Irish Sea info

[bergie]

Inspired by the nice suggestions in the Shetland info thread, I thought to post a similar question on Irish Sea. We're currently anchored on Loch Alsh east side of Skye, and have been cruising in Western Scotland for the past month. Next month the plan is to head south, hopefully ending up somewhere around Isles of Scilly in the end of July. This gives us about a month for exploring the area around the Irish Sea.

Are there any recommendations for that area? Must-visit spots, tricky spots, etc. We're more likely to go through the North Channel than to take the Crinan Canal, though in the end that's up to the weather gods. The boat is a 31ft full-keeler, and we're generally happier anchoring out, though not completely averse to marinas or mooring balls either.

We don't have any cruising guides for the area (except for Reeds etc), and once we sail south of Antares Charts will be mostly reliant on regular sea charts (we use Orca). No Foreign Land has some suggestions, but it is a lot more sparse in the Irish Sea than here in Scotland.

 

[Slycat]

Always worth stopping at Rathlin Island!

 

[dunedin]

Must visit Gigha before head for Ireland.

Rathlin, Glenarm, Belfast?, Strangford Lough, Carlingford Lough.

Peel, Isle of Man

But I would take 3 weeks more in Scotland and do the Irish Sea in one week

 

[wingcommander]

Belfast City( Abercorn basin ) . Walk into city centre. Bangor or Carrickfergus. Across to IOM Peel . Down to Anglesey many choices here, Back across to Dublin , Dunlogoireeeeee speel cheick? Down Irish coast.

Gail force 8 predicted today as I write this so good luck.

 

[bergie]

Belfast City( Abercorn basin ) . Walk into city centre. Bangor or Carrickfergus. Across to IOM Peel . Down to Anglesey many choices here, Back across to Dublin , Dunlogoireeeeee speel cheick? Down Irish coast.

Gail force 8 predicted today as I write this so good luck.

Anglesey might also be convenient in the sense that I have some family in the Midlands that I'd like to invite for a day sail. Any specific anchorages to recommend?

And yeah, some weather coming in for sure. Our current anchorage should be OK, though less protected from the westerly than the current southerly (which it cuts to almost zero). We'll probably reanchor tonight to so that there is a little bit less risk of getting blown onto the lobster pot we share the bay with.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

You cant avoid the North Channel whatever you do. Best way south is via the two Irelands as its sheltered from sw summer winds with often shelter by sandbanks from other winds in eire

Ratlin island, ballycastle for giants causeway, glenarm, the other bangor for belfast, dublin via howth or dunlaireagh, wickford etc then back to wales

 

[wingcommander]

Anglesey might also be convenient in the sense that I have some family in the Midlands that I'd like to invite for a day sail. Any specific anchorages to recommend?

And yeah, some weather coming in for sure. Our current anchorage should be OK, though less protected from the westerly than the current southerly (which it cuts to almost zero). We'll probably reanchor tonight to so that there is a little bit less risk of getting blown onto the lobster pot we share the bay with.

East Side, Moelfre is really excellent holding, or tucked in around point Lynas (N/E Tip ), Loads of option in the Straits, Beaumaris usually a vacancy on a mooring or anchor in pool East of channel etc. . Or Holyhead harbour itself. Ime sure theirs other favourites , however the above are the ones I've used.

 

[bergie]

And yeah, some weather coming in for sure. Our current anchorage should be OK, though less protected from the westerly than the current southerly (which it cuts to almost zero). We'll probably reanchor tonight to so that there is a little bit less risk of getting blown onto the lobster pot we share the bay with.

It is always a bit difficult to play storm chess in a new cruising ground.

But this way it worked great. No swell, and most of the time we had wind between zero and five knots. The only exception were a few gusts that got in when there was a slight northerly component to them.

Not easy to fit into between the lobster pots and moorings, but certainly we'll protected from S to W, and with a nice view of the castle.

 

[Aja]

Anglesey might also be convenient in the sense that I have some family in the Midlands that I'd like to invite for a day sail. Any specific anchorages to recommend?

