Liverpool to Conwy

[Mike k]

We made our plans to get to Conwy and although Kwackers had kindly offered to assist us we felt we should give it a go alone and maybe make a trip to the straits for our the next passage and then do the PB advanced course .

The plan was to leave Liverpool in the first lock at 12noon on Monday and hopefully get to Conwy before the sill goes up at 4.30.We were thrown a slight wobble when the literature said the Marina sill closes 3 hours after high but the channel is best only navigated up to 2 hours either side. Any way we had a delightful passage with a lovely sunny day and calm seas.

Llandudno

Passing Great Orme

We arrived at 3.20 ( Avg 13.3 kn) and apart from the circuitous route through the channel we were well on time. ( we even thought with that longish channel entrance we may have got to the straits after all bet heyho).

The Marina was very picturesque but the berths legs seemed much tighter than in Liverpool but as it was flat calm we slid into G row berth 33 no problems. We had decided to spend 2 nights on board before the return leg on Wednesday. Spent a lovely evening in the Albion real welsh ale pub then onto the Castle hotel for food which was delicious too. We then discovered that the diesel pumps were not working at the Marina and may be out till Thursday, So our leisurely next day planned for Conway and Llandudno turned into a diesel jerry can hunt then to access diesel. After a great and scenic trip up the Conway we got on the case and made 3 separate trips with cans and overall 100 litres of diesel to refill to brim it.As we wanted to be sure that the fuel needle was accurate I was not going to be happy until I could see she was full and this also would accurately give us fuel consumption rate. Which turned out to be just under 2MPG. We had a great Cantonese meal in a place called East near the station in Llandudno before returning to the marina to watch the footy and couple of beers. Everyone was so helpful and friendly throughout.
Forecast for our return leg on Wednesday was not looking the best with F4 increasing to F6 during the day so we got going on the first sill down time of 12 noon.
Here we are awaiting to go ( ignore the camera date it was 2nd July ) and berthed on the fuel pontoon because we had moved her there in the morning before the wind got up to give us easy egress and to make it easier to carry jerry cans as it is next to the ramp . Interestingly as we moved her in the marina we had the depth sound alarm going off as all we had was 4 feet of water at one point - so I suppose we should just have waited for the water to flood over the sill but anyway no harm done and we needed the time to get going.

Passage back was no where near as pleasant (hence no pictures) and soon as we turned toward the Orme to head west the wave heights increased with wind and this was the same throughout the passage till we got to the confluence of the Rock channel and the Main channel in Liverpool (where there is usually a bit of turmoil) and things did get worse. Wipers were active throughout the passage and then one decided to come out of its seating in the Mersey so the last 20 minutes was squinting through droplets. I think we were fortunate that we had the come in on the tide and the wind was SW but our passage was slower and we locked back in to Liverpool at 3.40p.m averaged 11.5kn.

Great experience and boat performed fine and it was around a 100nm ish round trip , thoroughly enjoyed N.Wales but would try to plan a return in slighter better conditions next time.

 

[old_salt]

Thanks for the lovely pics and report you can almost see where my avatar pic was taken in the view of Llandudno.
Nothing new there the Irish is always an F4 to F8 when ever any one plans to go west.
Did you go though Rock Channel and is it still marked with the spud, mash and potato buoys..

 

[Mike k]

Thanks for the lovely pics and report you can almost see where my avatar pic was taken in the view of Llandudno.
Nothing new there the Irish is always an F4 to F8 when ever any one plans to go west.
Did you go though Rock Channel and is it still marked with the spud, mash and potato buoys..

Thanks for your kind comments old_ salt. Yes we did Rock channel both ways and could only see one buoy.... ''chip'' I think.

 

[Mike k]

would be interested to hear of others experience moving in and around Conway marina.

Cheers

Mike

 

[Seastoke]

hi mike good pics what craft do you have ,do you have bow or stern thrusters

 

[TSB240]

would be interested to hear of others experience moving in and around Conway marina.

Cheers

Mike

Marina seems better for depth since they dredged in the last year.
I was not able to move around at low tide before .
When visiting last year Marina staff put me in a berth close to the fuelling station with less than 0.5 of water and we draw 1.7! (having clearly told them our draft on approach). Luckily no damage when boat dropped nearly a meter off lifting keel into water as I stepped aboard in the dark.

Love the pics and glad you enjoyed the trip. Next time take the plunge and come to the Menai. We get plenty of visitors at Port Dinorwic from the Pool.

http://www.portdinorwic.co.uk/

Don't be put off by all the doom mongers about passage making through the Swelllies. Follow the advice in the pilot gude from the CHT and you will be fine

http://www.caernarfon-hbr.demon.co.uk/swell_e.htm

Timing is only critical the first few times through! Too early pick up a buoy at Menai Bridge or opposite the Gazelle by Bangor Pier and wait usually you will get a queue of yachts to show you the way as soon as the tide slackens. Too late is another matter and not recommended the first time

I am surprised the marina didn't lynch you carrying your own fuel to their fueling berth?

Steve

 

[Kawasaki]

So you went without me you sc^mbag!
Nice post well done that MAN!:encouragement:
Swellies in your boat is no prob by the way
Heres the way through from Menai Bridge
Go right under the middle of the Suspension bridge then once just under head directly to the South Cardinal on Swelly rock keep on that course until you have two davits (on a wall to port) belonging to a little house , when amidships of the davits head for a boat house on the Mainland side then adjust to starboard after 100 metres and head for the white house on Ynsys Gorad Goch with a large detached house (cream coloured) behind you should be in Transit with the white house ahead keep on this course until you have passed Price's Point to port and turn to port when the Cardinal is astern of you, then you will spot two white Transits at the bottom of the left hand arch of Brittania Bridge keep these inline until a Pyramid appears on the Mainland side when it is just off your port bow head for the middle of the left hand arch
When just under Brittania head to starboard to see a Statue of Nelson
There no hazards after the Centre of the arch has been negotiated but this season there a No of pots just after the Bridge poorly marked and hard to see at High water
It's a doddle.
If you go on to Caernarfon Harbour Trusts sight there is a good little Charty Guidey thing you can print off

 

[chaldon3]

hi enjoyed pics and write up, i have fished all over the n, wales cost it is beautiful. Conway is a little treasure. please do your home work before navigating the straights the current below and on top are unforgiving. the flood and ebb can be strong. however please come back to our lovely country.

 

[Mike k]

Marina seems better for depth since they dredged in the last year.
I was not able to move around at low tide before .
When visiting last year Marina staff put me in a berth close to the fuelling station with less than 0.5 of water and we draw 1.7! (having clearly told them our draft on approach). Luckily no damage when boat dropped nearly a meter off lifting keel into water as I stepped aboard in the dark.

Love the pics and glad you enjoyed the trip. Next time take the plunge and come to the Menai. We get plenty of visitors at Port Dinorwic from the Pool.

http://www.portdinorwic.co.uk/

Don't be put off by all the doom mongers about passage making through the Swelllies. Follow the advice in the pilot gude from the CHT and you will be fine

http://www.caernarfon-hbr.demon.co.uk/swell_e.htm

Timing is only critical the first few times through! Too early pick up a buoy at Menai Bridge or opposite the Gazelle by Bangor Pier and wait usually you will get a queue of yachts to show you the way as soon as the tide slackens. Too late is another matter and not recommended the first time

I am surprised the marina didn't lynch you carrying your own fuel to their fueling berth?

Steve

Thanks for all the ınfo Steve. apolıgıes for late reply but am away at the moment and have lımıted ınternet accessç Those lınks are excellent and I much apprecıate your detaıled response. BTW Conwy marına were unable to dıspense any deısel so no probs.

Regards.

Mıke

 

[Mike k]

So you went without me you sc^mbag!
Nice post well done that MAN!:encouragement:
Swellies in your boat is no prob by the way
Heres the way through from Menai Bridge
Go right under the middle of the Suspension bridge then once just under head directly to the South Cardinal on Swelly rock keep on that course until you have two davits (on a wall to port) belonging to a little house , when amidships of the davits head for a boat house on the Mainland side then adjust to starboard after 100 metres and head for the white house on Ynsys Gorad Goch with a large detached house (cream coloured) behind you should be in Transit with the white house ahead keep on this course until you have passed Price's Point to port and turn to port when the Cardinal is astern of you, then you will spot two white Transits at the bottom of the left hand arch of Brittania Bridge keep these inline until a Pyramid appears on the Mainland side when it is just off your port bow head for the middle of the left hand arch
When just under Brittania head to starboard to see a Statue of Nelson
There no hazards after the Centre of the arch has been negotiated but this season there a No of pots just after the Bridge poorly marked and hard to see at High water
It's a doddle.
If you go on to Caernarfon Harbour Trusts sight there is a good little Charty Guidey thing you can print off

Thanks for all the ınfo Rıch. Next trıp ıs PD so wıll be ın touch to hopefully coıncıde wıth adv pb.

best wıshes

Mıke

 

[Mike k]

hi enjoyed pics and write up, i have fished all over the n, wales cost it is beautiful. Conway is a little treasure. please do your home work before navigating the straights the current below and on top are unforgiving. the flood and ebb can be strong. however please come back to our lovely country.

ok chaldon3 we wıll be doıng.Thanks for your response