Renegade_Master
Well-Known Member
Just been viewing "Coast" on the telly some stretch of water that, bet you have to pick your moments to cruise there, you have my utmost respect those that do.
Menai straits
- Thread starter Renegade_Master
- Start date
hlb
RIP
Yep, we watched it too. It's done on all states of tide, by boats fast enough, though I'm still sticking around slack water till I get more used to it. Slack water is not high water by the way. The problem is the wirl pools which suddenly send you in the wrong direction.
JKay
Well-Known Member
onto your own seperate pontoon ?
sarabande
Well-Known Member
the HM has given him his own pontoon to prevent Henry the Westie from abandoning ship in favour of someone with free sausages.
hlb
RIP
It can be done at low water, just a little scarier. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
polyanna
Well-Known Member
Yep - The presenter said his heart was racing after being swirled around by the current in his kayak. It's exactly the same in a 25 footer. The buffeting from the currents is very disconcerting first time through.
Came through just before low tide about 6 weeks ago, boy that makes the heart race.
Bob
Came through just before low tide about 6 weeks ago, boy that makes the heart race.
Bob
hlb
RIP
It's no different in a 35 footer, yer all lined up on a leading mark, then next second yer going another way. Might try a bit more power on next time, a choice between better steering and a bigger crunch. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
Kawasaki
Well-Known Member
First time I went through at low water
I had a large measure of Scotch !
That was 25 years ago.
Now I take less water in Me dram
And go through with less water than the piccie shows!
The Area is quite tricky for Raggies and displacement Mobos.
Semi displacement and planing boats can go through at LAT.
But only whith the 'Knowledge'
Tiss an immensly fascinating stretch of water.
Current runs up to 9kts.
Pilot books say 7/8ish.
I have recorded 9 over the ground (gps) whilst drifting through at a spot just out of the piccie shown towards the other bridge than spans the Straits.
Tother thing that can confuse newbies to the area is the change in bouyage at Caernarfon.
Cos there are two entrances to the Straits.
North end and South end.
The system changes at the Port of Caernarfon. So, say One enters at the Northern end (Puffin Island) everything is fine and Dandy.
Red ones to port green ones to starboard.
Then 'All Change' at Caernarfon.
Green to Port and Red to Starboard!
That can confuse newbs!!
I would like to do the Corryvreckan whirlpools and sample the Alderny race.
hlb, have You done the 'Hat Trick'?
Or anybody else on ere?
If so
Here is a Virtual Pint /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I had a large measure of Scotch !
That was 25 years ago.
Now I take less water in Me dram
And go through with less water than the piccie shows!
The Area is quite tricky for Raggies and displacement Mobos.
Semi displacement and planing boats can go through at LAT.
But only whith the 'Knowledge'
Tiss an immensly fascinating stretch of water.
Current runs up to 9kts.
Pilot books say 7/8ish.
I have recorded 9 over the ground (gps) whilst drifting through at a spot just out of the piccie shown towards the other bridge than spans the Straits.
Tother thing that can confuse newbies to the area is the change in bouyage at Caernarfon.
Cos there are two entrances to the Straits.
North end and South end.
The system changes at the Port of Caernarfon. So, say One enters at the Northern end (Puffin Island) everything is fine and Dandy.
Red ones to port green ones to starboard.
Then 'All Change' at Caernarfon.
Green to Port and Red to Starboard!
That can confuse newbs!!
I would like to do the Corryvreckan whirlpools and sample the Alderny race.
hlb, have You done the 'Hat Trick'?
Or anybody else on ere?
If so
Here is a Virtual Pint /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Renegade_Master
Well-Known Member
I guess one has to be confident in ones engines, or ideed ones engine, if you dare to go out in a single.
At 7-9 knots would need a mighty strong anchor to hold if you had breakdown.
Does anyone know of someone this has happend to?
At 7-9 knots would need a mighty strong anchor to hold if you had breakdown.
Does anyone know of someone this has happend to?
