New to the Welsh Coast

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Gypsyjoss

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Hi Guys
We've just spent 14 years cruising in Greek waters, have sold up and just bought a yacht in Wales. I intend to use Aberystwyth or thereabouts as a base. There is a Garmin GPS Chartplotter and one chart. I haven't been out yet.

What's the equivalent of Rod Heikels Greek Waters Pilot for this area? Any recommended chart packs?

And of course I need to purchase Tide Tables.

Thanks

Pete
 
Gypsyjoss said:
Hi Guys
We've just spent 14 years cruising in Greek waters, have sold up and just bought a yacht in Wales. I intend to use Aberystwyth or thereabouts as a base. There is a Garmin GPS Chartplotter and one chart. I haven't been out yet.

What's the equivalent of Rod Heikels Greek Waters Pilot for this area? Any recommended chart packs?

And of course I need to purchase Tide Tables.

Thanks

Pete
Click to expand...

What have you bought?
 
Chart wise I use the Admiralty Packs.
Google a copy of the Aberporth range Byelaws to learn your 'rights'.They do not own Cardigan Bay.
Tide tables-I use the Merioneth Yacht Club booklet.
Do not underestimate the effect of tide on the 'Sarns'.
Aberdovey and Barmouth Bars need to be treated with respect.
Cheers.
 
Welcome to sailing in West Wales, first thing I would suggest is not to rely upon the tide tables published by Ceredigion Council, many locals think they aren’t accurate and prefer to calculate their own based upon Milford or even Liverpool.
As far as Pilot’s go the area isn’t well served, but the Irish Sea Pilot by David Rainsbury is fine, but I also carry the Lundy and Irish Sea pilot by David Taylor which at times seems to be a little more helpful, but is out of print so has to be bought used.
I carry the Admiralty South and North Wales leisure charts which cover the area well.
Caiman’s advice on Aberporth is very valid if your going South, they do issue notices and you can get a credit card sized memory aid from them.
I think the largest change ‘apart from the weather’ you will find is the shortage of safe harbours to drop into on the off chance, they quite widely spaced apart, most are highly tidal and often only accessible about 2 hours either side of high water at best, can be untenable in some conditions and predominantly suitable for bilge keelers.
All the best
 
AngusMcDoon said:
Irish Sea Pilot by David Rainsbury, published by Imray. There's also an Anglesey pilot book but Rainsbury covers Anglesey in sufficient detail too.
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Dunno if the new edition is any better, but the first Irish Sea Pilot was terrible. Unbelievably detailed about Jack and Ramsey Sounds but fading as you headed northwards to no more than a sketch outline of the main bit of the Irish Sea. Add a most bizarre ordering which put Howth and Dun Laoghaire a hundred pages apart and shocking editing with duplicated and misordered chartlets.

And relax. It's probably OK for the Welsh coast, despite the name.
 
JumbleDuck said:
Dunno if the new edition is any better, but the first Irish Sea Pilot was terrible. Unbelievably detailed about Jack and Ramsey Sounds but fading as you headed northwards to no more than a sketch outline of the main bit of the Irish Sea. Add a most bizarre ordering which put Howth and Dun Laoghaire a hundred pages apart and shocking editing with duplicated and misordered chartlets.

And relax. It's probably OK for the Welsh coast, despite the name.
Click to expand...

I was thinking of the Lundy & Irish Sea pilot, but you can't get it now.
 
Hi Guys
Thanks for the info.
About 10 reasons for coming home. I'll continue to go out to the Med in May/June as crew as I did this year - all the bliss and hardly any responsibility apart from drinking a lot of G&T.
What have I bought? Well, the deal's not done yet so I'll stay mum for now, but it is a bilge keeler, so well suited to the area.
Cheers
Pete
 
Cardigan Bay is a wonderful cruising area apart from the (relatively) poor weather compared to the S Coast, with lots of wildlife, many traditional harbours, lack of conjestion afloat and no S Coast prices. Being one big lee shore with no sheltered anchorages, 3 large offshore reefs, mostly tidal bars at entrances it needs a decent level of competence.
 
C08 said:
Cardigan Bay is a wonderful cruising area apart from the (relatively) poor weather compared to the S Coast, with lots of wildlife, many traditional harbours, lack of conjestion afloat and no S Coast prices. Being one big lee shore with no sheltered anchorages, 3 large offshore reefs, mostly tidal bars at entrances it needs a decent level of competence.
Click to expand...
+1
 
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