Ardossan to Conwy

[Petercatterall]

Thanks to all who advised me on the anchor/mooring query. We are leaving our cosy berth at Ardrossan and moving to a mooring in Welsh Wales(hence the concerns about anchoring and mooring)
Next problem is how to get there!! and once again your advice will be most welcome (who said don't go??)
We want to arrive and depart in daylight and are not pressed for time.
My initial plan is Ardrossan to Loch Ryan to I.O.M. to Conwy.
I thought about Ireland but I.O.M. seemed simpler regarding tidal considerations and finding a sheltered harbour.
Has anyone any advice that they can share on this proposal/ places to visit, places to avoid, Stranrar ferries etc!!
Regards to you all.

 

[webcraft]

Why go into Loch Ryan? Portpatrick is less out of your way and a very pleasant wee place to visit.

As regards sheltered harbours in Ireland - there are excellent marinas at Glenarm (just a short hop across from Portpatrick) and Bangor at the top of Belfast Lough.

I.O.M. is worth a visit though and probably more on the direct route. Port St. Mary has visitor moorings and is a good jumping off point for Wales.

Isle of Man Yacht Club

Have a good trip,

Nick

 

[SteveGorst]

I can't advise you for the Scotish end of the trip, but we have sailed from IOM to Conwy. You could choose Port St Mary which would give you the shortest crossing, in our boat it took us 11 hours. This means that it is more or less a full cycle of the tide and the currents cancel each other out, so you can set a course directly for Conwy. If you leave Port St Mary say 2 hours before High water you will arrive off Anglesey with favourable tides that will sweep you all the way into Conwy.

There are some Ferrys sailing between Liverpool and Ireland and some Container ships but it isn't too heavy. Just make sure your reflector is up.

Have a good trip.

Steve

 

[penultimate]

Agree with Webcraft.
If the wind is fresh westerly I prefer the Irish side of the North Channel. I haven't been into Glenarm but Carnlough (shallow in the approach) is friendly, and Red Bay is a superb anchorage.
Douglas, IOM, has better facilities than St. Mary's and although it doesn't accept bookings you can usually get a pontoon berth in the inner harbour even in the height of summer.
In an Easterly there are a few visitors' buoys at Port Erin which I prefer to Peel.

 

[starboard]

Portpatrick a great spot but very weather dependent....not the place to enter if a good NW blow on, if you need advise on condition's phone Robert Erskine at the Lifeboat station a great and helpful character,stick very close to the Orange Polyform buoy before turning into the main harbour, if you shy away from it you will run aground up the beach......dont worry you wont be the first!!!! Depending on weather and if in no hurry I would head for Ireland via short hop to Campletown then Glenarm or Bangor (the best marina in britain) then Ardglass, Port St.Mary and across to Conway from here.If pressed for time go Portpatrick, try the new protected harbour at Peel or carry on to Port St.Mary watching the tides around the Chicken Rock light.

Whatever pick your weather well a passage that is spoilt for choice of place's to stop with a little planning.

Good luck

Paul.

 

[Spyro]

Make sure you time the tides right as you go through the north channel as it will make a huge difference time wise
Why would you be leaving a beautiful place like Ardrossan?

 

[starboard]

Oih.....Ardrossan a fine place to come from!! just don't leave your car parked too long or the local ned's will be away with it!!! The best thing to come out of Ardrossan is the A78 south bound for Troon.

Paul.

 

[Fin]

Don't know about the getting there but we've been at conwy for a couple of months now check out the Conwy yacht club website for easy map/waypoints getting into Conwy. Conwy marina (the one one the right as you go in) has been having some lock gate problems so call them on Ch 80 or give them a ring to check when they are doing work. Apart from that I know where the pub is and the take-away food menus!

Fin

 

[Thistle]

[ QUOTE ]
I haven't been into Glenarm.

[/ QUOTE ]
I have: it's lovely and very well sheltered in the marina; I don't think I'd like the entrance much in an easterly and the tide can set across the entrance quite strongly.

 

[Petercatterall]

Thanks to you all for the advice and suggestions. Our sailing has been confined to day sailing in the UK and flotillas abroad. Passage making, 'foreign' ports are a bit of a change for us (quite exiting really!!)
I've tried to keep our plan simple with plenty of opportunity to seek alternatives if things go wrong. i guess really that weather is the criticall thing and we don't need to put ourselves under pressure timewise.
Thanks again.