Neaped at Glasson Dock the other week

[[163233]]

Beware, it's getting a bit shallow in the dock itself, we stuck fast on the first approach managing to back off and then powered through the mud bank behind the flap gate on the second fractionally further to port with a just short of 1.4m draught on a 7.4m tide and then only just made it out with a noticeable nudge on a 7.7m a few days later.

It's probably easiest to think of it as having a drying height of about 6m, they only seem to hold 1m depth behind the gate at low water.

 

[C08]

That is useful to know-can I ask what sort of a place is Glasson Dock to berth as I am thinking or returning to the NW and that is not too far?

 

[[163233]]

That is useful to know-can I ask what sort of a place is Glasson Dock to berth as I am thinking or returning to the NW and that is not too far?

The marina is a canal basin up a lock from the dock. It's pretty and quite rural in character, the marina is good with reasonable facilities, a chandlers of sorts and being a canal has really solid wide pontoons. The big problem is access, the dock is only accessible from the sea 45 minutes before high water (a strategy that is almost designed to catch silt you'd have thought). So once you're out you're out for the tide. With the shallow water in the dock anything with a substantial keel will be further limited to the higher tides.

There's a club there that might be worth contacting for better info. http://glassonsailing.co.uk/

 

[C08]

Thanks for that. I have been there to view a boat but that was about 20 years ago. I actually liked it very much there but in those days a marina was not an option. I recall the sailing club as a very friendly, typical northern sailing club unlike a number of commercially orientated south coast clubs.We draw less than a metre (cat) so depth is not an issue for us and being retired we tend to go of a few weeks at a time so small tidal window is also not a problem. Just need to persuade SWMBO now!

 

[[3889]]

We draw less than a metre (cat) so depth is not an issue for us and being retired we tend to go of a few weeks at a time so small tidal window is also not a problem. Just need to persuade SWMBO now!

Given those criteria you might consider Preston Marina which does cracking deals over Summer: £10 / month / metre.

 

[C08]

Thanks for the reminder that is also a possibility. A friend had a boat there a few years ago and I quite liked it there, also nearer home (East Cheshire). I will check out the annual rates and whether they store out of the water over winter for just the lift out cost (on top of berthing fees).

 

[Richard10002]

A friend of mine kept his boat in Fleetwood for the summer and Glasson for the winter. Day sails were never much fun, given the tide windows, so we would make long weekends of it and head for the Isle of Man, or Whitehaven. If we had a week or two, Dunlaoghaire and points South.

 

[[3889]]

FWIW, best deal I could come with for a 10.5m mono for 2016 in the NW was April & May on a swinging mooring with Caernarfon Harbour Trust, June to September at Preston, October to March ashore at Rhyl.
In the event I stayed in Brittany for half the price and twice the sunshine and facilities.

 

[Halo]

Have used both Glasson and Preston for a winter season. There are loads of shops and restaurants in walking distance of Preston and an on site café but the water is full of blue green algae and looks foul. Glasson is real countryside and a walk up the local hill gives amazing views over the estuary , Lancaster etc, it also has a resident family of otters, downside is the jetty's (not pontoons) which require a lot of fendering as they don't move and the place is open to wind. Both have marvellous people, Preston being a family concern whilst Glasson is more bureaucratic being part of Canal and River Trust.
If you sail a lot I suggest Holyhead for summer and either of above for winter.

 

[C08]

Have used both Glasson and Preston for a winter season. There are loads of shops and restaurants in walking distance of Preston and an on site café but the water is full of blue green algae and looks foul. Glasson is real countryside and a walk up the local hill gives amazing views over the estuary , Lancaster etc, it also has a resident family of otters, downside is the jetty's (not pontoons) which require a lot of fendering as they don't move and the place is open to wind. Both have marvellous people, Preston being a family concern whilst Glasson is more bureaucratic being part of Canal and River Trust.
If you sail a lot I suggest Holyhead for summer and either of above for winter.

That is interesting I did not realize that Glasson Dock was jettys rather than pontoons. As you say it is much more difficult to get the lines and fenders right with all that rise and fall of tide!

 

[Halo]

That is interesting I did not realize that Glasson Dock was jettys rather than pontoons. As you say it is much more difficult to get the lines and fenders right with all that rise and fall of tide!

No tide - the marina is the other side of a flap gate and in fresh water at the same level as the Lancaster Canal

 

[[163233]]

No tide - the marina is the other side of a flap gate and in fresh water at the same level as the Lancaster Canal

The "old hands" talk of taking the dinghy up the canal to the Mill at Conder but it's a short enough walk to make that seem a hassle. I guess you could do Lancaster like that, but the canal meanders and it'd likely be longer than on foot. The walk along the old railway line (so flat and easy [and immaculate, kudos to the litter patrol] about 6 miles) is also really nice on a good day.

The marina should rent bikes, it'd be easy money and every visitor must want one.