Holyhead- Skerries out or inside?

NickRobinson

NickRobinson

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Sitting in Conwy waiting (probably) for Sunday's wind drop to go to Holyhead then Dublin.

As it will be the first time, solo, 8m Mirage, I've assumed I'd follow VHM's advice and go outside the Skerries, skirting the TSS.

Penguin Sailing's pp goes inside around Carmel Head. It will be near neaps and low adverse wind so motoring at that point.

I'm going to collar some locals for advice as well.

Thoughts? (waits for an attachment of bus times..... ;-) )
 
Inside passage around Carmel not a problem if conditions OK and you get the timing right. If not it can be quite "lively". Generally much quicker and smoother than rounding the Skerries.

Worth buying or borrowing Anglesey pilot by Ralph Morris, can't remember it's proper title but lots of info about the various tidal gates around the island.
 
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Hi Nick,
I would go inside, I've learnt from experience that you can sit for hours off the Skerries even under engine waiting for the tide to turn to get into HH. We only chose the route because we were coming in from the IOM. The inside route is much shorter from Conway and reasonably simple nav. PM me if you need crew and if I can assist I will.
Andy
 
Nick time your trip to arrive at Skerries Slack and you will wonder what all the fuss is about going inshore! Mistime it and you will have a character forming experience!

The spreadsheet on the NWVYC web site is superb for any passage planning around our area and will give much better info than Ralph's tome and is Free!

I have used it for a number of years and it has proven incredibly accurate.


http://www.nwvyc.org.uk/Orr_Tides.html


Sunday Skerries HW slack 09.51 and 22.18 LW Slack 16.32

Roughly 30 nm Conway to Skerries leave an hour before HW at Conway gives you flatter water going out over bar and gives you an hour spare before Skerries slack (5 knots average).

If too early wait at Porth Wen or Cemaes by the Power Station (good in south westerlies)for an hour. If too late wait at for up to 6 hours!

Alternatively

Why bother Going to Holyhead ? Overnight at Moelfre or Porth Wen Saturday

I hope to be at Moelfre Saturday Night!


Steve
 
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I agree with previous posts that inside is better if conditions suit. In gentle winds go through on slack and no problem. If wind and tide in same direction I have ridden the tide through there no problem. Any hint of wind over tide go round.
I would suggest Greystones as a better landing point than Dublin. Its open all states of tide and you are not on a reciprocal course with the Ferries. Howth is also pretty good.
Remember there is a sand bar a few miles off the Irish Coast and go over it at the right place or tide.
 
Inside is the normal route from east / north shore. There's deep water close-to Carmel Head. There's a very undulating sea bed in the channel. Once through, sail on a chord towards the stacks as you'll keep a fair tide. Take the line of sight route (towards the chimney) and its foul.

Ebb and prevailing SW wind equals wind over tide. As Steve said above, get it right and it's a pussy cat, you'll wonder what the fuss is all about. Be warned, an hour can make a big difference and mid tide is simply foolhardy.

Your forum stated location is my birth town so it would be nice to meet you. I'm on F19 (IIRC!) in the marina. Shiny thing. Should be there, 75% likely.

Safe journey
 
Andy- pm sent.



davidjackson said:
Inside is the normal route from east / north shore. There's deep water close-to Carmel Head. There's a very undulating sea bed in the channel. Once through, sail on a chord towards the stacks as you'll keep a fair tide. Take the line of sight route (towards the chimney) and its foul.

Ebb and prevailing SW wind equals wind over tide. As Steve said above, get it right and it's a pussy cat, you'll wonder what the fuss is all about. Be warned, an hour can make a big difference and mid tide is simply foolhardy.

Your forum stated location is my birth town so it would be nice to meet you. I'm on F19 (IIRC!) in the marina. Shiny thing. Should be there, 75% likely.

Thanks David- I'll look to popping round to see if you're in.

Safe journey
Click to expand...

TSB240 said:
Nick time your trip to arrive at Skerries Slack and you will wonder what all the fuss is about going inshore! Mistime it and you will have a character forming experience!

The spreadsheet on the NWVYC web site is superb for any passage planning around our area and will give much better info than Ralph's tome and is Free!