Lawsy
Well-Known Member
What kawasaki, surprisingly modestly for him /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif, fails to say is, that when he runs PB2 courses out of Port Dinorwic he has his students (most of whom have never controlled a small boat before) taking The Swellies on day 1. I know that this is true because I 'sat in' when kawasaki did Mrs Lawsy & philiz's PB2. OK, it is in a RIB, but it still takes great faith in boat & instructor for a novice to do this.
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
First time I went through at low water
I had a large measure of Scotch !
[/ QUOTE ]
I was referring to the fact I took the piccy.
Don't forget that every year the Three Peaks yachts do the Swellies with a sealed engine and with only their sails and oars to get through. In 2006 there was no wind and they had only the tide to get them through.
Loads of single engine boats go through every day and last Saturday there were four boats going East and six going West as I went through with six divers between the Platters and the suspension bridge.
Very interesting with all the boats dodging the orange markers which were moving alarmingly fast. The dive boat seemed unconcerned.
Also small passenger ships, like this one,
go through the Swellies and they have to cross over midway and go out the 'wrong way'.
As marked on this pic, taken the same day as the one Haydn posted.
And here is the Swellie perch 'doing' 8 knots.
First time I went through at low water
I had a large measure of Scotch !
[/ QUOTE ]
I was referring to the fact I took the piccy.
Don't forget that every year the Three Peaks yachts do the Swellies with a sealed engine and with only their sails and oars to get through. In 2006 there was no wind and they had only the tide to get them through.
Loads of single engine boats go through every day and last Saturday there were four boats going East and six going West as I went through with six divers between the Platters and the suspension bridge.
Very interesting with all the boats dodging the orange markers which were moving alarmingly fast. The dive boat seemed unconcerned.
Also small passenger ships, like this one,
go through the Swellies and they have to cross over midway and go out the 'wrong way'.
As marked on this pic, taken the same day as the one Haydn posted.
And here is the Swellie perch 'doing' 8 knots.
AyeSkipper
Member
That looks a bit spooky!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
We do the Alderney Race quite regularly and usually try to time it to get through on the fastest push from the tide.
We were going through last month on our way to Jersey and getting a push of 9kts behind us which was fab but then our port engine died on us /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Thankfully we were just south of the island and the majority of the rocks and swirlies. We limped down to Guernsey on one engine and rudder hard over. Not much fun trying to berth in the outer pool with a cruising group coming in around wondering why you are steering like a twonk!
Oh, btw, lesson learned; do not rely on fuel gauges (mucho embarassment)
We do the Alderney Race quite regularly and usually try to time it to get through on the fastest push from the tide.
We were going through last month on our way to Jersey and getting a push of 9kts behind us which was fab but then our port engine died on us /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Thankfully we were just south of the island and the majority of the rocks and swirlies. We limped down to Guernsey on one engine and rudder hard over. Not much fun trying to berth in the outer pool with a cruising group coming in around wondering why you are steering like a twonk!
Oh, btw, lesson learned; do not rely on fuel gauges (mucho embarassment)
hlb
RIP
Alderney races are much different, theres nothing to hit, just alot of bashing about if you get it wrong. Dont know about the other one, not been there, well not on perpose anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
whisper
Well-Known Member
I've done Corryvreckan in a rag and stick thing. It was so benign that we goosewinged through with the tide.
Could see a lot of swirling, bubbling etc closer to the shoreline but otherwise it was a doddle.
That is, until we almost ended up on the rocks that are a mile or so SE of the E. exit from Corryv. I was navigating and couldn't believe we had travelled so far in such a short time. It ruined our lunch /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
So, "be careful out there".
Could see a lot of swirling, bubbling etc closer to the shoreline but otherwise it was a doddle.
That is, until we almost ended up on the rocks that are a mile or so SE of the E. exit from Corryv. I was navigating and couldn't believe we had travelled so far in such a short time. It ruined our lunch /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
So, "be careful out there".
Kipper
Well-Known Member
We Have done many times and the only thing that ever caused us an issue was crossing Carnarfan bar, that can be a big swell.