And yeah, some weather coming in for sure. Our current anchorage should be OK, though less protected from the westerly than the current southerly (which it cuts to almost zero). We'll probably reanchor tonight to so that there is a little bit less risk of getting blown onto the lobster pot we share the bay with.

Totaig is nice but always tight depending on what has been left about.

 

[25931]

Inspired by the nice suggestions in the Shetland info thread, I thought to post a similar question on Irish Sea. We're currently anchored on Loch Alsh east side of Skye, and have been cruising in Western Scotland for the past month. Next month the plan is to head south, hopefully ending up somewhere around Isles of Scilly in the end of July. This gives us about a month for exploring the area around the Irish Sea.

Are there any recommendations for that area? Must-visit spots, tricky spots, etc. We're more likely to go through the North Channel than to take the Crinan Canal, though in the end that's up to the weather gods. The boat is a 31ft full-keeler, and we're generally happier anchoring out, though not completely averse to marinas or mooring balls either.

We don't have any cruising guides for the area (except for Reeds etc), and once we sail south of Antares Charts will be mostly reliant on regular sea charts (we use Orca). No Foreign Land has some suggestions, but it is a lot more sparse in the Irish Sea than here in Scotland.

Inspired by the nice suggestions in the Shetland info thread, I thought to post a similar question on Irish Sea. We're currently anchored on Loch Alsh east side of Skye, and have been cruising in Western Scotland for the past month. Next month the plan is to head south, hopefully ending up somewhere around Isles of Scilly in the end of July. This gives us about a month for exploring the area around the Irish Sea.

Are there any recommendations for that area? Must-visit spots, tricky spots, etc. We're more likely to go through the North Channel than to take the Crinan Canal, though in the end that's up to the weather gods. The boat is a 31ft full-keeler, and we're generally happier anchoring out, though not completely averse to marinas or mooring balls either.

We don't have any cruising guides for the area (except for Reeds etc), and once we sail south of Antares Charts will be mostly reliant on regular sea charts (we use Orca). No Foreign Land has some suggestions, but it is a lot more sparse in the Irish Sea than here in Scotland.

If you enjoy a challenge try Fleetwood.

 

[wingcommander]

Ah yes my beloved home port of Fleetwood. Stay to the channel, don't venture off . You made me miss.LOL

 

[PabloPicasso]

Strangford lough worth a few days on its own. Great fun going in and out. Read the almanac!!

Isle of Man, Peel, or port st mary.
You can go up the Boyne to Drogheda, check out the saints head in the church

Howth is nice, Dublin port, Dun Laoghaire, go through Dalkey sound with the tide, Bray harbour best avoided. Greystones is good, Wicklow town (alongside the wall or up the river a little) and Arklow (moor on the yacht club pontoon in the river if there's space).

Courtown is for shoal draught boats only I beleive. The entrance dries.

Wexford might be interesting.

Rosslare does not welcome yachts since the increase in commercial traffic post Brexit.

After that Kilmore quay is the last stopoing off point before the Scillys on the west side of the Irish sea.

 

[Supertramp]

Plenty of places to anchor for 6-18 hrs down the Irish coast but you may need to exit fast if the wind changes and they usually have some swell. If the wind is West, the Irish side is best. If it's East then Anglesey/IOM offers easier shelter.

+1 for Strangford. Good place to wait out strong winds at anchor. Getting out into moderate S/SWly winds can be character forming.

Working the tides is important, especially with a slower boat. I find it pays to study the pilot guides and tide charts to make use of eddies, get the best out of the tide, then rest and catch the next tide rather than battle on.

 

[PabloPicasso]

+1 for Strangford. Good place to wait out strong winds at anchor. Getting out into moderate S/SWly winds can be character forming

 

[PabloPicasso]

Yes, working the tides is really helpful. In the North Irsh Sea tide floods south and ebbs north. In the southern section its the opposite, with slack flow in an area roughly level with Drogheda.

