Largs to caernarvon

[SJK]

Hi,
I am sailing from Largs to Caernarvon, and really looking forward to sailing this part of the British coast, but wondered if anybody had suggestions for places to stop at. I will not be sailing at night so all destinations must be reached within daylight hours, 0600 - 2030hrs. I have to make the journey in five days, so about 60nm per day.
For the first night Stranraer seems OK but a long way down into Loch Ryan, whilst Port Patrick seems too shallow. Bangor has been suggested but that will be a long first day. Anyway, all suggestions welcome.

Thanks,

SJK

 

[Sgeir]

Most yachts would be OK in Portpatrick, which I think would be infinitely preferable to Stranraer. How much do you draw?

Next Peel, or some other port in IoM. You may need a Plan B, depending on the weather; Howth/Dublin and Arklow may be worth considering if there's bad weather coming in.

 

[Ubergeekian]

Hi,
I am sailing from Largs to Caernarvon, and really looking forward to sailing this part of the British coast, but wondered if anybody had suggestions for places to stop at. I will not be sailing at night so all destinations must be reached within daylight hours, 0600 - 2030hrs. I have to make the journey in five days, so about 60nm per day.
For the first night Stranraer seems OK but a long way down into Loch Ryan, whilst Port Patrick seems too shallow. Bangor has been suggested but that will be a long first day. Anyway, all suggestions welcome.

What depth do you need? The Visitmyharbour entry says something drawing 1.8m was aground at low tide on the east wall recently, but there's a lot of wall, and I have seen some big things in there.

The biggest disadvantage is that it is a living hell in strong westerlies, so you need a Plan B if things blow up a bit.

When I delivered the Jouster (21', so not terribly fast) from Largs to Kirkcudbright years ago we did Largs - Portpatrick in one hop, but that was a 2pm - 6am trip, taking advantage of a fair wind and my fondness for sailing at night. Portpatrick to Peel is an easy day sail.

I'd suggest Largs - Lamlash - Portpatrick - Peel/Douglas - Holyhead - Caernarfon or alternatively Largs - Campbeltown - Bangor - Howth - Caernarfon.

 

[claymore]

As Sgeir suggests - there are plenty of options for this intended trip. Largs to Portpatrick is a 12 hour day at max with plenty of water and room in Portpatrick. A challenge going in in a strong westerly which shouldn't be attempted but fine in decent conditions and a super spot once you are in.
Its 12 miles or so to the Mull from there and a further 17 or so to Pt of Ayre. Deep water in Douglas and Port St Mary then a steady day over to Wales - Holyhead and then on around Anglesey or over to Bangor and through. If you can dry out there's always Ramsey - not so popular nowadays. As Sgeir says Peel is also a grand spot. Whitehaven- Peil (Barrow) are also steady sailing days - it leaves you with a hike down to Conway but still done in a (longish) day sail.

Depends how much time you have - the wind will of course be a Westerly as you come down the Clyde and that will go South as you round Corsewall. The Irish side - Red Bay/Glenarm/ Ardglass is a fine trip and then across to IOM and round the bottom end for a stop in Port St Mary.

 

[SJK]

Thanks very much. Campbeltown looks interesting, then to Bangor.

Cheers

 

[Col-it-is]

Would certainly do Campbeltown if making for Bangor - which is a sensible route, I think. Then IOM, Holyhead, Caernarfon, as suggested. Alternative, but further, would be Whitehaven, Fleetwood, Liverpool, Conwy, Caernarfon - some interesting spots but perhaps taking too long.

 

[Sneaky Pete]

Portpatrick, is a must stop there are good restaurants there, well one excellent one and other good ones, seen some 38--40 footers in the harbour.

 

[santavey]

Largs - Lamlash - Lady Bay at entrance to loch Ryan, good holding, no pub - IOM Douglas outer pier providing no east in wind - Moelfre, another good anchorage on Anglesey with pub - down Menai to Caernarfon.
Bangor well worth the effort but not if strong SW wind. No fun beating across the North Channel.

 

[Spyro]

Largs - Lamlash - Lady Bay at entrance to loch Ryan, good holding, no pub - IOM Douglas outer pier providing no east in wind - Moelfre, another good anchorage on Anglesey with pub - down Menai to Caernarfon.
Bangor well worth the effort but not if strong SW wind. No fun beating across the North Channel.

Largs- Lamlash would be a bit of a wast of time if he only has 5 days it's only 18 miles, no point arriving there before lunchtime and wasting the rest of the day.

Don't worry about the dark, there's not that much of it this time of year

 

[GAJ]

Depth of water Port Patrick

We called in at Port Patrick last July when returning from the Outer Hebrides and were aground whilst lying against the East wall at low water and for some time after. We draw 1.85mt and the chart shows min 2.3mt.
This delayed our planned departure somewhat and made the timing for rounding the Point of Ayre going Southbound rather unfavourable although possible as the weather god was being kind. Peel or Southabout to Port St Mary may be a more suitable option than Ramsey/Douglas if the weather is a bit iffy.

Whatever you do have a good time!

 

[LittleShip]

Hi,
I am sailing from Largs to Caernarvon, and really looking forward to sailing this part of the British coast, but wondered if anybody had suggestions for places to stop at. I will not be sailing at night so all destinations must be reached within daylight hours, 0600 - 2030hrs. I have to make the journey in five days, so about 60nm per day.
For the first night Stranraer seems OK but a long way down into Loch Ryan, whilst Port Patrick seems too shallow. Bangor has been suggested but that will be a long first day. Anyway, all suggestions welcome.

Thanks,

SJK

Hmm !

This will always depend on the weather and direction but,.....

I have just been up to the Caledonian from North Wales and I will pass on my (recent) experiences of the ports.

