Milford Haven to Falmouth

[Sea Devil]

Anybody know about the Bristol Channel ports between Milford Haven and Falmouth?

I am thinking of single handing a long keel 32ft boat on that passage, day sailing, in around 50nm chunks.

Looking at CPN there only appear to be drying ports on the Bristol channel side many with a bar as in mud sand!

I know I could do it in 36 hours direct but would prefer not to in a boat that´s strange to me.

Route/Port suggestions gratefully accepted - I have never sailed that area

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

You don't have many options. I would plan to do it in one go to Newlyn, and then from there to Falmouth. Use Padstow as a potential port of refuge.

Pete

 

[rotrax]

+1!

Milford Haven to Newlyn, get the tide right around Lands End and into Mounts Bay.

Last time we picked up a buoy outside Penzance which was very convenient-and cheap-nobody came for any fees- and we left on the next suitable tide.

 

[Sea Devil]

Is Padstow accessible in poor weather? Presumably go in and anchor or is there a harbour? Nothing on laptop chart!

 

[Sea Devil]

Thank you Halcyon and Rotrax for the advice.
Overnight to Newlyn looks good and I take the point about the tidal gate off Land end.
I will find a crew for the passage

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

Is Padstow accessible in poor weather? Presumably go in and anchor or is there a harbour? Nothing on laptop chart!

It's not ideal if there is a big swell or strong westerlies, but would assume that you don't leave Milford in these conditions. It's also quite far out of your way, but would be ok to divert to in an emergency.

http://www.visitmyharbour.com/harbours/bristol-channel/padstow/expanded.asp

Pete

 

[Sea Devil]

Thanks Pete - was looking to halve the passage but I see it´s a 70nm hit so not really much use. Liked the link, must remember My Harbour... didn´t like ...... is guarded by the Doom Bar.

fair winds

 

[DuncanHall]

If the wind has no east in it and conditions are fine then Anchor at Lundy. I used to go from Cardiff to Plymouth each summer for about 5 years. In the right conditions Lundy is a good stop followed by Padstow. Padstow to Mounts bay took me 13 hours in 2010 in a Moody 31.

 

[[3889]]

Done it a few times solo in both directions: MH to Lundy to Padstow to Newlyn (Porth Curno if wind and swell favourable) then Falmouth.
It's 80 miles MH (overnight at Dale on the pontoon to save a 6 mile slog out of the marina into prevailing westerlies) to Padstow if you want to miss Lundy otherwise the longest leg is Padstow-Newlyn at 60 miles and mostly favourable tides. Not sure why Padstow has the reputation it has; I suspect it's the off-puttingly named Doom Bar which, I believe is named after the colour of its sand. Any conditions which make Padstow inaccessible rule out a trip around The Land. Plus Padstow is a beautiful harbour, best in UK, IMO.

 

[Sea Devil]

That`s interesting anchoring behind Lundy - I had only really heard of it in weather forecasts! Then onto Padstow anchoring there.. Dale is presumably at the mouth of MH... Can´t find it at the moment

 

[[70521]]

There are some YouTube videos from a chap who did it, well almost, in his Mirage 28. First video below.

 

[Sea Devil]

What a nice guy and what good video`s.. Couldn't´t find the Lundy island one

 

[[3889]]

That`s interesting anchoring behind Lundy - I had only really heard of it in weather forecasts! Then onto Padstow anchoring there.. Dale is presumably at the mouth of MH... Can´t find it at the moment

Dale at the mouth of the Haven where a free island pontoon is laid during summer months.


Unless you are unlucky there are normally a couple of free mooring buoys on the East side of Lundy. Big tidal range there so if you do have to anchor have plenty of cable.

 

[Sea Devil]

Thank you so much for pointing me to this series of sailing videos.. I found Doom Bar with google and its https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjCEisfgooo

Such a good small boat sailor and film maker. He captures the essence of single handed sailing brilliantly and because he is so cool about it makes it appear much easier than it is. Cannot recommend his UTube channel highly enough!

 

[Sea Devil]

Dale at the mouth of the Haven where a free island pontoon is laid during summer months.
View attachment 77520

Unless you are unlucky there are normally a couple of free mooring buoys on the East side of Lundy. Big tidal range there so if you do have to anchor have plenty of cable.

Thanks for Dale and indeed for the Lundy info... I will be doing it in a new to me old boat so must work hard at the anchor chain situation and windlass...

 

[[70521]]

Thank you so much for pointing me to this series of sailing videos.. I found Doom Bar with google and its https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjCEisfgooo

Such a good small boat sailor and film maker. He captures the essence of single handed sailing brilliantly and because he is so cool about it makes it appear much easier than it is. Cannot recommend his UTube channel highly enough!

Glad I could help. Paul is a lovely guy responds to comments on his channel. He is doing some interesting modifications to his Mirage 28, my last boat was one of those, and has some great ideas. I've been following his installation of the heater with interest.

 

[rotrax]

I suspect it's the off-puttingly named Doom Bar which, I believe is named after the colour of its sand.

Is that because the sand is Doom coloured?

What IS the colour of Doom?

 

[Gwylan]

Anybody know about the Bristol Channel ports between Milford Haven and Falmouth?

I am thinking of single handing a long keel 32ft boat on that passage, day sailing, in around 50nm chunks.

Looking at CPN there only appear to be drying ports on the Bristol channel side many with a bar as in mud sand!

I know I could do it in 36 hours direct but would prefer not to in a boat that´s strange to me.

Route/Port suggestions gratefully accepted - I have never sailed that area

There are none, from Milford, unless you see Newlyn as a plan B.

Get a mate, enough diesel, pot noodles and pucker up.

 

[Gwylan]

Is Padstow accessible in poor weather? Presumably go in and anchor or is there a harbour? Nothing on laptop chart!

But worrying if you have to ask that question!

 

[Leopold Bloom]

Last year I did Milford to Padstow then anchored at St Ives to get the right tide around Lands End then straight to Falmouth.