North Wales or No Point

[Guest]

I'm new to boating, so don't take the P***

I'm on the verge of investing in my first boat, something like a Sealine S28 or a slightly older S34. As I live in West Yorkshire my nearest Marina is probably North Wales. Do you experiened boaters think I will get enough good weather to use my new boat in the UK, or should I search for somewhere cheap in the Med.

Cheers Steve

Steve55

 

[david_e]

which marina?

 

[Guest]

Probably Bangor

Steve55

 

[david_e]

Can't speculate on Bangor.

Live in W. Yorks, been going to the Llyn peninsula for years and that has it's own microclimate, weather is invariably better than forecast. Mainly because it starts to gather going over Snowdonia. Nairn in Scotland is another example of a microclimate which is why their golf courses are fantastic.

Journey is typically 21/2 to 23/4 hours.

Trouble is, there is a 4 year wait for a spot on the marina at Pwllheli unless you park and launch and rent visitors berths. Have you looked at Deganwy?

 

[hlb]

Davids right. The problem is more to do with findind a berth than anything else. Nearly all the good places are full. Have you thought of Troon on The West coast of Scotland. There maybe space there and it's a super cruising ground.

<font color=blue> Haydn

 

[Guest]

No I haven't looked at Deganwy.

Would you recommend it?

Do you know what the annual berthing cost would be for a 30 footer?

Is North a nice area for boating?

How many good weather weeks do you get a year?

Sorry for the Spanish inquisition, but its hard to get good advice

Cheers Steve

Steve55

 

[hlb]

Pwllheli is not bad. I spent bout four years there. Most of the problems around Wales are about tides and lack of places to easily get to or from or in or out of, leaving Ireland a the best option for places to go.

<font color=blue> Haydn

 

[Guest]

Hlb - surely Scotland is too cold???

Steve55

 

[david_e]

There is a new marina planned at Deganwy, just across from Conwy which is not bad. You might try getting your name on the list, not sure when it will be finished.

The Llyn Peninsula is a beautiful part of the world, check out Turtle photography's site for piccies. Abersoch has it's own website which might have data on the weather, I can't comment just to say that if the beeb say rain, it usually doesn't. Keeping it in perspective, it ain't the med, but in a hop skip and a jump you are on Hols. They even speak a different language.

At Pwllheli it is £195 per metre plus the dreaded. If you have a powerboat many places are far more accessible than a sailyboat, tides aren't as bad as harry says, again especially for a pb.

Your other main option is the East coast - no comparison.

Haven't sailed Scotland but it it is good. As for the weather, the island of Tiree is the sunniest, windiest place in Britain - Gulf stream effect.

 

[BrendanS]

Haydn,

What's it like down in Cardigan Bay, areas like Cardigan, Fishguard, and futher down to Milford Haven?

 

[sfh]

our boat is at Conwy, there is Port Dinorwic, ABC marine are planning a marina at Gallows Point, i understand there are berths at Holyhead, Bangor? no marina maybe swinging moorings, number of days of boat use is relative to your skills and stomach we get a lot of use with many long summer days. east coast?

 

[Dave_Snelson]

You could try Pwllheli on the Llyn Peninsula, or possibly where I am, at Porthmadog, but at PM you need a wet mooring and you need to understand the estuary. The prices are cheap compared to elsewhere and the scenary is fantasic. If you want to know more, I am the powerboat rep for Madoc Yacht Club, send me a private message for more details of the Llyn as a whole. Or turn up for a drink on the 18th of Jan - I'm there for the weekend. Nice to have you on board.

Madoc Yacht Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk>http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk</A>

 

[hlb]

Cant comment. Ive been, nearly Been every where. But there are bits Ive missed out. Mostly cos it's a dam site easier to go some where else.Basicly I've cruised from Pwhelli, Ireland, Scotland and Plymouth. The whole of west coast. Ive covered. also south coast to Solent and much of Ireland and Scotland. From Pwhelli, It was just a dam site easier to go to Ireland than to go to Bangor. Yes Ive been to Holyhead. Its crap. But ok for a night. Anywhere in IOM Is a good fuel stop. But thats the best I can say about it. Ireland is wonderfull. So is Scotland but more so.

Ive been to Milford Haven from the East and from the south. Never gone from Millford north. So there are about one or two harbours in the whole of that side of England scotland and Wales that I've missed out on. Milford haven is easy. Pleanty of deapth. Ive never been to Fish guard that looks the next place round. Cant see any problems about it. But obviosly take care.........................

To answer Your queston.....I hate difficutt conditions so pefer eisier in and out.............. I''ll co[ewith the reasst

<font color=blue> Haydn

 

[whisper]

If you can put up with the extra driving you should definitely choose the Clyde rather than Wales. I don't wish to upset those with boats in Cymru, but it cannot compare with the West Coast of Scotland as a cruising area. There are marinas at Troon, Ardrossan, Inverkip & Largs.
If you are a newcomer to boating the Clyde is a great area to gain experience in. You will be able to use the boat in weather you wouldn't go out in, in Wales.
Then proceed further up the West Coast for one of the best cruising areas in Europe.
Weather wise there is not much difference between Wales and the Clyde and the further West you go, on the Scottish coast, the drier it gets, apparently.
Then there's the whisky!

 

[BrendanS]

Bugger! Used to go boating in that area as a kid. Had friends and family in Newport (West wales, little village between Fishguard and Cardigan, not the South Wales place) and going out on the boat there was stunningly beautiful.

I'd like to take the boat there, but apart from Milford Haven (everyone thinks of this as Tanker Heaven, but it is boating paradise in UK terms) and Fishguard, there seem to be few places to launch and fuel?

 

[sfh]

dont forget Liverpool, at the other end of the M62 from Yorkshire

 

[whisper]

Or Maryport and Whitehaven, then it's not so far to go to SCOTLAND.

 

[Bergman]

Had 2 years at Conwy - Nice spot

Access about half tide - prps more in motor boat

My main complaint was 2 mile channel into river - always seemed to be plugging tide too

Marina quite expensive roughly twice price of East coast.

You might try Hull about £120 /meter inc Nice marina but you do have Humber to put up with

Hartlepool Very nice Marina - lock out to sea plenty of places to go. This yesar £147/M inc

Royal Quays similar to Hpool Just inside River Tyne $168/M inc

I had 2 years at Maryport in Cumbria - pain to drive to over A66 Marina now much better managed but small, Half tide access via flap gate, dunno price probably around price of Hull

Whitehaven similar to Maryport but access over most of tide via lock, lots of places to go - Iof M - Ireland - Scotland even Fleetwood if desperate. Again dunno price Guess slightly more expensive than Mport.

 

[MedDreamer]

I am considering my options for two years time when the Windermere speed ban comes into force and North Wales is high on the list.

Can you tell me what petrol availability is like and just how full are the marina's in your area?

Thanks

Martyn

 

[sfh]

Petrol at conwy, get your name on the list