Never done it at low water but it looks more interesting than High water.
First couple of times we used that huge pilot guide book which keeps you over to the right through the bridges from Carnarfon and it seemed staight forward enough but we have plentyof power in reserve so not sure what a slow boat would be like.
I would thoroughly recommend the pilot guide though and it is one of those rights of paasge like the ones mentioned in this months MBM editorial.
Never done it at low water but it looks more interesting than High water.
First couple of times we used that huge pilot guide book which keeps you over to the right through the bridges from Carnarfon and it seemed staight forward enough but we have plentyof power in reserve so not sure what a slow boat would be like.
I would thoroughly recommend the pilot guide though and it is one of those rights of paasge like the ones mentioned in this months MBM editorial.
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
It's really not too bad just go 2-2.5 hours before HW Liverpool.
I've done it while running full tilt on a very neap tide, current was about 5.5knots and the yacht does 6, figure!
I've done it at low water slack with 5ft draft. There is a rock, not mentioned in the pilot called cheese rock just before Britannia bridge just off track using the standard track SW. Cheese rock is about 4ft above datum. Why it's never mentioned in the pilot or marked on the chart I don't know.
The other point that the pilot misleads on is the suggested track tends to take you near or over the platters (Welsh shore near start of transit). The reality is that there's loads more water near the middle to the Anglesey shore.
The real nasty near the standard track is the NE end of Cribbin rock. It's 4.5m or getting on for 15ft above datum and unmarked. I've seen it at low water and a better boat wrecking pinnacle I have yet to see. You only have to stray a bit and at slack neaps there's only about 2ft over it.
It's very easy to get involved in the suggested pilotage and not actually be aware of the hazards.
I've done it while running full tilt on a very neap tide, current was about 5.5knots and the yacht does 6, figure!
I've done it at low water slack with 5ft draft. There is a rock, not mentioned in the pilot called cheese rock just before Britannia bridge just off track using the standard track SW. Cheese rock is about 4ft above datum. Why it's never mentioned in the pilot or marked on the chart I don't know.
The other point that the pilot misleads on is the suggested track tends to take you near or over the platters (Welsh shore near start of transit). The reality is that there's loads more water near the middle to the Anglesey shore.
The real nasty near the standard track is the NE end of Cribbin rock. It's 4.5m or getting on for 15ft above datum and unmarked. I've seen it at low water and a better boat wrecking pinnacle I have yet to see. You only have to stray a bit and at slack neaps there's only about 2ft over it.
It's very easy to get involved in the suggested pilotage and not actually be aware of the hazards.
Philiz
Well-Known Member
The vast majority of the boats which run along the Straits are single engined (including mine), some carry auxiliaries, many don't.
Not heard of anyone suffering engine failure through The Swellies, but if anyone has, Kawasaki is likely to be along shortly to tell you about it!
Not heard of anyone suffering engine failure through The Swellies, but if anyone has, Kawasaki is likely to be along shortly to tell you about it!
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
The real nasty near the standard track is the NE end of Cribbin rock. It's 4.5m or getting on for 15ft above datum and unmarked. I've seen it at low water and a better boat wrecking pinnacle I have yet to see. You only have to stray a bit and at slack neaps there's only about 2ft over it.
[/ QUOTE ]
Cribbin Rock
The real nasty near the standard track is the NE end of Cribbin rock. It's 4.5m or getting on for 15ft above datum and unmarked. I've seen it at low water and a better boat wrecking pinnacle I have yet to see. You only have to stray a bit and at slack neaps there's only about 2ft over it.
[/ QUOTE ]
Cribbin Rock
LittleShip
Well-Known Member
There is a rock, not mentioned in the pilot called cheese rock just before Britannia bridge just off track
OK now I'm worried..........sounds like the kind of thing Kwacker would say " Oh yeh! I hit that one in 74" so where exactly is it before I hit it in 2009. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Tom
OK now I'm worried..........sounds like the kind of thing Kwacker would say " Oh yeh! I hit that one in 74" so where exactly is it before I hit it in 2009. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Tom
