Leaving Milford Haven for Northern Island

[sfellows]

Hoping to travel North from Milford Haven up the Irish Sea to NI in a few weeks. What is the best time to leave Milford Haven and is it best to go inside (through Jack Sound) or outside Skomer, and inside (Ramsey Sound) or outside Ramsey at St David's Head?

 

[Dellquay13]

Hoping to travel North from Milford Haven up the Irish Sea to NI in a few weeks. What is the best time to leave Milford Haven and is it best to go inside (through Jack Sound) or outside Skomer, and inside (Ramsey Sound) or outside Ramsey at St David's Head?

The tidal streams at Jack sound and Ramsey sound turn Northbound at LW+2hr15.
You can easily pass both sounds at slack or with the flow, but I aim for slack water at Jack sound to maximise the fair tide going north.

If you leave at LW or just after and stick close inshore from St Anne’s lighthouse up to Jack sound to find the back eddy, you arrive at Jack sound just before the slack water before the flow goes north. I usually wait in S Haven if early. If you have 1.8m or less draft you can use Little Sound safely instead of Jack Sound (CD plus rise of tide usually gives at least 3m. turn to port on leaving little sound to avoid the rock straight ahead).
Once through into St Brides bay there is another north bound back eddy inshore, and you will rocket through Ramsey sound with the tide. If you are sailing up the Welsh side, stay offshore after St David’s head to clear the sledges reefs. You’ll be near Strumble head as the tide changes back against you, watch out for the overfalls, they’re passable but slow and lumpy.

It’s still Dolphin season so keep a lookout after Skomer

Neap tides are good going North, the slack and north bound flow starts around breakfast time. I start early and have breakfast at S Haven waiting for the tide

 

[vyv_cox]

I agree with what Dellquay13 has posted, we usually anchored in South Haven to wait for Jack Sound slack water.
A complication these days, although I believe not in August, is the range at Aberporth. I like to sail well into Cardigan Bay to avoid the strong ebb but last time I did so was forced well out by the range officer on VHF. Consequently we were late at Bardsey and had a rough time of it in a NW F4.

 

[Dellquay13]

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