Stranrear. New pontoons and very helpful Harbour staff. the H Master is actually a Lady. It's a detour for you but could be worth it.

Portpatrick Looks very pretty and has some good restaurants, that said the pidgeons **** all over your boat and I actually had one venture inside the cabin. H M was at my side before I had lines ashore for payment.

Port Erin Very pretty bay with a couple of mooring bouys (free) open to east winds.

Peel Good marina inside tidal gate or against the wall, Good friendly staff. Good food and pubs.

Douglas Shelter is great over tidal gate but is a little bit of a treck for you to stop off on your way to Wales. I would prefer to leave from Peel.

After the IOM it's on to North Wales and bandit country..... watch out for the fun box robbers

Usual warnings.... check tides/timings and weather conditions, play safe. I took 3 weeks to get to Stranrear and a further 2 weeks to get to the Crinan canal........ but I do have a slow boat

Tom

 

[Ubergeekian]

Peel Good marina inside tidal gate or against the wall, Good friendly staff. Good food and pubs.

Douglas Shelter is great over tidal gate but is a little bit of a treck for you to stop off on your way to Wales. I would prefer to leave from Peel.

In a westerly I think it's worth going down the east of the IoM for shelter. Ramsey is fine if you don't mind drying out against a wall, but a bit of a dump and the chippy closes at 7pm.

 

[Sgeir]

Peel - well worth a visit, but be careful in a strong SW....

FWIW, we once had a very uncomfortable few hours in Peel's outer harbour in a strong SW - the waves coming in sweep round the harbour bay in a clockwise fashion; we'd abandoned the visitor mooring in the bay, and tied alongside the wall, but that became untenable, very dangerous indeed.

It was evening, and the new lock gates had just been installed, with nobody at the harbour office. Fortunately, a local yachtie spotted that we were in trouble, and advised us to call the control in Douglas who remotely opened the gates. The local guys helped us with our lines, just as well as it was starting to feel as though we were being battered around in a washing machine.

The inner harbour was a haven of peace and tranquility.

There's a very nice friendly sailing club, with a welcoming wee bar. The smokehouses are worth a visit - kippers and smoked bacon to die for. Really enjoyed it, and must go back again sometime.

 

[vyv_cox]

Many years ago on a friend's boat we left Campbelltown in a forecast NW 5-6 in time to catch the start of the flood tide southwards. After a few hours the wind was a solid F6, waves were quite large and we realised that we would reach the overfalls to the north of IOM in time to have strong tide against us, and the wind. We diverted westwards, came down the Irish coast in relative quiet, although the overfalls off Belfast Lough were exciting for a time, then headed for Menai Strait from much further south. This was a far better option in those conditions than taking the straight line route.

 

[SJK]

Many thanks to all for the excellent advice. I would love to call in at Port Patrick but as I draw 1.9m, it looks as if that may not be viable, but will give the HM a call to get an up to date report on the depth available.

I wish you all fair winds and calm seas,

SJK

 

[Cymrogwyllt]

If you tie up on the wall at Caernarfon beware of the feral lot who clamber over the boats in the hope of getting more crabs. Some of the senior ones investigate the cabins for saleables. The nocturnal visitors are slightly more particular as to sellables. Get a good strong lock if you do not have one.

I'm Caernarfon raised and ashamed of the activities of the small minority

 

[dt4134]

FWIW, we once had a very uncomfortable few hours in Peel's outer harbour in a strong SW - the waves coming in sweep round the harbour bay in a clockwise fashion; we'd abandoned the visitor mooring in the bay, and tied alongside the wall, but that became untenable, very dangerous indeed.

It was evening, and the new lock gates had just been installed, with nobody at the harbour office. Fortunately, a local yachtie spotted that we were in trouble, and advised us to call the control in Douglas who remotely opened the gates. The local guys helped us with our lines, just as well as it was starting to feel as though we were being battered around in a washing machine.

The inner harbour was a haven of peace and tranquility.

There's a very nice friendly sailing club, with a welcoming wee bar. The smokehouses are worth a visit - kippers and smoked bacon to die for. Really enjoyed it, and must go back again sometime.

Peel has changed quite a bit since then with the new marina, although the restaurant centre shot is still there. Always been full when I've tried to get in.

For OP:
The new marina in Peel is good & HM friendly. Times of the flap gate are available on the IOM harbours website.

Ardglass is an alternative to Peel.

On the way to Bangor (if you go that way) you could also consider the marina in Glenarm.

 

[snooks]

If you want to to it 60NM hops you could do:

Largs - Lamlash/Sanda
Lamlash/Sanda - Bangor
Bangor - Ardglass or IOM
Ardglass/IOM - Howth or Caernarfon
Howth - Caernarfon

If the weather play ball you could do it in the 4/5 days you have

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Stranrear. New pontoons and very helpful Harbour staff. the H Master is actually a Lady. It's a detour for you but could be worth it.

The lovely Leslie . I happily do the Loch Ryan detour to see her on my way up and down the Irish Sea. I can listen to her accent all afternoon.

Apart from Leslie, although a bit of a tip, Stranraer has good points as a stop off. It's safe to approach in just about everything (especially strong W winds when PP in untenable and Belfast is upwind), no depth problems, cheap at a tenner a night, good food shopping nearby and good transport links by coach and train from the ferry port for crew changes. Did I mention Leslie?

 

[claymore]

Personally, I feel you owe it to all those who have contributed to this thread to call in to all the places mentioned. Also, personally I feel you have to go into Portpatrick....

I realise this would probably necessitate at least 3 laps of IOM to accommodate everyone and a degree of extension to your original timeframe but at least I think you'd feel better that you had respected the collective wisdom of the contributors. Don't you?