anchoring in or near Holyhead

P

Pagetslady

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Feb 2006
Messages
863
Location
Fleetwood marina
Visit site
Hi I am heading across the Irish sea next week weather permitting, plan is to sail from Fleetwood to Holy Head then across to Greystones harbour.I would like to Anchor close by to make an early start, I sail single handed so like to get up and get going and may well be arriving Late in Holyhead.
regards Mike
 
If winds are Moderate S to SW you could anchor in one of the bays on the North coast of Anglesey, Bull Bay Cemlyn, Cemaes. You could go into Amlwch harbour or East Coast at Moelfre. You will need to time your passage to Ireland so you have the tide with you along the North coast, ie HW Liverpool onwards and watch Carmel head if it's windy. You could go into Holyhead harbour and use a club mooring which costs about £15 or the marina of course. I've never anchored in the harbour but guess you could somewhere if you check with HM. In Northerly winds there's Treardur Bay.
 
There are several anchorages on the north coast of Anglesey (Porth Wen is another), but most are unteneble in winds from the North. Moelfre is also unteneble in a northerly wind. Allegedly, if the conditions are nice, you can anchor in the middle of the Skerries! I would highly recommend studying a pilot guide.

If the wind is at all northerly, you might be better going through the Menai Straits. Depending on how the tides work out, if you can't get through the Swellies, pick up a free mooring by the Gazelle for the night, or if you can get through, pick up a free mooring just past Caenarfon (cable bay), or you can anchor by Llanddwyn island, or even further along the N Wales coast.
 
Hypocacculus said:
If the wind is at all northerly, you might be better going through the Menai Straits...
Click to expand...

...and be constrained by lots of tides! If the wind has north or east in it then Trearddur bay is just the job - open to the south-west but otherwise very sheltered, excellent holding in clear water above sand, and pretty as well. The tidal gates are pretty much all passed for an onward trip to Greystones which means you can leave when it suits you and not be tidally constrained.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
...and be constrained by lots of tides! If the wind has north or east in it then Trearddur bay is just the job - open to the south-west but otherwise very sheltered, excellent holding in clear water above sand, and pretty as well. The tidal gates are pretty much all passed for an onward trip to Greystones which means you can leave when it suits you and not be tidally constrained.
Click to expand...

Yes but you will have to go through the straits to get there and he has said he will be arriving late, also would not chance the skerries. Holyhead sounds the best option. As an thought there is always Church Bay just round from Carmel Head
 
Tide wise the straits are pretty amenable from Fleetwood - 6 hrs ebb to Puffin, 2 hrs flood to M Bridge then 2 hrs rest before onwards to Caernarfon / Abermenai.
Skerries Lagoon is not as frightening as the chart suggests though the relevant section of Cruising Anglesey ... is handy. +

skerries1_zps01ad9965.jpg


There is an area of Holyhead harbour, free of moorings, where anchoring seems to be OK.
1_zps68bcb208.jpg
 
If you feel brave, there is a Trinity House mooring in the Skerries Lagoon, do not attempt except in good clear weather, but be prepared to be gobsmacked by a stunning location if you do enter.

You can anchor for free in Holyhead I believe but they charge you 20quid for picking up a mooring.
 
Searush said:
If you feel brave, there is a Trinity House mooring in the Skerries Lagoon, do not attempt except in good clear weather, but be prepared to be gobsmacked by a stunning location if you do enter.

You can anchor for free in Holyhead I believe but they charge you 20quid for picking up a mooring.
Click to expand...

Agree Searush as long as the fog does not roll in then nobody sleeps
 
+1 Skerries in fine weather. Was there a couple of weekends ago rafted up overnight. Magical!

Alternative if stronger Northerlies as others suggest plus Rhoscolyn or Silver Sands bay by entrance to inland sea just round the corner. Both best away from spring tides as prevailing swell is always much less.
 
akyaka said:
Yes but you will have to go through the straits to get there and he has said he will be arriving late, also would not chance the skerries. Holyhead sounds the best option. As an thought there is always Church Bay just round from Carmel Head
Click to expand...

Eh? I frequently anchor in Trearrdur Bay when coming down the Irish Sea to avoid tide gates the next day if the tide is in my favour and there are suitable conditions for anchoring. I have never been through the straits to get there - North Stack, South Stack, turn left. Why go through the straits? Seems a long and difficult way round.

Holyhead is an option, but the space for anchoring beyond the marina is minimal, likely to be foul with old moorings, and Holyhead harbour is big enough that with the wind in the wrong direction becomes uncomfortable.
 
The straits require timing but I would hardly describe them as difficult. And you get two extra hours of tide flushing you in the direction you want to go. And the wind at your back because a Northerly will usually blow you down the straits. And a respite from a big swell if there is one. There are anchorages beyond Caenafon Bar so departure need not be constrained.

It just depends on the timing of the tides. If they are awkward, then no, the Straits might not be the way to go.
 
Thanks everybody, i guess as usual it all depends on the weather, not much wind forecast for Thursday last time I looked at XC weather, I plan to leave Fleetwood on Wednesday Noon spend the night at Piel island and leave when I wake on Thursday around 0500 hrs it looks as if anchoring on the north coast of Anglesey will be good and leave on Friday morning in time for a fair tide across to Greystones. the alternative is to make for Port st Mary IOM then take the tide through Calf Sound and over to Ardglass and then make my way down the coast. I have sailed and rowed through the Swellies many times during the three peaks yacht race so i may return to Fleetwood that way having sailed further down the Irish east coast but I have to be back in Fleetwood for the 12 July for the regatta.
regards Mike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

P
Bringing my new boat from Netherlands to Ireland next year
2
Replies
33
Views
1K
xyachtdave
xyachtdave

Share this page

Top