai inside the Strait which is safe in most directions in all but the worst conditions. Porth Dinllaen on the LLeyn Peninsula not too far away offers safe refuge from S to West winds.

 

[Skylark]

Genuine question, why do you say “less so” for the Carmel Head tidal gate? I’ve found it to be just as nasty as The Stacks if timings are out.

To the OP, if you don’t have it already, Cruising Anglesey and Adjacent Waters by Ralph Morris gives full details of all anchorages. It’s essential reading imho.

One of the busiest places to visit, as mentioned above, is Porth Dinllaen. I once managed to hook a mooring chain. Not only is this very embarrassing but it takes a good while to extricate yourself.

I’m not convinced that you need 60m of chain for these waters. Don’t see the point in carrying the extra weight. It obviously depends upon your short and medium term cruising aspirations.

 

[TSB240]

Hi All

With the new season approaching I'm considering replacing my anchor rhode. Our cruising area will be the stunning North Wales and Anglesey.

Our pride and joy draws 2 meters, fin keel, and currently we have 30m chain / 20m rope.

So I have a couple of questions which I thought might also be of use to others ( Conwy MHWS 7.9m / MHWN 6.2m according to visitmyharbour)

1: What (if any!) anchorages could the group suggest in the area, using my current setup (30/20)
2: I was thinking of replacing with 60m chain. Is that sensible or silly? Plus possibly 90m rope - too much? And if we were to increase the chain should we use a clink or replace completely?
3: What anchorages would the increased rhode open up to us?

Would really appreciate your musings!

Thanks in advance

Al

I sail the area all year. The only Anchorages around Anglesey that require 30 metres plus of chain out are Porth Wen (Brick Works) and Borthwen (Rhoscolyn) and Moelfre. Traeth Bychan, Penmon, Llandwyn, Dinas, Rhosneiger, Silver Bay, Porth Dinllaen and most of the Llyn Peninsular anchorages don't need more than 20 especially If you want to make best use of any shelter from the wind by getting close in. Abermenai with 60 meters will make you the most unpopular person around as you will be taking up room for up to another 5 boats. Also you stand a much higher chance of swinging out of any deep water into the shallows and finding your pride and joy is on its side. You will be fine with what you have. If anchoring at Moelfre or Porth Dinllaen always buoy your anchor. Too much to foul on at both sites. I speak from hard work experience of pick extrication. Please on all other anchorages don't as this then makes space really tight. As most anchorages are tidal rode. So boats usually swing to tide rather than wind. It is totally unnecessary at Llandwyn which is free of any significant fouling.

 

[dunedin]

I sail the area all year. The only Anchorages around Anglesey that require 30 metres plus of chain out are Porth Wen (Brick Works) and Borthwen (Rhoscolyn) and Moelfre. Traeth Bychan, Penmon, Llandwyn, Dinas, Rhosneiger, Silver Bay, Porth Dinllaen and most of the Llyn Peninsular anchorages don't need more than 20 especially If you want to make best use of any shelter from the wind by getting close in.

Can you help me with your maths on this? I am not an expert on this area, so may have gotten this wrong, but my tides app suggests tides around Pwllheli and Holyhead today have around 5m tides (so less than Bristol but more than most W Scotland).
So with 5m tide and 2m keel, even an anchorage with just 1m throughout the swing area that gives a minimum of 8m. 3x depth might be fine for lunch. But anchoring safely overnight in a F6 I would want at least 5x. Add 2m for length from water to windlass/cleat that seems to be 8x5+2 = 42m for the shallowest 1m Anchorage.
Often need to anchor a bit further out to allow swing room so any anchorage with 5m below keel becomes (5+2+5)x5+2 = 62m.
Even using 3x scope I can’t see how you can anchor afloat at all with 20m chain and 5m tides.
Am I missing something?

Abermenai with 60 meters will make you the most unpopular person around as you will be taking up room for up to another 5 boats.

I am sure the OP realises that having 60m chain in the locker does not mean it all has to be used every time

 

[TSB240]

Can you help me with your maths on this?
Am I missing something /QUOTE]

Nope your maths is fine.
When I posted the OP had not committed to a 60 metre chain only rode. He has now!
If he had been prepared to use his rope rode he could have saved the additional weight and cost and bought me a quite few beers instead!
I could have then shared nearly 55 years experience of sailing around this area! Majority of my anchoring is in very shallow sheltered locations with plan B bailouts available to either very sound deep-water moorings or alternative wind direction anchorage. Most anchoring is at 3 times in the tighter sheltered spots. OP don't hesitate to PM. There are active cruise in company organisations to choose from. HHSC, Conway based NW Cruising Club, NW Venturers Beaumaris and RWYC Caernarfon. (Best Beer and yacht club building in Wales!)
Steve.

 

[Royston33]

I’m no longer in the lovely waters around Anglesey but I’ve lunchtime and overnight anchored in many places between, say, Bardsey to Conwy over about 20 years. My current boat draws 2.1m and weighs 11t (according to the crane driver at recent haul-out), I have similar anchor rode to yours. It may occasionally take a couple of attempts to dig-in but I don’t recall ever having dragged. Let’s not get into types of anchor, though

I'm sailing from Beaumaris on Wednesday of next week and would like to Anchor overnight Llandudno/Rhos way before heading for Liverpool on Thursday, where would you reccommend?

 

[Royston33]

I'm sailing from Beaumaris on Wednesday of next week and would like to Anchor overnight Llandudno/Rhos way before heading for Liverpool on Thursday, where would you reccommend?

My boat is a 20ft bilge keeler "Mintaka"

 

[TSB240]

I'm sailing from Beaumaris on Wednesday of next week and would like to Anchor overnight Llandudno/Rhos way before heading for Liverpool on Thursday, where would you reccommend?

Given southerly forecast you would be fine anchoring in Llandudno Bay or off Colwyn Bay. Alternatively you could make your way to Rhyl and dry out in the harbour.

Some break their passage to Liverpool and anchor off Hilbre Island to wait for the best time and tide through the Rock gut. Perhaps not for you if it us your first time.

Steve.

 

[[3889]]

I'm sailing from Beaumaris on Wednesday of next week and would like to Anchor overnight Llandudno/Rhos way before heading for Liverpool on Thursday, where would you reccommend?

Pick up one of the waiting buoys off Rhos and keep your ground tackle dry. In the extremely unlikely event that they're occupied the holding is good. Alternatively, pick up a mooring in the harbour at HW +/- 2hrs, I've always found someone there happy to advise, but don't think you will walk ashore, it is muddy with a capital M.

 

[steve350]

My boat is a 20ft bilge keeler "Mintaka"

I recognise that name.
Perhaps Alastair Buchan's old Hurley 20, as featured in "Sailing An Atlantic Circuit"?