Avoiding fishing boats.

[kds]

I have just returned from my 4 week Summer Cruise. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Departed Burnham on sea single-handed for Barry, Swansea, Milford Haven (2 weeks sailing around with family and friends). Thence overnight across to Ireland ; Waterford; Dunmore East; Cork; There a crew joined me and we cruised along to Kinsale; Glendore and Baltimore for a few days. Wonderful sailing and brilliant weather. Then returned to Burnham over 4 days. My boat is a long-keeled Van der stadt Trintella 29. (22ft. waterline )
The best fun was with Dolphins in the area south and west of "the smalls". /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif several hours of companionship, which is especially welcome when alone at night.
Yes - Ireland does get better as you go further West.
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
My really scary times were trying to avoid fishing boats - especially at night.
Have you found them concentrated South of the Separation Zones on the route you would take from Milford to SE Ireland ?
Tryng to guess what they are or where they are pointed is completely impossible. They are ablaze with massive, all-round arc lights Nav. lights are invisible (if they have them).
I returned by crossing the lanes - met no fishing boats and only one ship. I think I shall do this in future - but what do you do ? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Ken

 

[mireland]

Yes - completely agree. Fishing boats at night are a menace and it is often completely impossible to work out what they are doing. I have come to the conclusion that all you can do is to assume the worst and give them a very wide berth indeed.

 

[graham]

Sounds like a memorable cruise despite the fishing boats.

It really is impossible to see their nav lights or predict what they will do next.I keep some white flares handy for use if all else fails,never had to fire one yet more due to luck than anything else.

I visited Burnham O.S. while you were away.made very welcome by everyone I spoke to.only managed to get as far as Milford Haven this year.

 

[zlod]

kds> Sounds like a top trip. I take it you went directly from Milford Haven to Waterford rather than Kilmore Quay. I'm hoping to make it across to Ireland later this year and I'm sort of thinking that Milford Haven to Waterford seems to the preferable crossing (I get a bit uneasy about Kilmore Quay being full: I don't know why - it just seems to be a small place).

Graham> How did you get to Burnham from Cardiff? Is it possible to go out of Cardiff at some time on the flood and make it to Burnham at high water? That option doesn't work for me from Portishead and I tend to end up going a long way west to get to places like Watchet (and Burnham classifies as a "place like Watchet"!). Did you settle into the mud nicely, or was it fraught (I think I need to get used to the idea)?

fishing boats> What I don't get is that you can get well out of their way when you spot they are fishing boats. They seem to be in the distance. They come back at you from astern and don't act like overtaking vessels. I'd like to keep well out of their way in all cases (overtaking rule or not: they're doing their job), but sometimes I find them unpredictable. Good job there aren't many of them east of the Holm Islands (or are there?).

 

[graham]

Hi Zlod. Im sure the Burnham boat owners would go across over the top of the tide but as a visitor I would go down on the ebb anchor at Blue Anchor or go across to Barry then go into Burnham on a rising tide aiming to arrive about an hour before HW would be ideal.

The entrance to the River Brue is quite tricky ,it would be easy to ground on the way in hence my preference to arrive on a rising tide.

 

[Csail]

We had a nightmare in bay of biscay...pitch black and just on radar it was hard to know where they were going. I think they do keep a good watch though from what i have heard.
Against colregs, but i reckon a strobe light would work quite well.

 

[kds]

Graham gives good advice - but we would always find someone to meet you, once you get near the Brue, coming in for the first time. Don't forget that the sands go a long way out and a rising tide not only adds safety, but assists your passage in (East). Watch for a Northerly set across the "channel".
The mud is very soft and keelboats have no trouble settling in the river Brue.
Our web-site may help.
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/burnhamsailingclub/
We do have a visitors berth and will try to make you welcome. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Ken (commodore)

As for the fishing boats - Yes I do have white flares very handy and a search-light,
But having been on board a couple in harbour in Dunmore East - they have such bright lights shining down on their decks - I doubt if the skipper can see anything else - never mind keep a look-out !
Crossing to Ireland - yes I now prefer Dunmore East as the Entrance is very clear, the river is very wide and the lighthouse if very distinctive. The harbour master doesn't really want to be bothered with yachts - but we were made welcome twice. Don't try to get up to Waterford against the tide ( I did !!! )
Approaching Kilmour has none of these and the bouys for St. Patrick's Bridge are the size of mooring bouys and lost in a 2ft. swell. The tides across the shallows are tricky too - they don't obey the rules ! The harbour master was charming - but he didn't give me good advice on the tides either. I used the new Irish Cruising Assoc. Pilot book (expensive ! )
Ken