Armchair planning Preston-Menai

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pcatterall

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Just planning step 1 in of our trip 'down south' next year.
First section was to consider preston to and through Menai straits.
Departing April 1st ( good omen?) at 0600 we can arrive Puffin Isle by 1630 just right for the Swellies which we could transit at slack water ( HW- 1H 40M in those parts) and in daylight, Then I guess on to Port Dinorwic for the night.
It sounds do-able to me but is there anyone out there who can add local knowledge/first hand experience?
Also; if/ when it goes wrong any bolt holes anchorages etc which are recommended?
(I see an anchorage just under the light on NE tip of Anglesey and one just down channel from Puffin)
Is there anywhere recommended to hole up at Beaumaris?

Then there is Caernarven bar ( but thats day 2!!)

All tips appreciated
 
pcatterall said:
..Departing {...} at 0600 we can arrive Puffin Isle by 1630 just right for the Swellies which we could transit at slack water ( HW- 1H 40M in those parts) and in daylight, Then I guess on to Port Dinorwic for the night.
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I don't have tide tables for next year - what time is HW Liverpool on the day of your trip?

[Don't underestimate the time taken from Puffin Island to the Swellies - the tide will be against you (2-3 kts) down the Straits if you're timing your arrival for slack at the Swellies.] Edit: no it won't:o

I don't think it matters much whether you get through the Swellies on day 1 or 2 - I pretty sure you will be able to get across Caernarfon bar on the same tide that you transit the Swellies.

(I see an anchorage just under the light on NE tip of Anglesey and one just down channel from Puffin)
Is there anywhere recommended to hole up at Beaumaris?
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If you mean the one just north of the lighthouse, I haven't had good experiences there - it's very exposed, poor holding & ringed with rocks. The one on the East side of Puffin Island is much better (IMHO) if conditions allow. If you get that far, then there are much more sheltered options inside the Straits.

There are several places to anchor in the Straits, but around Beaumaris, there are many, many moorings, and you will almost certainly find an unoccupied one. I've noticed recently that the mooring buoys are being marked with max displacement which takes some of the guesswork out of this.

Plan your arrival at Bardsey carefully.

My 0.02p - others around here will have much more experience.

Andy
 
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We used to have a static caravan just on the hill overlooking Point Lynas (NE tip of Anglesey). Plenty of boats anchoring for lunch in the bay, but I can't remember ever seeing anyone anchor overnight. And there is a heck of a tidal race around the point.
 
misterg said:
If you mean the one just north of the lighthouse, I haven't had good experiences there - it's very exposed, poor holding & ringed with rocks. The one on the East side of Puffin Island is much better (IMHO) if conditions allow. If you get that far, then there are much more sheltered options inside the Straits.
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Too many lighthouses! - I meant the Trwyn Du lighthouse at Pen Môn - just opposite Puffin Island.

Andy
 
Andy has it pretty well covered. Best to transit the Swellies 2hr before HW Liverpool - but other times are possible & arriving late will ensure a very quick (& exciting) passage towards Caernarfon.

The Straits is a unique bit of scenery that may reward a little time. There are many safe places to pick up a mooring, but limited anchoring spots (due to old moorings fouling most of the area. The moorings at Beaumaris dry out & are may roll nastily at certain tide states. You can anchor in the pool on the opposite side of the channel, but take care you have enough water if you can't dry out.

There are visitor moorings off the Gazelle & it is very sheltered & doesn't dry out, this is just about opposite Bangor Pier. You can sometimes tie up at St Georges pier but the Bangor Uni reasearch vessel Prince Madoc may come & go, so check at the time with the pier master. There are sometimes spare moorings near the slipway at Menai Bridge (Anglesey side) that are useful if waiting for slack at the Swellies.

Once thro the Swellies, there are visitor moorings off Port Dinorwic (non-drying) and berths in the old dock (the Council estate) which dry out. If you are feeling flush & not too late, they may let you in the expensive bit behind the lock gates where the nobs hang out (so to speak).

Moving on, Victoria Dock has marina visitor berths too & Caernarfon Slate quay is in the heart of the town & extremely well sheltered if you can dry out. Te anchorage behind Belan Point has become very dodgy recently with many reports of dragging, it seems that much of the deep mud has been swept away by the strong tides & very little is getting a proper grip on what is now exposed, agin if you can tae the bottom, you can go well in behind the spit & safely dry out on sand with good holding.

The bar channel has recently moved & it may well have moved again by next spring. Keep an eye on the Caernarfon Harbour Trust site, they are responsible for marking the channel & have the latest chart on line. A phone call to Richard (HM) will confirm if there any pending changes just before you cross - or simply follow the bouys! Avoid crossing below 1/2 tide & do not attempt with SW'ly 5 or above over the ebb! You might manage SW'ly 6 over the flood, but you will need a good engine! HW slack should be OK, but then you will get clobbered at the Tripods (south of Port Dinllaen) or Bardsey!

Porth Dinllaen is a lovely lunch stop of the weather is nice & Bardsey is lovely when the weather is good too.
 
Only things I have to add are:

Don't concentrate on the Swellies to the detrement of your pilotage through the rest of the straits.