Look in the Almanac!!

Getting around Wicklow head and other sticky out bits against strong spring floods can be interesting in a small sailing boat.

 

[bergie]

Greetings from Bangor, NI! After couple of days exploring the museums and gardens in the area, we're now sitting at anchor, waiting for the forecasted northerlies tomorrow evening, with plan for a short overnighter to Peel.

Somewhat of a practical question: we ought to fill diesel sometime in the next couple of weeks. What's the best option between Isle of Man, Ireland, and UK?

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Bangor good, pretty sure Peel good but check with harbour master as didnt need any there, i presume you will stop at Milford sound so there or Neyland might be best as less than a weeks travel

The next stop is Padstow before Scilly, might be a bit far depending on tank size and usage

 

[jbweston]

I came up the Irish Sea from Falmouth to the Clyde a few weeks back.

I guess one of the isssues is are you passing places on passage and free to visit, and if not how far does it make sense to travel out of your way mainly to uplift fuel?

Bangor has pros and cons. The harbour isn't tide constrained and the fuel is available 24 hours as it's self service. The main con is that they don't do a 60/40 duty split - it's full duty charged. Friendly harbour though.

Dun Laoghaire is a good marina with fuel berth. Relaxed friendly service service at the fuel berth but the guy has to chug across the harbour in a motor launch to serve you, (or I suppose he could bike round if he had a bike) so don't bank on being in and out in 10 minutes.

Milford Haven Marina is tide constrained for free flow but I believe will open the lock on notice. The diesel there is inside the lock gates. About Neyland I know only what's published.

Peel is tide constrained.

I find when when planning fuel stops tide-constrained harbours make life complicated because the need to work the tidal streams seems often to mean that the streams and the gate opening times work against each other. That's more of a problem if you are doing a delivery-type trip with the aim of getting somewhere quickly than if you have plenty of time to enjoy your cruise.

 

[bergie]

I find when when planning fuel stops tide-constrained harbours make life complicated because the need to work the tidal streams seems often to mean that the streams and the gate opening times work against each other. That's more of a problem if you are doing a delivery-type trip with the aim of getting somewhere quickly than if you have plenty of time to enjoy your cruise.

Sure, and that's why I asked the question now. We still have fuel for motoring something around 120NM, which should last us quite a while. Normally we only fill up once per summer season, but here we've had to motor a bit more than we normally do in the Baltic - the combination of having to pass tidal gates on time, and needing to occasionally top up batteries in overcast conditions.

Peel we're planning to visit anyway, but after that we're not yet sure whether we'll head to Anglesey or Dublin (or both).

I wouldn't do a major detour just for fuel, but as we're visiting multiple harbours in different countries over the next few weeks, having some recommendations on both easiest access, but also the best price is good.

We have jerrycans and are quite used to lugging fuel from car stations (our local boat fuel station closes for winter, just when our consumption is highest due to heating needs).

 

[dunedin]

Sure, and that's why I asked the question now. We still have fuel for motoring something around 120NM, which should last us quite a while. Normally we only fill up once per summer season, but here we've had to motor a bit more than we normally do in the Baltic - the combination of having to pass tidal gates on time, and needing to occasionally top up batteries in overcast conditions.

Peel we're planning to visit anyway, but after that we're not yet sure whether we'll head to Anglesey or Dublin (or both).

I wouldn't do a major detour just for fuel, but as we're visiting multiple harbours in different countries over the next few weeks, having some recommendations on both easiest access, but also the best price is good.

We have jerrycans and are quite used to lugging fuel from car stations (our local boat fuel station closes for winter, just when our consumption is highest due to heating needs).

I haven’t tried to refuel there personally, but Peel Marina site says fuel available at East Quay, wherever that is - https://www.gov.im/categories/travel-traffic-and-motoring/harbours/marinas/peel-marina/

But I don’t think you have a huge tank? Even if used cans to top up from a petrol station this would keep you moving and get to Dublin, Anglesey or wherever.