I have used it for a number of years and it has proven incredibly accurate.


http://www.nwvyc.org.uk/Orr_Tides.html


Sunday Skerries HW slack 09.51 and 22.18 LW Slack 16.32

Roughly 30 nm Conway to Skerries leave an hour before HW at Conway gives you flatter water going out over bar and gives you an hour spare before Skerries slack (5 knots average).

If too early wait at Porth Wen or Cemaes by the Power Station (good in south westerlies)for an hour. If too late wait at for up to 6 hours!

Alternatively

Why bother Going to Holyhead ? Overnight at Moelfre or Porth Wen Saturday

I hope to be at Moelfre Saturday Night!


Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks Steve, that link is really good and matches my Admiralty Totaltide to the minute. Really good info.

Halo said:
I agree with previous posts that inside is better if conditions suit. In gentle winds go through on slack and no problem. If wind and tide in same direction I have ridden the tide through there no problem. Any hint of wind over tide go round.
I would suggest Greystones as a better landing point than Dublin. Its open all states of tide and you are not on a reciprocal course with the Ferries. Howth is also pretty good.
Remember there is a sand bar a few miles off the Irish Coast and go over it at the right place or tide.
Click to expand...

Thanks Halo- I'd listed Dublin as the city, but Howth could be the one as it appears to be easy to catch bus/train to do the tourist bit. Greystones does not exist on my 2015 Memory Map charts- just a beach!

Thanks all, really useful (as we all say when the info fits our understanding.) And no one said 'catch the bus' too.... ;-)
 
Hi, we went through the inside passage a few days ago at slack tide. There was no problem it's well marked. We are now stuck at Aberystwyth with strong winds and more rain forecast. At least the marina here is pretty sheltered and a short walk into town.
 
Halo said:
Remember there is a sand bar a few miles off the Irish Coast and go over it at the right place or tide.
Click to expand...

Kish bank. Lighthouse and cardinal at northern end. Can generally pass over it but survey data is rather old so safer to go around if not certain.

Never found HH to DL an issue with being on roughly the same route as the ferries. You diverge once inshore of the Kish Light. There are a few short TSSes in Dublin Bay but nothing to worry about for someone with a chart and moderate understanding.

Very little commercial traffic in DL these days. Ferries have gone. Parts of terminal are being dismantled. A triumph for local government management of harbours.
 
NickRobinson said:
Greystones does not exist on my 2015 Memory Map charts- just a beach!
Click to expand...

Because of the recession there was a delay of a few years putting the pontoons in after the breakwaters were built, but the marina was definitely open by 2013.

Nice village to visit but marina can give you a pain in the wallet. As others have said, DARTs run to all four marinas with only short walks in each case. In DL's case the DART is probably closer to the marina reception than half the pontoons.
 
Greystones
Yes I agree nice marina very friendly staff. My boat is there now will be going back in two weeks. 10 euro return to Tara St Dublin. Last train at 23:30..
 
Greystones is very costly but be aware they are a Transeurope marina or where 2015. So if you are an annual berth holder in Fleetwood you should have a card so be sure to use it,
Mike
 
Typing in Holyhead on my Tesco wireless keyboard, courtesy of Andy who joined me for today's sail to Holyhead. (see thread about laptop...)
Andy kindly shopped and brought the KB with him this morning.
A good sail, pretty well to the minute vis-a-vis the passage plan, despite a pretty useless wind.
My companion was a hugely knowledgeable and pleasant addition to the Rivendell crew. Many thanks for coming! (Good cherry Bakewells too...)2016-07-03 18.58.39.jpg
 
I have some experience of Carmel Head: of all the local salient points, it is by far the most hazardous, more so than South Stack. If in any doubt, pass well outside Skerries or await better conditions in Cemaes, Cemlyn or Porth Wen.
 
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Hi Nick, my experience is always to take the inside route. Providing you follow the Pilotage guidelines it’s quite straight forward providing your not hitting any wind over tide if earl/late arriving. The risk is always to under estimate how fast you will be travelling SOG from Point Lynas and arrive too early. I only made this mistake once in a Contessa 26 when I thought I could see a wave on breaking on Carmel Head... it was actually a 2m standing wave... we put the lifelines on, started the engine and went straight over the top.... Character building but I’ve always paid a lot more attention to getting the tides right since then !
 
Malahide is another option, remember Houth is a private members marina and although they are very welcoming sometimes they may not have room. Some of the pontoons are very shallow. Have a good trip, I'm jealous!
 
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