ionaboat
New member
can anyone advise on a marina with good facilities and tidal window for 1.4 metre fixed draft in the North Wales, Lancashire or Cumbria area?
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looking for north west marina advice
- Thread starter ionaboat
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Caer Urfa
Well-known member
Signed Out
Active member
And there you have it.
Glasson, Fleetwood, Preston, Maryport, Liverpool on salty water (can't think of others, not inc Wales, dunno there) are all poor tidal access.
Of course that's not an issue in fresh- Bowness?
Wish there was more though. Even more I wish there were moorings with full tidal access around that way. Available- maybe some in Wales? I guess any spot worth having in Barrow's been taken.
Avocet
Well-known member
Glasson is only "a bit salty". It's a basin at the end of a canal with a pretty small tidal window - mostly lock access.
Whitehaven is also not quite as salty as the sea because there are a few freshwater culverts that empty into it. I know that Whitehaven has an excellent tidal window. At 1m draft, I'd imagine you could almost get 24h access except at low water springs. 3h either side of HW would be pretty easy. It was last time we were there.
Maryport generally cheaper than Whitehaven, but tidal window is less, and entry is reputed (never tried it!) to be quite tricky under wind-over-tide conditions.
Whitehaven is also not quite as salty as the sea because there are a few freshwater culverts that empty into it. I know that Whitehaven has an excellent tidal window. At 1m draft, I'd imagine you could almost get 24h access except at low water springs. 3h either side of HW would be pretty easy. It was last time we were there.
Maryport generally cheaper than Whitehaven, but tidal window is less, and entry is reputed (never tried it!) to be quite tricky under wind-over-tide conditions.
Skylark
Well-known member
What sort of sailing do you want from your chosen marina base?
Those on the NW coast don't give many options. Once you've out, short of waiting for the next tide, it's a long way to anywhere else.
The Liverpool channel, for example, is about 15m long and once you're at the Entrance Buoy it's a long journey to IoM or North Wales etc.....
River Conwy is similarly restrictive. Menai has PD and Caernarfon but both are locked or cill, the Menai itself has fast tidal flow to limit your plans.
Holyhead is an all-states port. You can sail Church Bay at any time and you can head-off to Dublin too. Turning right or left out of the breakwater requires slack to pass the tidal gates then a fair tide to help you on your way. The town of Holyhead gets a lot of criticism on here.
Inside Tremadoc Bay there's Puffwelly and one or two of the Forum Elders have voted with their feet and moved.
There is some nice sailing to be done around North Wales. I've done Conwy, Menai and Holyhead over the last 10 years and I'm not bored yet.
There are some nice sailors, too. Friendly and will often exchange your shore line for a welcoming beer. Of course, that doesn't apply to any members of the forum
Those on the NW coast don't give many options. Once you've out, short of waiting for the next tide, it's a long way to anywhere else.
The Liverpool channel, for example, is about 15m long and once you're at the Entrance Buoy it's a long journey to IoM or North Wales etc.....
River Conwy is similarly restrictive. Menai has PD and Caernarfon but both are locked or cill, the Menai itself has fast tidal flow to limit your plans.
Holyhead is an all-states port. You can sail Church Bay at any time and you can head-off to Dublin too. Turning right or left out of the breakwater requires slack to pass the tidal gates then a fair tide to help you on your way. The town of Holyhead gets a lot of criticism on here.
Inside Tremadoc Bay there's Puffwelly and one or two of the Forum Elders have voted with their feet and moved.
There is some nice sailing to be done around North Wales. I've done Conwy, Menai and Holyhead over the last 10 years and I'm not bored yet.
There are some nice sailors, too. Friendly and will often exchange your shore line for a welcoming beer. Of course, that doesn't apply to any members of the forum
JimC
Well-known member
This is true unfortunately, the dock gates are only open for the hour up to high water. Glasson does have the compensations of a comprehensive yacht repair & marine engineering facility and an excellent sailing club http://www.glassonsc.org.uk/ (personal bias admitted).
ionaboat
New member
Thank you for your advice I think I will check out Whitehaven and Holyhead. I would rather go off recommendation than the adverts
raven
Well-known member
The facilities at Fleetwood are pretty good - and improving I understand. Though you will be limited to +/- 2 hours of high water to get in or out of the lock.
Pwllheli in N Wales has a very good marina with excellent facilities but it is not without it's problems - over the past year or so it has been silting up and there have been numerous associated problems leading to a large number of berth holders departing.
Tremadog Bay is a wonderful sailing area with stunning views of Snowdonian Mountains and handy for trips across to Ireland / IOM
Pwllheli in N Wales has a very good marina with excellent facilities but it is not without it's problems - over the past year or so it has been silting up and there have been numerous associated problems leading to a large number of berth holders departing.
Tremadog Bay is a wonderful sailing area with stunning views of Snowdonian Mountains and handy for trips across to Ireland / IOM
Signed Out
Active member
Likewise.
Now if we could persuade Heysham to stop their pesky commercial operations and set up a marina in there...
Or pull their (the mysterious, omnipresent "them") fingers out and go ahead with the Barrow idea.
I was looking at Whitehaven previously, and still consider it for long term. But it's just such a hike, and the main part of that is just getting across Cumbria, particularly after Keswick. Train no better.
Fleetwood I think would be a real problem if you miss the gate, unless you can sit on the mud or make it to a salting at Skipool(?)?
BlackMagic
New member
"Though you will be limited to +/- 2 hours of high water to get in or out of the lock "
and that only on a spring and if they are feeling kind to you! In reality a lot less. But pete and the berthing crew are good lads and the banter alone makes Fleetwood worth a visit!
Whitehaven is a drag to get to but the staff cannot do enough for you and the Marina is right in the town with a supermarket, shops and various eateries/pubs a short stroll away. Well worth the drive, esp early morning thru the Lake District instead of taking the A66, and esp in autumn. Mirror calm lakes, multi coloured foliage, a few deer - drive it regularly and love it!
and that only on a spring and if they are feeling kind to you! In reality a lot less. But pete and the berthing crew are good lads and the banter alone makes Fleetwood worth a visit!
Whitehaven is a drag to get to but the staff cannot do enough for you and the Marina is right in the town with a supermarket, shops and various eateries/pubs a short stroll away. Well worth the drive, esp early morning thru the Lake District instead of taking the A66, and esp in autumn. Mirror calm lakes, multi coloured foliage, a few deer - drive it regularly and love it!
Miker
New member
Agree about Whitehaven and Fleetwood. All I would add is that on suitable summer weekends there is a lock out and in that adds about one hour to each end of sailing time, giving upto five hours on the tide.