Can we go over my passage plan? Belfast ---> Swansea (NI - Ireland - Wales or NI - NE - Wales)

[zoidberg]

I did plan with 5kts, or so I thought. But everything is off, and I didn't notice

You are very right when you say it's obviously planned with 10 kts, and the distances are off, too. Let me do that again haha

Like many, I've been along that route multiple times - each way - and I prefer to route down the Irish Coast.
Ardglass, Howth, Arklow, Wexford make sense. Just about all of Cardigan Bay is a lee shore with little prospect of a safe haven.
Skomer N&S are good as boltholes.
There are two marinas and multiple easy, safe anchorages in/around Milford Haven.
There's a good anchorage on the north side of Caldey Island, just off the Priory Bay landing jetty. There's also the prospect of an unused mooring buoy there, used occasional by the Mad Monks on their smuggling runs.

 

[Dellquay13]

That sounds indeed like the better plan, it also looks like fewer stops to me.

So far looks like I scratch out Portaferry and go for Ardglass instead, then Dun Laoghaire, Arklow still not sure about that, milford haven (would like to find something in between 16 hours is still doable, but I'd rather avoid such long distances just in case I sail slower), and then swansea.

Personally wouldn't mind a trip to Dublin tbh. Who can pass that up?

Ireland across to Fishguard then MH?

 

[DangerousPirate]

Am I living in a parallel universe or are your distances miles out, like double?

Belfast to Portaferry (should take 8:30h is about 80ish nm)
35nm?

Portaferry to Douglas (9-10h, about 90 nm)
48nm?

Douglas to Holyhead (10h, 95nm)
51nm?

Are you really passage passage planning at 10 knots? Does that not ring alarm bells?

Why would you go from Portaferry all the way to Douglas on the other side of IoM if you were going to Holyhead? Peel if you must but Douglas?
Portaferry to Holyhead is about 70nm, a comfortable if long day in the prevailing with no access issues at the destination.

There are no depth issues at Howth...you add low water height to those numbers giving you another 0.7 or whatever at minimum.

I would think about staying on the Irish side if wind firmly in the west.

Edit: JM beat me to it.

Douglas because if I go to IoM I will visit a friend who lives there.

Wexford

Wexford is a good call. Didn't know that location, looked at it and it looks good to me. It's easy to miss ports like that when you look at navionics only. I have lent my pilot book for ireland out shows you how valuable those can be.

Portaferry is an awkward marina to get into. Just across past Strangford is a very nice bay where you could pick up a mooring or anchor. But the narrows have very strong tides and you need to consider timing very carefully.

You don't say how long you have for the trip. That makes a difference. Plenty of time? Then go up the narrows. It is very a interesting run and very speedy with the tide in your favour.

I got plenty of time, as long as I want actually. But I prefer to be there sooner rather than later, and then take my time to explore properly on the way back.

10kts ????

Even with a race boat - I still plan on 5kts .... especially if single handed - you would be setting boat up to be 'safe' and not pushing her .. so 5kts would be max average ..

Even though I am not a supporter of rope rode anchoring ... if you are anchoring in sheltered waters - what's the problem ? Lets be honest - with such a trip - you should have alternative 'bolt-holes' to drop into if needed .. and that would usually mean anchoring.

I do anchor through the day with it, if necessary. But I don't have too much scope on it and I don't really trust ist very much. I would not be able to rest overnight I just know haha. If I have to, I will but I just try to avoid it. Besides, nothing beats a drum or two of whisky in a local pub after a long sail.

Like many, I've been along that route multiple times - each way - and I prefer to route down the Irish Coast.
Ardglass, Howth, Arklow, Wexford make sense. Just about all of Cardigan Bay is a lee shore with little prospect of a safe haven.
Skomer N&S are good as boltholes.
There are two marinas and multiple easy, safe anchorages in/around Milford Haven.
There's a good anchorage on the north side of Caldey Island, just off the Priory Bay landing jetty. There's also the prospect of an unused mooring buoy there, used occasional by the Mad Monks on their smuggling runs.

