Clyde to Scillies passage, recommendations for stop over places in Wales?

[West Coast]

Plans coming together for a 2 month trip to France this summer from home berth in the Clyde. Will take 10 - 12 days for outward passage to Brest in early June, so can see places on the way. Day 1 will be passage to Bangor in N Ireland to pick up some crew. From there, thinking of heading to N Wales area (Holyhead?) then to S Wales area before heading to the Scillies. Thinking of the Wales coast rather than the Irish coast as have never been to Wales.

So question for those who know the Wales sailing areas - where would you aim for in N Wales and similar for S Wales as good stop over points?

 

[WoodyP]

For South Wales Milford Haven or Neyland Marina if you want to go ashore or moor at Dale for a rest. Then to the Scilly Islands.

 

[[2574]]

Plans coming together for a 2 month trip to France this summer from home berth in the Clyde. Will take 10 - 12 days for outward passage to Brest in early June, so can see places on the way. Day 1 will be passage to Bangor in N Ireland to pick up some crew. From there, thinking of heading to N Wales area (Holyhead?) then to S Wales area before heading to the Scillies. Thinking of the Wales coast rather than the Irish coast as have never been to Wales.

So question for those who know the Wales sailing areas - where would you aim for in N Wales and similar for S Wales as good stop over points?

Be aware that the locals prefer “Isles of Scilly” or plain “Scilly“, at least that is what I’m told that is the preferred vernacular.

 

[TSB240]

Our short daylight passage route would be Clyde, Port Patrick, Peel or Port St Mary IOM. Moelfre, Porth Wen, Cemaes, Holyhead, Rhoscolyn, Porth Dinllaen Depending on wind direction North Wales. Dale in S Wales.
Padstow to IOS

Or cut out Dale and Padstow and head for Kilmore Quay direct from North Wales then direct to IOS.

 

[Supertramp]

Aberdaron is a useful passage stop at the tip of the Llyn peninsula for W/N winds.

Pwllheli is sheltered but only all tides for shoal draft or at neaps and is a detour.

Greystones is an easy all tide access marina.

Much obviously depends on winds. If W then the Irish coast has lots of shelter for an overnight at anchor. If E or N then the Welsh coast is better. I use overnight anchorages to catch sleep and the next favourable tide.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Our short daylight passage route would be Clyde, Port Patrick, Peel or Port St Mary IOM. Moelfre, Porth Wen, Cemaes, Holyhead, Rhoscolyn, Porth Dinllaen Depending on wind direction North Wales. Dale in S Wales.
Padstow to IOS

Or cut out Dale and Padstow and head for Kilmore Quay direct from North Wales then direct to IOS.

Dont bother with Wales except for Milford Sound, its often a lee shore with large deviations to harbours, and only Fishguard is really on route. The tidal gates of Ramsey Island and Jack Sound are interesting enough but can be hard to avoid as avoidance places one in dangerous races or cluttered reefs and islands

Even in an easterly the offshore banks off southern ireland give moderately sheltered water unless you are foolish enough to try crossing banks in the shallower channels.

Peel in IOM very nice but I would tend to go straight to Glenarm or Bangor (eir) and follow irish coast down to Arklow, cross to Milford, (anchoring under Skomer if you fancy stopping before but Dale worth a visit inside Milford sound) then direct to Lundy, then either St Ives or direct to Scilly. With enough crew I would probably go Kilmore Quay to Scilly, however 2 up and ancient we chickened out of it.

We chose that route on our 1500nm tour of inner hebrides last summer, starting from S Cornwall, as our previous experience has shown east coast ireland both easy and pleasant with readily available chunks.

 

[Never Grumble]

and only Fishguard is really on route.

If I remember correctly you can only anchor in Fishguard?

 

[oldmanofthehills]

If I remember correctly you can only anchor in Fishguard?

True, but you can only anchor in Dale, Lundy, St Ives and Scilly and have to anchor in the Camel waiting for Padstow. Normal Englishside Bristol Channel and West Wales type problem.

 

[Concerto]

True, but you can only anchor in Dale, Lundy, St Ives and Scilly and have to anchor in the Camel waiting for Padstow. Normal Englishside Bristol Channel and West Wales type problem.

There is a pontoon at Dale you can moor alongside which is not connected to the shore. It has a white all round white light to help find it amongst all of the anchored boats. Used it last year.

 

[tico]

There are also 3x visitors moorings at Dale

 

[oldmanofthehills]

There is a pontoon at Dale you can moor alongside which is not connected to the shore. It has a white all round white light to help find it amongst all of the anchored boats. Used it last year.

And in bad weather the outer pontoon leaps like bucking bronco so you are better of anchoring (which i think you are not meant to) or picking up mooring. As we can take the ground we normally use the finger pontoon unless we need to leave at LW. Easier access to the Griffin

 

[lustyd]

Be aware that the locals prefer “Isles of Scilly” or plain “Scilly“, at least that is what I’m told that is the preferred vernacular.

Not true. The locals literally wear Scillies t-shirts and hats and sell them in the shops. They're very friendly regardless of what you call their home, within reason.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Not true. The locals literally wear Scillies t-shirts and hats and sell them in the shops. They're very friendly regardless of what you call their home, within reason.

They flinch at the Scilly Isles

 

[lustyd]

They flinch at the Scilly Isles

Not in my experience they don’t. Have you been?

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Not in my experience they don’t. Have you been?

Yes, quite a few times, and most summers recently. They tolerate Scilly Isles but prefer Isles of Scilly. We dry out in Green Bay but explored back of great arthur last year and enjoy the bistro on St Martins etc

 

[john_morris_uk]

Regarding the leg from S Wales to Scillies/Lands End, I would be very careful about going up as fas as Lundy. We’ve always gone straight across. Why get embayed against the prevailing wind?

The passages inside Skokholm and Skomer just need timing right to catch the tide. No great shakes. We’ve anchored in Fishguard and Milford in the past but the advice on the pontoon off Dale is also good.

 

[SaltyC]

If you are going to Bangor I would seriously consider going down the Irish East Coast to tge SE corner - Wexford or around onto South Coast then the Scillies. The East Coast is in the Lee of prevailing Westerlies and gives 'wasting ' for the Scillies.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

If you are going to Bangor I would seriously consider going down the Irish East Coast to tge SE corner - Wexford or around onto South Coast then the Scillies. The East Coast is in the Lee of prevailing Westerlies and gives 'wasting ' for the Scillies.

It also avoids Wales.

 

[WoodyP]

It also avoids Wales.

How very dare you.

 

[lustyd]

Yes, quite a few times, and most summers recently. They tolerate Scilly Isles but prefer Isles of Scilly. We dry out in Green Bay but explored back of great arthur last year and enjoy the bistro on St Martins etc

Must be the way you say it, they’re always very happy when I speak to them.