Bristol Channel passage planning

[SteveSarabande]

I just got my first yacht berthed, a Sabre27 berthed in Cardiff Marina. I only started sailing this year, but I have a few miles under my belt crewing for others and took the plunge to buy my own boat.

I am just getting to grips with passage planning in the channel and the effect of the big tides and the locking in marinas.

We did Portishead this weekend (mostly motoring). Leaving Cardiff at low tide, arriving at Portishead on a rising tide and the tidal stream behind us was easy. The return journey was the same, left Portishead at high and had an evening tide helping us back.

My question is what happens going the other direction. If I want to go to Watchett I need to arrive around high tide, this means leaving Cardiff some time after low tide and pushing against the tide all the way. It seems it will be the same for anything westward that has a narrow arrival window for locking-in.

So what do people do, push the tide all the way? or go with the tide and hang around the entrance for hours to get in?

 

[Allan]

Welcome to the Bristol channel.
In my opinion there are two main plans for Watchet from Cardiff.
With my previous boat, an Etap 22i, I preferred to leave a little after high tide and, depending on the wind, head for Minehead or Blue anchor. After lunch and a nap at anchor, the tide will have turned and you can drift up to Watchet. Just west of Minehead harbour there is a large white spot low on the cliff, it marks the anchorage.
In my present boat I normally head out of Cardiff around 3-4 before HW Watchet and push the tide. It is sensible to pick your way through the tide, in particular off Lavenock point. The main key is ensure you are the right side of the harbour when you arrive. Many people avoid going in or out of the marina entrance within 20 minute of the the gate opening or closing.
Allan

 

[wotayottie]

Depends really on your expected speed. From memory its about 18 miles which for me is 3 hours. So to leave a margin I leave Cardiff 2 hours before, which is only 1 hour of tide against if you think about it.

 

[graham]

Another possibility is to leave on the ebb tide anchor or pick up a mooring at Barry or Jacksons Bay for a couple of hours then leave just after low water to sail across to Watchet.

Anchoring at Blue Anchor or off the white mark at minehead in quiet weather is ok but can be a bit lumpy in a fresh breeze from wrong directions.NEly is not good over there.

 

[SteveSarabande]

Depends really on your expected speed. From memory its about 18 miles which for me is 3 hours. So to leave a margin I leave Cardiff 2 hours before, which is only 1 hour of tide against if you think about it.

I have been working on 5kts as a sensible speed before accounting for tide.

I need to check the tidal streams atlas again, doesn't that give you 2hrs of tide against and one with. I also heard that Watchet is pretty silted so arriving late would be a problem.

 

[graham]

I have been working on 5kts as a sensible speed before accounting for tide.

I need to check the tidal streams atlas again, doesn't that give you 2hrs of tide against and one with. I also heard that Watchet is pretty silted so arriving late would be a problem.

Providing you arrive before the gate shuts you will get in. In one way arriving a little late is better than at HW if you can get into a berth 2 hrs after HW you will get out again a similar time before HW when U leave.

If you do berth in Watchet at or close to HW check you have plenty of water to leave again as if you are stuck in the berth untilHW you will be sailing against the tide all the way home.

Dont be put off Watchet is a great place to visit.

 

[bitbaltic]

I just got my first yacht berthed, a Sabre27 berthed in Cardiff Marina. I only started sailing this year, but I have a few miles under my belt crewing for others and took the plunge to buy my own boat.

I am just getting to grips with passage planning in the channel and the effect of the big tides and the locking in marinas.

We did Portishead this weekend (mostly motoring). Leaving Cardiff at low tide, arriving at Portishead on a rising tide and the tidal stream behind us was easy. The return journey was the same, left Portishead at high and had an evening tide helping us back.

My question is what happens going the other direction. If I want to go to Watchett I need to arrive around high tide, this means leaving Cardiff some time after low tide and pushing against the tide all the way. It seems it will be the same for anything westward that has a narrow arrival window for locking-in.

So what do people do, push the tide all the way? or go with the tide and hang around the entrance for hours to get in?

Welcome to the Bristol channel and congrats on the boat. I've only been to Watchet on training school boats as on account of the silting I won't take my (wing keeled) boat there until there is deep water to moor in. Anyway, the two passages I've done have been mentioned. They are either to take the ebb to blue anchor roads and anchor or Jill about until the flood takes you back up to Watchet when the gate is open, or to anchor off Jackson's bay and let the last of the ebb take you down before punching a bit of flood to get in. Which works will probably depend on the boat and the wind. The third way that wottayottie mentions is fastest and most elegant but will require your boat to sail and if needs be punch fast to windward.

