Cardiff to Scotland via Milford Haven and E Coast Ireland

[ericwsmith]

I intend sailing my new (old) boat from Cardiff to Glasgow in early June. I will be sailing (motoring) a 28 and a half foot Colvic Watson. I would appreciate any comments or advice re this journey. My first port of call will be Milford Haven and I thought I could do this in one and a half tides? I really would appreciate any comments you could make on this or any other part of the journey across to or up the coast of Ireland. Thanks in advance. Eric

 

[wotayottie]

milford in one from cardiff is do-able but its a long day and I would recommend an overnight break in Oxwich bay. After Milford I have either gone direct to the Isle of Man or day hopped through Aberystwyth and Pwllehli and then to Man and Castletown. never fancied the Irish coast and certainly not Morecambe bay. In my view its one of those trips where you go for it to get it over with.

 

[graham]

In favourable weather you can expect about 18 hours from CDF to Milford.Leave Cardiff about an hour or two before HW.

Best I have done in a 25 foot yacht was 15 hours worst was over a week ,most of it sheltering in various places . Mumbles Oxwich Worms Head/Rhossili and Caldey Island can all offer you shelter for a night at anchor depending on wind direction.

In an Easterly tucked in behind Worms Head is very cosy .

If crossing to Ireland from Milford Kilmore Quay is about the closest place ,approx 60 miles from memory,small fishing harbour with a marina .If you spend the night before in North Haven on Skomer Island it saves you any tricky pilotage first thing in the morning as you leave.

 

[Alcyone]

We've done Cardiff to Milford in 16 hrs with a nice Easterly. 28ft Cobra. I'd agree with Graham, leave 2hrs before High. If you stay close in at the start, you'll get less tide. Skomer is a good call too.

Very generally when around the Pembs islands, tide runs North from 3hrs before high to 3hrs after high, and South either side of low. Personally, I like to be 'the right side' of Grasholm, Hats, Barrels and Smalls, if you know what I mean. The tides are strong near those hazards, and I'd rather the tide was taking me away from them than towards them.

Edit. Forgot. Tide turns at Linney head to run Eastwards 2 hrs before LW milford, when you'd still expect it to be going out. Great if you're heading East as you get a long tide, but stay well out if you're heading West and miss the gate. Speak to the coastguard about range activities.

 

[Croak]

We did Milford Haven -Fishgaurd-Pwllehli-Caernarfon-Barrow in furness

But Holyhead then Isle of man is possible.

 

[zlod]

I did that trip in reverse last year. As far as the east coast of Ireland is concerned, I did:

Stranraer -> Bangor (Belfast)
Bangor -> Ardglass
Ardglass -> Dun Laoghaire
Dun Laoghaire -> Cahore Point (anchorage)
Cahore Point -> South Skomer (anchorage)

I managed the Irish Sea crossing in daylight (Cahore -> Skomer). I didn't want to go all the way down to Kilmore Quay as I wanted the wind blowing across the sails in a nice beamy direction. I suspect that where you make landfall in Ireland would depend on the wind direction. If you are willing to anchor on that east coast then you might get a more favourable wind direction.

The days were pretty long, but it was feasible.

 

[quarto]

Having done this trip several times i would advise crossing over to the Irish coast if the wind is anywhere in the west, you will have a nice smooth passage under the lee of Ireland.

There are plenty of harbours on the way up if you intend stopping, my own favourite is Ardglass. It is then a short hop across to Scotland.