Very useful comments. Wexford is on my list of ports to call now, this is the last bit I looked for to make the crossing more bearable single-handed.

 

[jamie N]

75NM/15hrs 'inshore' is quite a passage solo, and as others have said it's good to keep an alternate up your sleeve, and treat the final destination as an ambition, but it's fairly obvious that you know that already.

 

[dgadee]

I used to do Arklow to Newlyn since it was much simpler and quicker than when I did Kilmore Quay (usually involved an extra night). Never been to Milford Haven. Not been to Wexford since the 1980s.

Kilmore Quay, though, has a great fish and chip shop.

Is this trip for the height of summer? Long days? 15 hours is doable if you leave in the dark.

 

[DangerousPirate]

I used to do Arklow to Newlyn since it was much simpler and quicker than when I did Kilmore Quay (usually involved an extra night). Never been to Milford Haven. Not been to Wexford since the 1980s.

Kilmore Quay, though, has a great fish and chip shop.

Is this trip for the height of summer? Long days? 15 hours is doable if you leave in the dark.

I plan to go in the next 2-3 months at the latest. The days are getting longer, sp that's great

Newlyn is not wales tho is it? Or same name?

 

[dgadee]

I plan to go in the next 2-3 months at the latest. The days are getting longer, sp that's great

Newlyn is not wales tho is it? Or same name?

Not Wales. Never sailed to Wales (except by ferry,).

 

[vyv_cox]

I always sailed from Anglesey to Fishguard or Milford haven because that's where the boat was. Given choice I would keep to the Irish coast.

 

[rotrax]

Not sure about Wexford, very difficult place to get into, lovely once in.

A very shallow, twisting and long-4-5 miles-entrance. You can shake flippers with the Seals on the sandbanks as you pass........................

The HB Master re-lays the channel buoys frequently and lets potential users have an up to date channel guide.

Suggest checking with the Kilmore Quay HB Master first-he looks after Wexford.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Not sure about Wexford, very difficult place to get into, lovely once in.

A very shallow, twisting and long-4-5 miles-entrance. You can shake flippers with the Seals on the sandbanks as you pass........................

The HB Master re-lays the channel buoys frequently and lets potential users have an up to date channel guide.

Suggest checking with the Kilmore Quay HB Master first-he looks after Wexford.

Kilmkre quay is so far out its not really changing much I suppose. On the charts wexford looks alroght. But notso sure now.

 

[Dellquay13]

Not sure about Wexford, very difficult place to get into, lovely once in.

A very shallow, twisting and long-4-5 miles-entrance. You can shake flippers with the Seals on the sandbanks as you pass........................

The HB Master re-lays the channel buoys frequently and lets potential users have an up to date channel guide.

Suggest checking with the Kilmore Quay HB Master first-he looks after Wexford.

I’ve never been to Wexford by boat, but have read that the entrance is changeable and can be a challenge.
Isn’t there a small fishing harbour at Rosslare, further in past the Ferry port, at a push? Visit my Harbour says you can anchor in W to S winds in front of Rosslare Strand.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Idk but fishing harbours tend to be shallow?

 

[DangerousPirate]

I always sailed from Anglesey to Fishguard or Milford haven because that's where the boat was. Given choice I would keep to the Irish coast.

Fishguard. Are there any facilities (pontoons, mooring buoys) up there? I am looking at it right now, but not sure.

 

[bitbaltic]

Fishguard. Are there any facilities (pontoons, mooring buoys) up there? I am looking at it right now, but not sure.

Visitors moorings off castle point but might be shallow for your draft at low water springs. However, a sheltered harbour if no north in the wind. Probably a better landfall than Skomer under most circumstances and offers a break to plan passage across St Bride’s Bay.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Visitors moorings off castle point but might be shallow for your draft at low water springs. However, a sheltered harbour if no north in the wind. Probably a better landfall than Skomer under most circumstances and offers a break to plan passage across St Bride’s Bay.

I think it's better to avoid it then.

 

[rotrax]

Kilmkre quay is so far out its not really changing much I suppose. On the charts wexford looks alroght. But notso sure now.

