Itchy feet - suggestions for somewhere new to moor ?

pragmatist

pragmatist

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Getting itchy feet - been on the Dart a long time and would like somewhere new to moor. We're 41 feet, 12 tons and 6ft draft. Would prefer a swinging mooring.

Just about anywhere considered - within 5 hours (or maybe even 7 hours) drive of Taunton. We would need somewhere safe to park the car and to keep the 4 metre RIB. Happy to travel some distance to the mooring with the RIB (HWMBO loves playing with it - boys and their toys !)

Does anyone have any suggestions ? We were wondering about SW Wales or NW Wales or even back to somewhere on the East Coast, though Sans Serif is not the ideal boat for the latter (unlike our last twin-keel Sadler). There must be some nice places out there we've never been. After all, I've heard people rave about Milford Haven but isn't it full of oil refineries ? So would love to hear ideas (and comments on places to avoid too).

P
 
pragmatist said:
Getting itchy feet - been on the Dart a long time and would like somewhere new to moor. We're 41 feet, 12 tons and 6ft draft. Would prefer a swinging mooring.

Just about anywhere considered - within 5 hours (or maybe even 7 hours) drive of Taunton.
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According to the AA Route Planner, you can do Taunton to Largs in 7 1/2 hours. A bit optimist that, I fear, as the entire freakin' M6 is currently roadworks, but it might be worth thinking about the Clyde.
 
Chichester Harbour; ask the Conservancy, 01243 512301.

Deep water moorings used to be dead mans' shoes with a 10 year waiting list, but since the recession they are available.

Also try Hayling Island Sailing Club - HISC - which has deep water moorings, but beware they can be in lumpy conditions near the entrance, and the advertised launch service to and fro only ran when they felt like it in my time, but that was in the 1980's so maybe they're more clued up now; still a rough place for a nights' sleep but peaceful anchorages a half hour away.

In Portsmouth try Gosport Boatyard, some moorings close now, others in Spider Lake are frankly beyond safe tender range, but they have an excellent launch service.

There's also Wicor Marine in Portsmouth who offer pontoons and moorings, more expensive but I have no experience with them.

Hardway SC in Portsmouth are also well worth a try; a famously friendly club, again moorings used to have a huge waiting list but I believe they may be available now.

RE Gosport Boatyard & Hardway - or marinas in the area - beware the road traffic on & off Gosport !

With any mooring, check if the tender access is tidal - all too often the boat might be merrily floating but one can't get to her - also as a priority check if there's car parking and a secure place to leave your tender.
 
JumbleDuck said:
According to the AA Route Planner, you can do Taunton to Largs in 7 1/2 hours. A bit optimist that, I fear, as the entire freakin' M6 is currently roadworks, but it might be worth thinking about the Clyde.
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That's optimistic... Going up on a Friday night you'd be lucky to escape the clutches of the stoke stretch in less than 4 hours... Plus of course there is the impending border controls...

How about Falmouth?
 
The best (imo) cruising grounds outside of the south coast is the west coast of Scotland and maybe there are low cost flights up to Glasgow from the south west.

An alternative, as you say, is somewhere on the Irish Sea. Have spent 15 years with a boat based in Liverpool and then moved to Conwy. The Irish Sea has a lot going for it - Anglesey has some nice coastline, the IoM is like going back in time and then the coasts of Ireland (N&S) have many harbours with the southern coasts particularly attractive. Scotland is also doable with a double overnight passage. Have done this trip many times and although in the end we got fed up with it, for many years it was an exciting trip, either as the novelty of a long passage or broken up into day sails.

The downside is the sea conditions. You do not get the long wavelength swells you will be used to on the sw coast but instead get a short chop which is often confused. Someone once told me that this was caused by the proximity of the coasts on each side with the water bouncing off them but I am not sure if there is any truth in this. There are also very large tidal ranges which are great if you can dry out (I know you can't) but even so the tides are an extra challenge when passage planning and can be very useful.

The coast of mid Wales is not well served by the road network so i think the choice would be between the south or a hack up the M5 & M6 to North Wales. There, a nice spot is Conwy or the Menai Straits. There are a very limited number of deep water moorings in Conwy but there are a lot on the Straits. Marinas are dotted around.

You say you are a bit bored by the Dart and that is what happened to us with the Mersey and Anglesey ... until we moved to Scotland. There is no way you can get bored there :)
 
Why not the Tamar, good swinging moorings plus frequent police patrols, my Halberdier over 12 tons 1.6mtr draught, contact Saltash Sailing Club, very good value. Pl me for more info. Jon
 
Thank you to everyone who has replied so far - all sounds very interesting - but do keep suggestions coming - we have till end of Dec to do our research and make up our minds. Sadly the plane to Scotland is not an option - though we would love to sail the W Coast - the boxer dog doesn't fit in a handbag ! Perhaps I should have mentioned Asbo, the boxer. She is well-behaved when it comes to not making a mess of the place - just a tad over-enthusiastic in meeting and greeting ! So, as Seajet suggested, full tide access by dinghy so the poor thing can get ashore when she needs to is also an imperative.