Either way you will not have problems getting in once the gate is down on account of the silting. There is plenty of clearance at high water. It's after that as the gate goes up and the tide drops that the silt becomes discouragingly visible. If you have a straight fin or bilge keels though, I wouldn't worry, it's only wing or bulb keels (vulnerable to suction or uneven settling) that I would be worried about. The situation will improve as they keep dredging and Watchet is an excellent town for dinner and beers.

 

[wotayottie]

I need to check the tidal streams atlas again, doesn't that give you 2hrs of tide against and one with. I also heard that Watchet is pretty silted so arriving late would be a problem.

Which nets out to one against

Yes it is silted, and the automatic cill raises and lowers at different times according to springs / neaps. I havent been there this year since the silting was so bad early on that a pal with a bilge keeler struggled to make even the hammerheads. They may well have dredged by now.

Aim to get there latest one hour after HW, and dont chance it with the cill and the lights. Go through the lock decisively ie not silly speed but not dithering either since there is a cross current at the entrance and it isnt a wide lock.

All in all, whoever designed the marina at Watchet wants shooting.

 

[SteveSarabande]

Thanks for the replies, something to think about there.

 

[SteveSarabande]

Well that is Watchet sorted out. (we went to Portishead instead last weekend, much easier for a first outing)

Next destination is Lundy. It seems to me the best option is to leave on high tide and anchor somewhere on the way at low tide, rest and wait for the tide to come in, before going again. So somewhere between Minehead and Ilfracombe, so where is good to anchor, it's a fin keel so not many options to sneak into a harbour.

 

[single]

Well that is Watchet sorted out. (we went to Portishead instead last weekend, much easier for a first outing)

Next destination is Lundy. It seems to me the best option is to leave on high tide and anchor somewhere on the way at low tide, rest and wait for the tide to come in, before going again. So somewhere between Minehead and Ilfracombe, so where is good to anchor, it's a fin keel so not many options to sneak into a harbour.

Woody bay then go ashore and food/beer in Woody Bay Hotel.

 

[SteveSarabande]

Woody bay then go ashore and food/beer in Woody Bay Hotel.

I need to buy a dinghy first, it's a bit cold to swim ashore

 

[matelot]

Well that is Watchet sorted out. (we went to Portishead instead last weekend, much easier for a first outing)

Next destination is Lundy. It seems to me the best option is to leave on high tide and anchor somewhere on the way at low tide, rest and wait for the tide to come in, before going again. So somewhere between Minehead and Ilfracombe, so where is good to anchor, it's a fin keel so not many options to sneak into a harbour.

I normally expect to make Lundy in one, leaving cardiff maybe 2 hrs before HW and keeping tight inshore to make the best possible distance to the west. then head for mid stream for the best possible tide help. You will end up fighting tide for the last few miles to Lundy but by then the tide is weaker and it will only be the final hour or two. Pal in a 29ft Moody does it in one.

 

[Tim O]

This is a very useful thread for newbies like me....please keep any more suggestions of cruises that can be made in one day or so from Cardiff....I keep my 24 foot Atlanta in the Bay

 

[single]

You can go almost anywhere.Best to choose a place then ask advice.When i started many years ago we did the local stuff like Portishead,watchet,Minehead,Porlock wier,Ilfracombe.
If you have done Portishead then You may aswell do Bristol.
Are there no 'gangs' you can do sail aways with? If not why not join one of the clubs like CBYC and join us lot.

 

[Tim O]

I'm a CYC member.....been out a few times now as crew with Allan, and other CYC members...just plucking up the courage to go out on me own boat!!!

 

[single]

Only way is to just do it when the weather is good.Go in your own boat but its always reassuring if another boat you know is out there heading the same way.

 

[Tim O]

That's my plan!.....waiting for the right combination of decent weather with a good wind and tides....was going to go out New year's Eve, but wind was a bit too strong and gusty for a first trip out with an inexperienced crew so we went out with Allan instead...always a good learning experience....my time will come

 

[single]

Initially i taught myself without too many probs.As long as you know where you are and you have the right kit nothing 'should' go too wrong.Advice and tips on here before each trip is best advice and just trust the boat. (Easier said than done when it gets bad but stick with it)
Things going wrong is the best way to learn i reckon.

 

[wotayottie]

This is a very useful thread for newbies like me....please keep any more suggestions of cruises that can be made in one day or so from Cardiff....I keep my 24 foot Atlanta in the Bay

Dont hesitate to turn left as you leave the bay. Its easy to go under the bridges and up to Chepstow and District YC and thornbury. In both cases you would nee to take to the ground in soft mud.

You could also go to Newport Uskmouth SC, maybe even to Lydney and Sharpness eventually. There are more places withing a day if you turn left than if you go right.