Caernarfon Bar was a doddle this year during the 3PYR. We crossed outside the parameters set by the Caernarfon Harbourmaster for a safe passage and it was a doddle. Had more, not unexpected, trouble by C10 but that was pretty close to low water. Plan it carefully and don't go outside the harbourmaster's advice (do as I say and not as I do) & you should be fine.

Get the latest chartlet from the website & laminate it up so you can refer to it in the cockpit. Do the same for the Swellies (except that doesn't change frequently so you should be able to keep it for next time).
 
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doughnut said:
We used to have a static caravan just on the hill overlooking Point Lynas (NE tip of Anglesey). Plenty of boats anchoring for lunch in the bay, but I can't remember ever seeing anyone anchor overnight. And there is a heck of a tidal race around the point.
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I have overnighted in there, but there isn't much room to swing if you get right inside. I set up a Moor with 2 anchors & a shortish central riser to stay tight. There used to be a mooring in there that may be Trinity House, but it is further out & more exposed.

BTW. if OP is in a hurry, then make for Holyhead, good shelter there & o/night mooring is £15 inc shore ferry or £25 for marina berth which can be a bit dodgy sometimes. Still plenty of tide gates & overfalls to watch out for too.
 
What a helpfull and knowledgeable bunch you are!! ,many thanks, another 'favourite to add to planning folder.
We will keep the Holyhead route up our sleeves but The times from Preston tide and daylight fall just right to get past the swellies on day one. of course there is the other little thing .......... weather!!
 
Your day 1 plan covers quite a high mileage. The passage is SW'ly which will quite likely be a beat into the prevailing wind. You'll also pass close to the entrance to the Mersey which can resemble a supermarket car park at times with commercial traffic waiting for the pilot.

The Ralph Morris Cruising Anglesey & adjoining waters covers your passage and gives Menai tidal flows and useful chartlets for many anchorages.

There's an Imray chart IIRC that's ok for the offshore bit but I'd recommend the Admiralty chart of the Menai to work-up your pilotage plan. A passage through the straits is not difficult but you'd be wise to plan it thoroughily in advance, IMHO.
 
Seamaster925 said:
Searush.......

the outer moorings at Beaumaris don't dry ......I have stayed on them a few times
and never touched with 5ft 6 in fin keel
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Fairy nuff, I avoid the area like the plague after some horrible roly poly experiences. Rolling is likely to be worse so close to the channel I would guess. One only has to go past Gallows Point for complete shelter & a lovely quiet restfull night. And the Gazelle does reasonable food that you can eat while gazing out of the bar widow at your wonderful yacht.
 
Back in October, there were 3 visitors buoys off Beaumaris pier, all were missing the pick up buoys, and between two of us, could not lift the buoy, ended up having to lasso the thing.
Quite a bit of tide running where the buoys are, and with some wind, you end up lying in all sorts of odd directions.
Best bet, and with a bit of luck is to get on the pier, or alongside the Madog at St Georges. The Liverpool Arms does some decent food.
A call to the harbor master before arrival will let you know if you can get a berth there
 
pcatterall said:
Just planning step 1 in of our trip 'down south' next year.

Then there is Caernarven bar ( but thats day 2!!)

All tips appreciated
Click to expand...

Be interested to know what other stops you have planned between Menai and Lands End, planning the same trip single handed for about April/May next year, around to Shoreham, then across to Honfleur, or Caen
 
Ahh Nigel1!!
Planning has not stopped at Menai but has definatly become more Vague!!
I guess that planning beyond a certain range is less easy to fix.
We are looking at all the sensible places to anchor/moor/shelter paying special attention to the bits that should be sailed 'accross' etc.
We will be able to night sail if required/possible.
So.... very flexible plan with info on board for all options.
Will list those 'stopovers' which we are considering ( they are somewhere on paper but not in any order)
 
Too many great, unmissable places. I would want to include IoM & Ireland, but then I know Menai very well & it's a while since I last visited the other two!

Decisions, Decisions, decisions! (apologies to late JFK) :D

TBH, you should have fun doing the research, but then see which way the wind blows on the day. If you have a list of parameters for each potential destination, the decision may well be made for you by tides & wind.
 
nigel1 said:
Moelfre is a good anchorage if you dont make it into the straits, and there is no east in the wind
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Moelfre and Traeth Bychan are very nice but quite a bit of swell comes round in a NW let alone a N, so you need more than just "no east". We had a very uncomfortable night in Traeth Bychan in a (F6) NW a few months back, we had moved there from Moelfre thinking it would be a little more sheltered, but the beach is very shallow so you have to anchor out of the extra shelter at Traeth Bychan (if you can't dry).

I've found that the channel to the east of Puffin Island is much shallower than charted. You may be better off passing to the west of Puffin and through the gap if you're close to low water.

The Prince Madoc's birth is handy but I'm told the harbourmaster occasionally charges handsomely for staying there. I've never seen the harbourmaster however.

As above the buoys at Caernarfon bar are sometimes in the wrong positions as the channel moves frequently. They are also rather small and spaced out so it can be difficult to spot your next target, so it's worthwhile to have their latest positions plotted and courses pre-planned.

Bardsey Island anchorage is a worthwhile stop but there can be some swell when the tide is running into the bay.

Enjoy and let us know what you plan for the following legs.
 
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