Look forward to researching these, and to more suggestions.

TIA
Penny
 
pragmatist said:
Getting itchy feet - been on the Dart a long time and would like somewhere new to moor. We're 41 feet, 12 tons and 6ft draft. Would prefer a swinging mooring.

Just about anywhere considered - within 5 hours (or maybe even 7 hours) drive of Taunton. We would need somewhere safe to park the car and to keep the 4 metre RIB. Happy to travel some distance to the mooring with the RIB (HWMBO loves playing with it - boys and their toys !)

Does anyone have any suggestions ? We were wondering about SW Wales or NW Wales or even back to somewhere on the East Coast, though Sans Serif is not the ideal boat for the latter (unlike our last twin-keel Sadler). There must be some nice places out there we've never been. After all, I've heard people rave about Milford Haven but isn't it full of oil refineries ? So would love to hear ideas (and comments on places to avoid too).

P
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Milford is OK if you dont mind living back in the 50s. It isnt full of refineries but there arent that many places you can sail to from a Milford mooring. In that respect it isnt like the south coast. And the road journey from Taunton to Milford would be an absolute PITA. Communications in Wales are poor apart from the motorways.

Forget further into the bristol channel. We are in Cardiff with a deep fin at the moment and suffer because most of the small number of places we can visit dry out at low water. Sure the bristol channel is a nice place to sail and almost empty but the large tides mean that the coasts dry to mud and only Cardiff and Milford are accessible at all states of tide. Padstow, Portishead, Bristol, Swansea are all stay afloat facilities but access is through lock gates either side of high water. The rest is bilge keel territory.

Have you thopught of Falmouth? My summer mooring is there and its a delightful place. Good moorings, good club at the RCYC, nice town and plenty of places to visit. Reasonable access from Taunton.
 
Storyline said:
The best (imo) cruising grounds outside of the south coast is the west coast of Scotland and maybe there are low cost flights up to Glasgow from the south west.
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A long time ago there were cheap flights. No longer and Friday and Sunday are always full.
 
pragmatist said:
Just about anywhere considered - within 5 hours (or maybe even 7 hours) drive of Taunton.
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That puts a different complexion on things. I've already commented on Weir Quay & Saltash. Other possibilities on the Tamar include Huggins at Torpoint who have quite a lot of deep-water moorings and run a free water taxi. I don't know anything about the Cattewater but there are certainly plenty of boats there. Cargreen YC have some too.

Further down the coast Fowey is very much dead men's boots but the Fal is great. Several clubs have moorings then there's the Harbour Commissioners. There are loads of moorings off Mylor though there is a rumour that you may glow in the dark if you stay there in the future ;). There are moorings off St Mawes but it's open to the SW and an awkward place to drive to (I was there today). There are moorings upriver but access from shore is tidal.

I expect you have considered Torbay or the Exe and are familiar with the down-sides of them. Have you thought of Teignmouth?

That's about it for the West Country deep-water harbours. I'd forget the Bristol Channel as a cruising ground.
 
photodog said:
That's optimistic... Going up on a Friday night you'd be lucky to escape the clutches of the stoke stretch in less than 4 hours... Plus of course there is the impending border controls...

How about Falmouth?
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Wow in the eighties I used to do London to Dunfirmline in 4 ½ hours.
 
Deep water moorings on the Tamar Plymouth Cornwall side Mount Edgecoombe,water taxi 9am to 9PM included in the price, Huggins Bros loverly shelterd spot, torpoint mosquito sailing next door club costs £20 to jion(bonus)and Kilbys restraunt inside cheap good food.
Showers and washing machine,tiolets and cheap to.
Just pop out into Plymouth sound and go sailing,port or Starbourd,its up to you!
Ring Dave 01752-813658 M-07967404749
 
Falmouth without a doubt.
good friendly staff especially those on the fuel pontoon. keep your rib on the pontoon when going ashore.
 
In Milford Haven you will very soon get fed-up because there are not many places to go to. The Irish sea will produce plenty of waves and swell but not always wind. There are the local islands, but once you been there once, that is it. The refineries dont help; they are close to each other in opposite sides. The estuary is interesting and there are a few pubs where you can moor up for a drink. Also the tides are strong. Overall, in my opinion, Milford is ok for one season; I was there for many years. Southampton and Chichester areas are much better for sailing in my opinion.
 
Looking east, Weymouth/Portland would be a reasonable distance from Taunton, and but nearby destinations in rougher weather can be a bit limited. A bit further to drive, Poole would give you fairly easy access to the Solent.
 
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