Easy and foolproof Bristol -> Cardiff - please!

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lukecsmith

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Hi all, will be sailing from Portishead to Cardiff in the coming weeks, probably first week in August. Im not the most experienced sailor in the world - have done my Day Skipper and spent a few weeks sailing in the Firth of Clyde in some heavy weather. My brothers going to come along, and hes got almost the same level of experience, but we've also got a far more experienced sailor coming with us too. But for all of us it will be the first time sailing in the Bristol Channel and Im fully aware that it can be a challenging place to sail.

So I'd really appreciate some help in planning the trip. My basic plan was : leave Bristol on or just before HW. Cross the channel (directly) before heading west on the Welsh side of the channel, taking care to stay away from the mud obviously. Take even more care finding the entrance to the channel to the Cardiff lock. What are the best landmarks to look up for when finding the entrance to the Cardiff channel? What are the classic mistakes that I really dont want to make? Would I be better in leaving an hour before HW so as to have higher water level when arriving at Cardiff - giving more margin for error?

All help really appreciated. Cheers.
 
I don't think there is a fully foolproof plan to anything but hopefully by doing this research you should find most of the pitfalls.
I normally leave a little before HW just to save pushing too much on the first part of the river. Staying in the centre of the stream on the staights and in the outside third around the bends will keep you out of trouble. I call Bristol VTS (Channel 12, I think) just after the M5 bridge. They will tell you of any activity. As you leave the Avon stay over toward the wall to avoid the sands at the entrance. Depending on the traffic I normally head down the inshore passage to Portishead and cross to the Denny buoy. Be aware, if you are ever there during the flood, ships going into Portbury often pass the entrance and turn to port to face the tide before they enter. If the wind is right, the best way from Denny to English and Welsh via Welsh hook is to stay just outside the red buoys but away from the mudbanks. A number of times I have had to beat into a west wind, in this case I cross the shipping lanes while keeping well out of the way of any shipping movements. From E&W I try to head staight over to Cardiff North, depending on the wind of course. If you are anywhere near Cardiff North you should be able to see the pavillion on Penarth pier. I head for that but be aware the tide will be trying to take you down away from Cardiff while you sort ropes and fenders. Off the pier you will see the Outer Wrach cardinal. As you pass the buoy, call Barrage control on channel 18, they will tell you which lock to use and what time. If you round that and head toward the St Davids hotel you should see a leading light on the wall between the Barrage and the docks entrance. If you are in the centre of the Wrach channel it will be white, it changes to red if you go to the port side of the channel. Follow the light and the porthand buoys up towards barrage. The turning point is between a small red buoy and the Barrage buoy which is green red green. All of the boats I have seen grounded have been on the mud under the red buoy. I turn in about 2 thirds of the way between those bouys. On the wall ahead there are two big signs, I head for the centre and go straight until I can see the entrance to the outer harbour almost fully open, then turn in. The locks number from the right. There are a number of other leading marks and a device on the wall near two lifebuoys on the wall but above is what I use. Be aware that, leaving the Cumberland basin at high tide will mean the tide will be pretty low at Cardiff and the entrance is a bit silted at present.
The barrage is like the lock at Portishead apart from having higher pontoons, which I find easier.
As usual my explaination is very longwinded and far more complicated than the trip really is. Settle back and enjoy yourself. It's all been done many times before.
Allan
 
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Allan, thats excellent - exactly the sort of advice I was looking for. The point when you mention - 'All of the boats I have seen grounded have been on the mud under the red buoy' cant deny it sends a shiver down my spine! If you see a burgundy sloop on that spot in a few weeks time its probably myself. Thanks again, Luke
 
Foolproof....even though we have done that trip loads of times is simply leave portishead and follow english coast (close in) then from welsh hook buoy head for flatholm then bit of a treck but head for penarth pier then job done.Or risk it and cut inside over the shallow mud off newport/cardiff.Not really a big deal if you get stuck if its calm.
 