If on passage, surely you will want to stop at 'easy' Ports if possible. A quick overnight and away.

Early on you suggested Portaferry.

Strangford entrance is tricky, especially first time, and it is about an hour and a half to Portaferry Marina. Tide pisses through there on the ebb, and it will be ebbing by the time you get there if you entered, as we try to do, just before high water. Strangford Yacht Haven-a great name for a small double sided pontoon- can be an easier option. Audley's Roads, just around the corner, is a good anchorage and often has a free mooring buoy.

Same as Wexford, takes a while to get in and out. If on passage, perhaps not the best option.

When cruising, both Wexford and Strangford Lough are great destinations. You could be in Strangford a month and not see it all. Especially if you get involved at the bar with the members of the various clubs there-the cry of 'have another before ye go!' is a common one............................

 

[Refueler]

I have a couple of Pals in same business as me .. one yacht owner as well - other sold the Quayside pub - live in Wexford ...

A really friendly place .. had some really good times there at Yacht Club and Pubs ! But as another says - not easiest of places to get into due to the shifting banks. But once inside - its a large area but last time I was there - lot of boats there !!

 

[DangerousPirate]

If on passage, surely you will want to stop at 'easy' Ports if possible. A quick overnight and away.

Early on you suggested Portaferry.

Strangford entrance is tricky, especially first time, and it is about an hour and a half to Portaferry Marina. Tide pisses through there on the ebb, and it will be ebbing by the time you get there if you entered, as we try to do, just before high water. Strangford Yacht Haven-a great name for a small double sided pontoon- can be an easier option. Audley's Roads, just around the corner, is a good anchorage and often has a free mooring buoy.

Same as Wexford, takes a while to get in and out. If on passage, perhaps not the best option.

When cruising, both Wexford and Strangford Lough are great destinations. You could be in Strangford a month and not see it all. Especially if you get involved at the bar with the members of the various clubs there-the cry of 'have another before ye go!' is a common one............................

That sounds all very lovely, but if not Wexford, where else could I stop before crossing the Irish Sea to Wales?

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Not sure about Wexford, very difficult place to get into, lovely once in.

A very shallow, twisting and long-4-5 miles-entrance. You can shake flippers with the Seals on the sandbanks as you pass........................

The HB Master re-lays the channel buoys frequently and lets potential users have an up to date channel guide.

Suggest checking with the Kilmore Quay HB Master first-he looks after Wexford.

Anything with keel much above 1.4m can often only get in very near high tide and its quite a few miles from the bar to the harbour. We were Ok as only drew 1m but boats behind us lurched to a stop in the mud.

I like Wexford but by heavens those seals pong

 

[jbweston]

I have one suggestion.

I don't know about the Irish Sea but have done a fair bit of singlehanded sailing in the Channel and Nordic countries over the last 20 years.

Assuming your boat is well set up for singlehanded sailing, including a reliable method of automatic steering (autopilot or wind vane), the weather is the main thing that affects how long a passage it's safe and comfortable to do. Even moderatly rough weather makes an 8 or 10 hour day at sea very tiring if you're alone. Being constantly on watch, ready to avoid shipping, reefing, and the rest, keeps me busy. It's even more tiring in rain or other poor visibility, and if it's cold that's even worse.

But 8-10 hours on a warm day with a gentle breeze on the quarter and little traffic is relaxing and gives plenty of time for cutting sandwiches and listening to podcasts or renewing the whippings on the ends of all your mooring lines. It's lovely.

With a full crew, no sensible skipper would have someone on watch and in sole charge for 8-10 hours at a stretch.

So my suggestion is that you shouldn't rely on being able to do 8 to 10 hour legs. If you can plan shorter ones of say 4 to 5 hours it will make things much easier and safer for you, and if the weather's lovely you can always run two together in one day. Shorter passages also mean that you're less likely to get caught out by deteriorating weather.

What do you do then if geography means you must do a long passage? Get a crew for that one longer passage - one competent watchkeeper in addition to yourself means you can go on for days if necessary.