Conwy to Fidlers Ferry

P

Petercatterall

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 Jul 2002
Messages
208
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
My proposed winter storage at Rhyl is no longer possible and I am considering going up to Fidlers (one 'd' I'm told!) Ferry.
My plan is to go to Liverpool Marina on day one and then up to The ferry lock on day two.
Can anyone advise of any difficulties with this? getting in to L'pool and especially getting up to Fiddlers Ferry lock. The sailing club recommended I beg or bribe a pilot who knows the up river section. (32 foot Atlanta)
Cheers to all.
 
"The sailing club recommended I beg or bribe a pilot who knows the up river section."

Peter that says it all the sandbanks constantly change and are at best difficult, timing is down to mins to get there. What’s wrong with Liverpool marina!! I was there for 3years it's good with easy access?
Tom
 
advise you get to liverpool marina, and try and contact someone at fidlers ferry sailing club who has a big boat at fidlers, and goes into the yard each year, you will need to go down during the highest tide of the month, or you could get stuck at a number of places once past the airport, look up the website for contacts or visit during the sunday afternoon opening times, after about 3/4 pm is best...

all the boats are back in for the winter, also there is a sunken boat near to the lock/slipway which sank last month, and is a hazard. totally under water during hw, and is a large steel boat (32ft approx)...

If you are locking in, you might have to stay in the canal, as all the boats have been lifted out, unless you are willing to pay for hire of crane yourself, space in yard still.

www.fidlersferrysailing.org.uk

or stay in the conway area/straits area, stay on the mooring if its ok, or get lifted out at conway/dickies/abc...
 
When I last went up the river it was said that a boat with moderate draft needed at least a tide of 28 foot at Liverpool. When I recently spoke with the new boat yard owner he said less height was now needed because of the better knowledge of the channel. He offered to help bring the boat upriver from Lpool. I suggest you call him at the yard.
 
Just been to Fiddlers last week to assess whether my 5'8" draught will get in there. Spoke to Mike, relativly new yard owner, who said I would need a 9.4M (liverpool) tide to get in. He said the trickiest part of the passage was near Oglet on the east Mersey bank. I have sailed up the Mersey as far as Hale point before so anticipate no problems. There seems to be plenty of water above the bridge and the bottom is soft mud so I'm going for it on 17/11. At a third of the price of Marinas etc. it is too good to miss. May see you on route from Conwy.
Cheers
Andy
 
make sure you know the route to get up to fidlers lock, as local knowledge is definately needed for that part of the journey, plenty of boats have been stuck on the sandbanks if the wrong route is taken, be sure you know the route, as no rescue at that part of river...especially with 5ft 8 draft,

the wreck is next to the bank where the conifers run along the boundaries of the fidlers ferry industrial estate and the sailing club..adjacent to where the gate bouys are situated

plenty of local knowledge from anyone at the sailing club. they have been sailing up the river to anglesey for 30 years or more....

www.fidlersferrysailing.org.uk
 
Graham
Thanks for the advice. I intends to take my sea kayak up the river at low water before the passage and get a gps track to follow.
Andy
 
Use to do this journey all the time from Menai to FF it is best to sail in one day and take a buoy over at Tranmere and then head up river as early as you can that way if you do touch you only have to wait a short while and there will be more water, The kayak idea is good but best to take notes as well as GPS is not accurate enough for this passage.

The other option is Spike Island just by the bridge. Less river to go up.

Good luck

John
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top