Jasper's First Outing - Bristol Channel

[panther]

Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Had a great weekend on our new Jeanneau Prestige 36 - "Jasper" - if a little damp on Saturday!!!

The boat was handed over to us on Friday and that night we put various provisions on board.

Saturday was our first trip out - and my first experience of handeling a twin screw boat - our previous boat was a 5.8m RIB, and I volunteer on a 24m ex RN Fleet Tender - both very different! Anyway - Saturday came, but the weater wasn't great to say the least! - We set out from Portishead passing through the lock controling from the flybridge, but once out in the channel quickly retired to the inside helm position! Visability was poor, but through the windscreen wipers we bouy hopped our way down the channel to Flat Holme before going round the island, and then heading back up to Portishead - Total trip 35nm. After a bit of manouvering practice we headed back to our berth, where we spent the night on board.

Sunday we ventured out for a small trip from Portishead to Clevedon Pier with my wifes parents on board - weather was misty again - but no rain, chance to try the flybridge for real!

Anybody else based in the Bristol Channel? - We fancy a weekend over in Penarth in the near future......

Enjoy your boating!

Jools

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[longjohnsilver]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Yep, the weekend was pretty awful, at least you got out!

BTW welcome to the forum, not many peeps from the N Devon/Somerset coast!

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[Elza_Skip]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Hi there,

We have a 21ft motor cruiser that we normally keep at Sharpness but have visited Portihead a couple of times (I was spending more money at the chandlers there on Friday). We use Portishead for the slipway as it is the nearest Sharpness.

Anyway "Elza" is now out of the water for the winter but we will be looking to do some week-end cruises around the Bristol Channel next year.

As this is our first boat and we have only had her 3 months we will be looking for some straight forward passages so penarth will probably be the first one we try, but would like to try to get down to Watchet somewhen.

Please feel free to send my a PM and I will give you my contact details.

Vernon

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[BrendanS]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Hi Jools, welcome. Lived on the south wales coast for years, so know the area you are cruising. Keep us informed on future trips, as LJS says, we don't get many reports from that area

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[PaulF]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Ye gods! Every time I drive over the M4 bridge I look down at all the mud and thank heavens I dont have to do my boating there! Good on you, with local knowledge there is obviously a way. I suppose having a 45ft tide range tends to focus the mind just a bit.? Gotta be a lot more exciting than certain other forms of boating eh?

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[Elza_Skip]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Hey Jools,

Is that the Pride of Bristol you volunteer on?

Bob was the lecturer on my coastal theory course a couple of years ago.

Vernon

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[gonfishing]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Hi And Welcome

There are a few of us on here in the Bristol Channel, and a couple of us in Swansea, let us know if you decide to venture up to the prettier part of the channel!!!!!

Julian

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[steverow]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

Yes there are a few of us in the Bristol Channel, three or four forumites in Swansea, a couple in Milford and a few guys based on the Severn or Avon who spend the summer down here.
I'm sure there will probably be one or two in Penarth as well. Cant think of any on the Somerset/N.Devon coast, but Watchet is really the only powerboat destination there unless you can dry out.
There are some lovely anchorages on the Welsh side of the Channel, with Oxwich bay and Rhossili Bay on the Gower being amongst the most popular.
The Cleddau River, upstream from Milford and Neyland is also favoured by many.
Tenby is also a nice day or weekend jaunt, and a lovely town.
On the Devon side there is really only Ilfracombe, which is a popular weekend hop for many in Swansea. Slightly further afield (about 70nm from Swansea) is Padstow, well worth a visit and very do-able for a long weekend.
Dont worry about the tides too much.It's really not as bad as our colleagues on the South Coast would have you believe. Used to advantage they can really help.
There are also new Marinas planned for Barry and Burry Port in Carmarthen bay, and these should provide us with two more destinations in a couple of years time.

You'll be very welcome in Swansea should you decide to visit.

Steve.





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[pissativlypossed]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Welcome, and well done. Its good to have a soulmate on the forum, i too have a Prestige 36, we can let everyone else know how happy we are with our purchase. What engines do you have and where did you buy her from?

<hr width=100% size=1>"Open Another Bottle"

 

[miket]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

I think I have sent you a private email.

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[LeytonC]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Hello and welcome to the forum, i am based (almost) at sharpness, but my boat has now been lifted on the hard standing, but i look forward to meeting you next season. A trip to penarth is excellent, its one of my favourite places.

<hr width=100% size=1>Thanks

Leyton
(EXTAR Solutions - Software that works for you)

 

[LeytonC]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Mind you its not all mud there, when i was in portished a broom 41 came in with lots of prop damage and hull damage that hit some rocks up there! (In the shoots)

Also, (I dont know how true this is) there is a rumor that there is a JCB down there, cos they could not shift it in time when they built the 2nd crossing and the tide came in, moving it about and covering it in mud.

<hr width=100% size=1>Thanks

Leyton
(EXTAR Solutions - Software that works for you)

 

[panther]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Excellent - so I'm not alone up the Bristol Channel!!

Yes - we plan to explore the South Wales coast through the summer season - a few weekend trips to Penarth, Swansea etc should get us started

The area between Portishead and the Holmes - although a narrow channel is well bouyed and is fun during the day and at night - more interesting than a long run with nothing to aim for!!

Also well spotted to Elza Skip, yes I volunteer on the Pride of Bristol, a 24m Fleet Tender which we use to take the youth of Bristol to sea to give them a taste of what they can achieve. She is currently in Portishead marina until the lock gates at Bristol are repaired. I was on a trip on Friday up under the two Severn Bridges with a group from a local school and it was lovely weather - if only it had stayed like that over the weekend. I am currently working on the website and will post the link when it is complete.

For Pissativlypossed - We bought Jasper from Walton Marine in Portishead and she is fitted with twin Volvo KAM300D - with EDC controls (which seem OK so far!) - where are you based? - there are a few Prestige 36's in Portishead, I still have to touch base with their owners!

So I hope we will see some of you arround South Wales

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[LeytonC]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

If you think passage to holmes is narrow, wait till you try the nash passage!!!!

/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Thanks

Leyton
(EXTAR Solutions - Software that works for you)

 

[Gludy]

Re: Jasper\'s First Outing - Bristol Channel

Hi and welcome to the bristol Channel.
I am at Swansea marina ten foot away from SreveRow.

As it happens, I need to change my anodes and the lift at swansea cannot lift me out with fuel on board, so I shall be getting up to Portishead soon .. may see you there.

be sure you make it to N pontoon when you come to Swansea and look us up.

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul