Liverpool to Strangford Lough and subsequent waft round N.I.

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Lee_Shaw

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Hello

I'm off to Northern Ireland this friday for 2 weeks in my 27ft saily thing. Sailing from liverpool on the conveniently timed evening tide, probly leaving about 7ish.

Plan was to head for the Isle of man, passing south of the island, turn rightish and then head on up to the lough in one hit, I plan to anchor (free I hope) there for a couple of days to take in the sposedly beautiful waters, wildlife and scenery. Then I'm heading up northwards and westwards to end up in portrush.

I've got all the charts which I've been studying over the past couple of months and I've invested in the Irish cruising guide thingy for the area (which seems miles better than my western england cruising one).

Any advice or local knowhow for either the crossing, the lough, or the little cruise round the coast much appreciated. I prefer to anchor cos I'm saving up but I can afford a couple of nights in a marina.

Thanks

Steve
 
You get really high tidal currents into/out of the Lough, especially on springs. If there is an strong onshore wind and strong outgoing tide, there can be a real nightmare where the two meet.
 
A few years back I met the past commodore of the Down Cruising Club (based in the Lough) who was just about the most amusing man I've ever met. If the rest of the membership is one tenth as entertaining a call on their club house ( a lightship, I believe) could be the start of a very memorable evening.
 
Agree. Time it right! The current seems to turn almost instantly in the narrows.

Once inside it is very nice with lots of nice sheltered anchorages. We found Quoile YC very welcoming with pleasant walks ashore. I don't think they charged anything for using their pontoons. The pilotage is entertaining throughout the lough.

When skirting the IOM, calf sound is a piece of cake in the right conditions and unbelievably evil in the wrong conditions. Last time I went past, there was a modest f4 against the tide. I had thought I would go through if it didn't look too bad. It looked like the inside of a washing machine and I went outside!
 
Do ensure you update the cruising guide from the Irish cruising club website. How far south do you intend to come?

Personally I would plan to stop in the IoM, I have never been on the Island, used it as a waypoint a few times but never actually managed to stay, a little like Lundy. Shame you seem to have missed the heatwave for the crossing /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.

If I was planning the same cruise as you, I would also think about coming home via stranreae (how do you spell it??). Though the NW coast back home then is a little barren, Preston, Fleetwood?

How long have you given for the crossing, it is a fair old way, even the seacat takes a good time to travel that route...

Fairwinds
 
Thanks for the replies guys I've scribbled down the names of the YCs in my little book.

The straits and the approaches to Strangford have to be done right.

Dogwatch thanks for the PM I've PMed you back. I sail to Douglas fairly regularly, often with the intention of sailing on to Strangford Lough but I get sidetracked there so easily that I've decided to give the IOM a miss this time round and go straight to Strangford as it's free of charge and beautiful, I'm told. Timewise I'm thinking 24+ hours to do the crossing because at this moment in time winds are not looking too fair, probly fairly light and variable (booo) but predominently from the direction I wanna go in from the charts I've seen. Wadya think?

Might even end up in teh IOM if I'm stuck out there for too long or end up having to motor - no soundproofing so it's like motoring along in a sub woofer playing experimental gabba-noise techno or sumink.

Any more thoughts? Anchorages hint hint.
 
In Strangford Lough the following are all very attractive places to anchor - Audley's Castle (tide rode but good walks around Castle Ward - National Trust property), between Chapel and Jackdaw Islands, west of south end of Pawle Island, or just off NW side of the larger Dunnyneill Island in calm weather. You can anchor most places in the Lough if the wind is blowing off the shore. The holding is generally good to very good. I think that most of the clubs are happy for visiting yachts to use their pontoons for limited periods - best to ask a member if there are any restrictions on use.

The Strangford Lough chart is essential and the poles on the shallow pladdies can be hard to spot. The public are requested not to land on islands where birds are nesting.

The wildlife and scenery are lovely. Enjoy!

Anchorages for the rest of your cruise around the coast are mostly subject to swell. Try the bay on the S side of the Copeland Island. I am told Rathlin Harbour is well worth a visit and I don't think that there is a charge. If you are brave you might try entering the River Bann and going up to Coleraine YC.
 
Suggest on the way to Portrush you stop off at Glenarm, a newish marina about 11 miles north of Larne. From here take the tide round to Ballycastle. A quick trip over to Rathlin is worth it but watch out for the wash from the plonkers in the fast ribs that steam into Rathlin at full pelt. From Rathlin a nice sail west to Portrush.

Paul.
 
There's a pub in Portaferry called the Fiddlers Green. Get yourself in there. I agree with all the other posters have written - Daft Eddy's at Sketrick used to be a great place but I've not been there for a few years - but Down Sailing Club is really hospitable. If your timing goes awry or the weather comes in, I think its about 30 miles across to Ardglass from Calf Sound - we went there once to wait for the favourable tide to get into Strangford.
Have you been into Port St Mary? Its a grand place for a bit of shelter and although I've not been in since they've done the work, Peel is supposed to be good.
Certainly the west coast of the IOM is prettier than the East.
 
I can vouch for that.
SWMBO and myself were there last year. and berthed alongside for the night. It's also the fuel barge. Not open every night but fortunately there was a commitee meeting on the night we chose to visit. The malt whiskey was very good there.

We walked along a short distance to the pub/hotel and the black liquid went down very well.

Well worth going to.

Iain
 
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