Cardigan Bay moorings

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gtuson

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We're considering moving to Mid Wales. We would like to find a swinging, tidal or deep water, mooring for our 36 ft bilge keeler in general area of Cardigan bay. Cant find anything on net and almanac on boat in France! Anyone out there with suggestions of where to look?
 
I think most of that coast is pretty exposed, so your options really are Aberystwyth, Aberdovey, Fishguard, and that other place further up the North.
 
How about Cardigan? Well the club is at the mouth of the river Teifi. It dries out but there is a channel which larger bilge keelers tend to have the moorings in so you should get in a couple of hours either side of high water or there are mooring further up the river. Plenty of boats but we need more racing.
New Quay can be quite exposed to northerlies but a good crowd of boats and a very active club there.
Aberaeron has lots of boats in the harbour so getting a berth might be tricky good club on the harbour & very friendly.
Where abouts are you planning to move? if you don't mind me asking.
 
hi a friend of mine keeps his 73 foot lod ketch in cardigan. he draws 9 foot 6 inches which means his birth drys out he also owns a 40 footer with 6 foot+ draft. in the same location.
i can forward contact details if required.
m byrne
 
I was going to suggest the same
Some pics I took last summer

The entrance to the Teifi

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Looking upstream from near mouth of river

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Boats in main channel. Club is just off to left

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The club

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You are far better to keep your boat either in S wales - Milford Haven or Southwards. Or in N wales. Cardigan bay itself is horribly exposed with nowhere to go. Better to drive 1 hour to the boat than sail 6 hours to get anywhere.

I would go South - Fishguard, Milford Haven, Solva, Tenby are fantastic bases for a great cruising area.
 
You have plenty of choice with a bilge keeler. Shell Island (Harlech) is a fabulous place, well sheltered and probably has room for you. Porthmadog is nice, good club, well sheltered but sometimes difficult to enter/leave. Aberdyfi is a bit exposed at times but worth a look. Fishguard is OK but probably rather full in the small drying harbour. Aberystwyth Marina is OK but probably full, although there used to be drying moorings on the side opposite. Aberaeron is small but could be OK.
 
Nothing definite about where - but favouring Pembrokshire and cardigan. I'd be interested in knowing more about moorings/access etc in Cardigan itself - although very much take the point about the advantages of basing ourselves either south or north
 
Are you moving house to Wales or just the boat? Do you know the area? If you're based in Emsworth and driving to Wales for short stays aboard then IMHO you go to Milford Haven. Cardigan and the other areas mentioned are beautiful, but with the limitations of tidal moorings, difficulty of approach in bad weather, etc, I personally wouldn't bother unless I lived on the doorstep. But that's my opinion, it's not necessarily the "truth"...you really need to go and have a look at the realities if you haven't already.
 
Point of trivia...

We had our wedding reception in the Cliff Hotel (white building on right in top picture). Spent many happy hours on Poppit Sands (left in top picture) as a child.

Completely irrelevant, but felt you should know.... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Andy
 
Brought up about 7 miles up-river from the photos. Spent the summers as a welly-wearing urchin cadging trips to the seaside with a succession of holiday-makers. Didn't realise that what superb sea-side this was until I moved away. Cracking place, but too far from everywhere else, and limited employment opportunities.

Still have family down there, but very much the holiday-maker myself, these days.

Andy
 
[ QUOTE ]
You are far better to keep your boat either in S wales - Milford Haven or Southwards. Or in N wales. Cardigan bay itself is horribly exposed with nowhere to go..

[/ QUOTE ]

No, no, and absolutely no! The ten years I had based in Cardigan Bay gave me some of the best and most memorable sailing, and being Solent based nowadays, I really miss it!

It is definitely Bilge Keeler country, if you want to see the best of it, and between Fishguard and Pwllheli you are on a lee shore with no shelter once the tide has dropped. You just have to be sensible about it - and thats part of the fun!
 
As a Cardigan Bay boaty I agree with pretty well all the advice. Nothing much between Fishguard and Pwllheli so don't get caught out. Always some talk about deep water all-states moorings at Aberaeron or New Quay but nothing ever happens.

Having said that I agree with Old Harry. Great sailing and you never get bored! Some of the best scenery in the country and dolphins all year round as a bonus!

There is a severe shortage of moorings in New Quay and Aberaeron, and a long waiting list. Aberystwyth marina did have vacancies last time I asked, and it is OK-ish, although access is restricted,and like most of these places, rather expensive. Fishguard is a much better bet depend how far you are prepared to travel.

Good luck

Safe sailing

Sparkie
 
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