leg 2 The Gazelle to the Ty Coch

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pcatterall

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This is what the crew demand! But we may be lucky and get through the Swellies the day before! ( I'm sure they'll find a good pub in Caernarfon?)
Menai to Porth Dinllaen should be a quick sail but crew are determined to sample the ale at the TY Coch and its a good starting point for the next ( longer) leg (Fishguard?).
If we have to pass the Swellies and the Caernarfon bar in one go then I assume there should be no problem? Swellies at L'pool -2 hours and the bar around HW? I have been cautioned to check with HM for changes to buoyage and also to be very sure of weather/conditions before passing beyond Fort Belan.
Is time over the bar dead critical or is weather more of an issue?
Thanks for any advice
 
Weather over the bar is more crucial. But don't cross the bar outside 3 hours either side of high water. If there's any waves in the troughs it'll be much shallower. Anything with southwesterly f4 + I would think long and hard about doing it. Searush will be along hopefully and give better advice!
If you go though the swellies at LP -2 HW you'll the have the tide with you all the way as well as over the bar, just remember the tides going out so if you touch on the bar you'll be there for a long time!
 
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pcatterall said:
This is what the crew demand! But we may be lucky and get through the Swellies the day before! ( I'm sure they'll find a good pub in Caernarfon?)
Menai to Porth Dinllaen should be a quick sail but crew are determined to sample the ale at the TY Coch and its a good starting point for the next ( longer) leg (Fishguard?).
If we have to pass the Swellies and the Caernarfon bar in one go then I assume there should be no problem? Swellies at L'pool -2 hours and the bar around HW? I have been cautioned to check with HM for changes to buoyage and also to be very sure of weather/conditions before passing beyond Fort Belan.
Is time over the bar dead critical or is weather more of an issue?
Thanks for any advice
Click to expand...

You can carry the tide all the way through the bar given those timings.

Weather advice is good re bar not fun with a strong wind against ebb.

Watch out for Ty Coch or Porth Dinllaen. Any northerly in the wind and it is nasty. Also last time we were there we arrived with a southerly wind which shifted westerly during the night giving us a horible sideways rock an roll puke ride because the swell was at right angles to the wind.

Pick up an empty mooring if you can. I saw one boat drag during the night nearly onto the rocks by LB station on a previous visit.

If its forecast northerly go to Mermaids cove LLandwyn or consider making through Bardsey into Aberdaron for a nights shelter.

Too strong on bar retreat if you can to Aber menai or go posh and visit Vicky dock.
 
Excellent stuf, thanks guys. Thanks for the alternatives to Dinllaen, good bolt holes hard to find around there.
Mermaids cove does look a bit rocky and shallow though. The bay east of the Island looks less fraught and still ok from northwind?
Your advice goes into my passage 'folder'
Thanks again.
 
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The Gazelle was less than yacht-friendly when we went ~ 3 years ago. Strictly M&S slacks, shirt & tie (or so it seemed) - a big change to previous years. Had to eat outside because we were in wellies. So deeply affected that I haven't been back since, and instead favour the flesh-pots of Menai Bridge (and the chippy :) )

You will have a big help from the tide if you go through Swellies at slack. Caernarfon Bar gets very rough with even moderate winds, and takes a while to calm down after a blow.

Watch out for timing around Bardsey, and look for wavey lines on the chart - they are real and a lot bigger in real life (Tripods 2008).

Andy
 
The Tripods can be a killer - keep clear, esp wind over tide. You will fly from Swellies to the Bar with the tide behind you. If you pick Llandwyn Island for shelter, stay East if the peninsula!

The Gazelle has a visitor's mooring, but it's a few years since we were there, but it is nice to have a meal & a drink while admiring your boat. If you do pop into Caernarfon, the Black Boy isn't bad for a meal.

The latest channel over the bar is said to have water (but not much) even at LW, the tide flows fast thro the Belan narrows but is manageable elsewhere. SW5 over the ebb is said to be the limit for a safe passage, but most of the time it's beautiful.

Bardsey Sound is interesting, but do avoid adverse tides & races. :D
 
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