Crossing Cardigan Bay

[38Super]

....which in a few months will join up with the Festiniog at Port Maddog.

Which will be quicker?
a) Sailing there
or
b) waiting until they build a railway line to were you are going?

We are in danger of turning this into a 'train spotters' forum and then we'll be in trouble. I think I need to have a lie down or possibly a large perspective and soda (or both)

 

[Tarka1]

Porthmadog, Barmouth, Aberdovey, Newquay all worth a visit, Lower town at Fishguard is a beautiful spot so don't be put off from visiting.

 

[BrendanS]

I haven't mentioned it yet, but if conditions are good, Newport (Nevern Estuary) for an evening is one of the wonders of the world. Actually, it's horrible, the least people know about it the better.

 

[oldharry]

I haven't mentioned it yet, but if conditions are good, Newport (Nevern Estuary) for an evening is one of the wonders of the world. Actually, it's horrible, the least people know about it the better.

Yes, yes, its a terrible place. Thats why I didnt mention it. NOBODY (else) should go there!

The Nevern estuary on an evening tide is - yes, fantastic. I used to go up there regularly in my 24 footer 20 years ago, but you really do need detailed local knowledge. Thats why I didnt include it. A 30 foot cat without good local knowledge could end up doing Parrog quite a bit of damage!. Anchor off and go up in the dinghy - yes definitely. I dont think any of the pilot books have any info on this estuary, although it was quite an important port 200 years ago with a shipyard, and trading schooners used it regularly up to the turn of last century. Gwbert is easy by comparison! Newport is really a small boat place nowadays I reckon.

 

[BrendanS]

you'd be surprised what goes in there. Local knowledge would help loads, but it's not that difficult with the likes of google/multimap satellite images. It really is worth the effort. Anchored up in the estuary, with the town and parrog mirrored off the water, Carningli and the Prescelli mountains as a backdrop, and Dinas Head and the Irish Sea.
Drool...I must go back again shortly
I'm surprised more don't use it as a stop off given the surroundings.

 

[oldharry]

you'd be surprised what goes in there. Local knowledge would help loads, but it's not that difficult with the likes of google/multimap satellite images. It really is worth the effort. Anchored up in the estuary, with the town and parrog mirrored off the water, Carningli and the Prescelli mountains as a backdrop, and Dinas Head and the Irish Sea.
Drool...I must go back again shortly
I'm surprised more don't use it as a stop off given the surroundings.

Oh stoppit! And yes, I know what can get in there, but judging on how crowded it has been in recent years, one has to wonder where a 30 foot cat would end up?

 

[BrendanS]

you can take what you like up around the bend, even going up towards the bridge. Plenty of flat sand for a cat. Plenty of water at high, and very flat sand. It's only the in and out that really has to be worried about, and even that is fine in good weather

 

[38Super]

The pilot book says I can "dry out on the firm sand of the estuary".

Looking at the picture on Google Earth, drying out on something would be inevitable, if I'm lucky it would be sand. I don't like the look of the rocks along the S shore.

The channel looks to be about 10-12m wide which is wider than parts of the Crinan Canal and I made it down that.

Anchoring off may the better option here unless it's so perfect I can't resist it.

 

[BrendanS]

the whole of the estuary is sand, and very soft sand once you are around the bend and on the Newport rather than golf links side - kids love walking on it, and it's what makes it so difficult for pedestrians to walk across, which many do, or try!
Real local knowledge here!
If you go too far up, then it's not so nice

You really don't want to anchor off, no advantages, and a lot of downsides.

 

[oldharry]

OK, heres some pics, so you can decide for yourself. Knew I had some somewhere! As Brendan says, its a little bit of heaven once you get in, but like heaven, getting there is not too easy! A fuller set of pics available here: http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Gwylan/Newport/

This the bar at about LW +1.5. The actual entrance varies a great deal, but once the bank R starts to cover it doesnt matter as there will be at least 4ft of water everywhere across the entrance. The channel past the rocks L can get narrower than this!

This is the channel running up to Parrog: AT LW +2 as in the pic there is around 3 -4 ft of water here in the foreground. There is (or was) not any official buoyage (2008), but the locals sometimes lay the odd marker to help themselves and holidaymakers! The whole sandbank covers even at HW neaps up to the lighter line below the dunes in the distance, L

This is Parrog. No one knows what the name means, and it is (according to local residents of whom there are now very few) incorrect to call it 'The' Parrog. The warehouse like building in the centre is the Sailing Club, who will welcome cruising yachtsmen if they can make it in! The lower pool is a bit exposed at HW in onshore weather. Sadly all but three of the houses in the once thriving Parrog community are all now 'Second Homes' or Holiday Let cottages. Starting price around £650k on the rare occasion one comes up for sale!

This is the upper pool, where the best shelter is, as sandbank L only just covers at HW springs. This is in June, but at peak holiday season it is much busier! The best space nowadays for anything bigger, is on up the channel under the dunes, where there is something of a pool, or a little further on where the channel more or less dries.. To the R of the pic beyond the moorings is a large expanse of sand, but even HWS it only covers to a foot or two, and it would be easy to get neaped there. Rule of thumb: if there are no local boats, there is not enough water!

The beautiful Nevern Estuary from the road bridge. The moorings are visible down the estuary, and most of the nearer part only covers at Spring tides. There is a channel running up the R side of the pic, with ample water, but not a lot of room to get turned round except for small boats.

 

[38Super]

This is the channel running up to Parrog: AT LW +2 as in the pic there is around 3 -4 ft of water here in the foreground.

I would definitely want more channel than there is here.

Best about 1-1.5 hours before HW ??

There is a channel running up the R side of the pic, with ample water, but not a lot of room to get turned round except for small boats.

Turning round shouldn't be a problem. A drive in each hull means I can spin on the spot (good fun if rather silly - until you need it).

Thanx for the info and the great photo's.

 

[oldharry]

I used to reckon in my 24 footer HW - 2, to HW +1.5. The ebb runs quite hard and its easy to be swept out of the channel on to the sands. But there is enough water to HW+2 or even 2.5 as the estuary empties. Coming in just follow the line of the channel, and there is plenty of water. The bar will have 8 - 10 ft over it and the narrow dogleg in my photo is not a problem.

Now the upper channel this rather older photo (?10 -12 yrs ago) shows how it is. The best place would be the pool below the White House (thats its actual name), or on the Newport side of the channel going up above the moorings. I have used it several times when the main mooring area was busy, but it is abit of a walk or a pull across to Parrog.