Leaving Portishead is obviously easier. We left on Sunday on the lock closest to HW and had loads of water at Cardiff. I normally leave an hour or so after to get the best push from the tide. The only way you will end up on the mud is if you cut the corner.
Although you are not coming down the Avon, I will tell you something that happened to me last year. I left Bristol just as it was getting dusk and decided to use the leading lights, like all the old sailors used to. Coming past Seamills, feeling like a proper sailor, I started to head for a porthand light and had a good look all around me. When I looked forward I saw I was heading towards a green light. In a bit of a panic I checked that I was still near the middle of the channel. When I looked at the light again, it was red and amber! Looking down I found the correct light, not the Portway traffic lights which I had been using! Bet that never happened to the old sailors?
Good sailing and I may see you in Cardiff or the channel. If you fancy a drink sometime pop over to the CYC. The visitor berths are free.
Allan
 
I assume you mean the bit on the right as you go into the Barrage. If so, no, that is not the one I mean. If you look just below the buoy at the bottom of the image it is the bit that comes out from the beach/rocks. You will see from your image what I mean by not cutting the corner.
Allan
 
It is really easy because its buoyed so well.Just remember even though BC looks wide the actual boating bit is quite narrow and watch out for ships even though the pilots are good.If you have radar the racon makes it even easier.If in doubt call me (number on website)
Andy
 
I have just looked at the image again and you should be aware that it is 2 or 3 years old. I don't think that would make too much difference.
Allan
 
Facetious response

Of course there is an easier way:

Exit marina, steer about 257 engines to 3000 rpm, arrive Cardiff 45 mins later taking care not spill G & T

:D
 
Very good point re the age of the image -a factor that hadnt occurred to me. Anyway point noted re not cutting that corner. Im starting to feel a tad more confident now so thanks again for the words of wisdom. Your tale re mistaking traffic lights for leading lights made me laugh. It'll be some time before I'll be taking to the Bristol Channel at night!
 
My usual plan for Portishead to Cardiff is:

- if it is windy from the west, leave at high water or a bit before as the sea state round Portishead Point is a bit more benign when there isn't wind over tide. If there's not a west wind, it's not so critical (as long as you have enough water in Cardiff)
- keep to the blue bits on the chart and avoid the green bits. The Welsh Grounds shelve steeply and their depth changes. I don't trust them one little bit
- from EW Grounds, I head somewhat north of North Cardiff SHM to allow the tide to take me down: it's usually something like 20 degrees north of the direct (non-tidal) line. I usually get it right. I think course to steer is a waste of time as I think that the tidal stream info is not accurate. The little green blobs on the chart (north of North Cardiff SHM) aren't a problem as you won't be going over them when there's little water there
- make sure you go on the deep side of Outer Wrach (i.e. in the channel). Outer Wrach is a very small buoy: it's somewhere near the end of Penarth Pier. Boats ground by cutting the corner at Outer Wrach
- make sure you spot the Barrage buoy (red green red preferred channel mark). I think this actually sits on top of a spit (as opposed to being in the channel), so don't go too close to it. At low tide, you will sometimes see yachts stuck north of the Barrage buoy (on the spit): there are usually keel scrape marks in the mud there too
- make sure you positively identify where the barrage outer harbour is when you're in the main Wrach channel. I've known people assume that the outer harbour is further north than it actually is
- at night I keep in the white sector of the leading light in the barrage channel. By day, I keep the leading light (a white sticky thing) in line with the left chimney of the dilapidated building behind. There is then a funky yellow moire light which you follow towards the harbour entrance. If the arrows point right, go right. If they point left, go left. Otherwise go straight ahead. When the outer harbour is open, I go straight in.
- if I were to ground in the barrage approach channel, I'd choose to ground on the north as I think it is muddier on that side. There are rocks on the south side

Cardiff's a good trip and Penarth is a great place to stay. It's a good trip. Think about coming back via Flat Holm if the tides are right.

Zlod
 
Zlod thats great advice, nice and detailed. Thanks. I was wondering about the preferred channel marker, having seen it on the chart but also noted the image of the area on google maps and the spit there. Definitely fancy a trip to flat Holm too.

Thanks again, Luke
 
Hi

agree with all above but... having done it for the first time this May I would suggest for your first time that you plan to be a little west of cardiff at low tide so that you can approach on a rising tide. I draw 1.5m and I still went aground in the channel just before turning by the red-green-red buoy. That was on full moon springs. An hour later we floated off no problem. The port hand buoys here are way up on the mud banks so, as others have said, keep to the middlish. In two visits we saw three yachts go aground but we were the only ones on a falling tide and theo others were off again in half a mo.

Cardiff lock similar to Portishead with the floating side pontoons

I used the pay-and -display mooring on the second visit! I still have the ticket in my pram hood!

Alan - given that you've done the channel several times I think you'll find it much easier than you imagine.

Have fun
 
Dont get too close to the red cans as you turn into the barrage channel,they are a bit away from the actual channel and sit way onto the mud at low tide.

edit...sorry didnt read the other posts.
 
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