North Wales vs Clyde Cruising

[DaveParry]

Having moved down from Scotland to Shropshire a few years ago, we have been travelling the 5 hours up to InverKip several teams each season to sail on the Clyde in our Oyster 26 with our young family.

All good fun and we still enjoy it, but the journey is starting to put us off sailing as often as we would like, let alone enable us to work on her over the winter.

The time is coming when we are thinking of relocating her to somewhere in North Wales. Having not sailed down here, I thought I'd ask the forum for general comments on how we are likely to find it down here having been used to no tidal gates to speak of, fairly short fetches and easy access to interesting places for a one-night stop over (like Rothesay, Tignabruich, Tarbert, Colintraive etc.). Kip isn't the cheapest, but it is accessible at all states of tide.

Thoughts anyone? Move down and spread our wings (sails?) or put up with the 5 hour slog and keep enjoying The Clyde and the occasional trip 'out west', through the canal?

Thanks

Dave

 

[starboard]

Stay in the Clyde, move to Troon, that will reduce your travelling time, a friendly bunch we are here, many folk travel every weekend from the North of England.

Oyster 26 a nice boat, nearly bought one a few years back before I bought the Albin. Is yours "Peanuts"??

Regards

Paul.

 

[DaveParry]

How did you guess? Yes it's Peanuts and several of you on the forum will know Tom26, my brother-in-law and syndicate partner.

Is Troon really thay much closer? Is it quicker cross-country than going through Glasgow?

 

[tyce]

what would you pay to keep a 26 footer in troon for the year

 

[starboard]

Check it out here
http://www.yachthavens.com/yachthaven/checkMarinaViewCostMenuSession.do?marina_id=troon01

 

[starboard]

[ QUOTE ]


Is Troon really thay much closer? Is it quicker cross-country than going through Glasgow?

[/ QUOTE ]

Probably not a great deal quicker, if you leave the M74 at Douglas the A70 will have you at Troon in about 1 hour.

Paul.

 

[starboard]

Dont think the link worked, try this


Price List 1 April 2007 - 31 March 2008
All charges are per metre of length overall (which includes all fixtures).
Minimum charging length: 6.1 metres
VAT charged at 17.5%
Berthing
ex VAT inc VAT
Upto 6.0m length overall (fixed rate) £795.74 £935.00
6.1m - 7.0m length overall £196.60 £231.00
Over 7m length overall £232.34 £273.00

Paul.

 

[Kawasaki]

Shropshire to the Straits 2 Hours?
Tidal Gates Yep!
Don't worry Me got a Mobo!
The sailists I meet seem to like it.
Try it for a Season
Can't be expensive to moor cos there's lots of Raggies here.
In fact how about a swapsie?
27 foot 12 months in A Marina By yer is 1800 quid.
Could do with a change! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif!

 

[whisper]

With all due respect to my fellow countrymen there is no doubt in my mind that you are already in the best cruising ground in the UK, by far.

If working on the boat is a problem then why not sail it further South at the end of the season then back up to the Clyde during the following Spring.

Are there any cheap flights up to Glasgow from Manchester?

 

[Alrob]

mmmm !!! thats interesting largs is £82 per/m more & its the same company - doesnt seem fair

BTW woudnt thought there was much differance in time to Kip or Troon with the new M77

 

[starboard]

[ QUOTE ]
mmmm !!! thats interesting largs is £82 per/m more & its the same company - doesnt seem fair

BTW woudnt thought there was much differance in time to Kip or Troon with the new M77

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes and I bet you cant get a berth in Largs its that popular....supply and demand....got us by the short and currlies!!!

Paul.

 

[tyce]

wow, a bit to dear for me

 

[Alrob]

Ive got a berth in largs - but I dont tell them when I go away for a few nights in case its gone when I get back /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Richard10002]

How long would it take to drive to Pwhllelli.... spent many years sailing out of here, and Abersoch. Lots of fun to be had sailing around the bay....., Portmadog is an interesting day out, Barmouth is good for an overnight, as is Porth Yncleann, (or whatever it's called), dinghy ashore to the pub on the beach.

Weekend trips to Holyhead, Howth, Dun Laoghaire, Wicklow, Carnaervon.

Worth a try, you've nothing to lose.

 

[whipper_snapper]

I have sailed a lot in both areas with a young family on a small boat.

There is no doubt at all in my mind that the Clyde is a much 'nicer' area for a family. You are never far from a snug anchorage no mater what the weather. You can always have a series of short fun passages. And if feeling more adventurous can go 'outside' for some really dramatic scenery and more challenging sailing.

N Wales is much less flexible. There are a series of races and bars that are effectively closed under many conditions. Even when not 'closed', they can be really quite naughty. I have seen Point Lynas absolutely evil in conditions when theory and the pilot said it should be tame. Passages tend to be longer with fewer options when everyone starts to get cold and wet.

S. Wales, on the other hand is somewhere between the two. Have you thought about Milford Haven ?

 

[SQUIRRELS]

Hi Dave. Understand your dilema, but as others have pointed out, you have the best combination of clyde and opportunity to sail west coast. The suggestion to bring her south at the end of the season is one which is worthy of serious consideration.

However, I too looked into berthing in Troon and I have visited Troon. In my mind one of the reasons Largs and Kip charge more is that you sail out and you're in sheltered water with great options for sailing.

Now, if I was living in/around Troon, Ayr, Prestiwck possibly Dumfries then berthing in Troon would be a serious contender, despite what I've just said and I believe Starboard is correct in his reference to being a friendly place as its smaller for a start.

So, back to the 5 hour travel time. Ok you're going probably through Glasgow on M8 and the prospect of cutting off the M74 over to Troon may look tempting, but I've tried this (visiting family) and the road can take as long.

Am I qualified to comment? Well I wish my journey to the clyde was just 5 hours, unfortunately the 440 miles takes well, a little longer from deepest Hertfordshire! Would I change, sometimes yes it's tempting esp. with the maintenance stuff. Right now we need to make a repair and measure for new sails, can we get to her? No. We were going to travel tomorrow, but now looks very unlikely because of the snow. Next w/end's out, we'll plan for the w/end after next. Would we move up there? You bet, but our careers keep us here, well for the time being.

For a time the boat was on the east coast (1 hour journey) as that was where we bought her. Even a free berth (paid for by pevious owners) didn't keep us there as long as planned!

End of the day it's what you want out of your sailing and for us, the clyde offers great w/ending, sailing with friends, chance to catch up with the relatives when travelling back and forth and also the all important access to the west coast for holidays, which is very important, esp. given the cost of running a boat! Last year we managed something like 65 days on her, which I think is great. This year we're planning about the same.

Hope this helps in seeing you're not along in the travel slog, berthing dilema, so perhaps looking at the winter berthing/maintenance arrangements by heading closer to home would be worth a try.

Good luck, but let us know what you decide.

 

[MrCramp]

Not heard of many folk moving from the East Coast when they are only 1 hours drive away. Where on the East were you??, I would guess the Humber and not Suffolk/Essex!

 

[SQUIRRELS]

Blackwater, Bradwell

 

[vyv_cox]

Cardigan Bay is not as tide-free as the Clyde but is certainly less so than the Anglesey area. Problem with Cardigan Bay is that it is pretty exposed to prevailing winds and there are few deep-water ports. Are you fin or bilge keel? Bilge keelers have a distinct advantage here. The only marina, at Pwllheli, has a waiting list as long as your arm, so you would be lucky to get a berth there. Moorings in Abersoch are available but it is almost always rolly here and not conducive to restful sleep.

Further north the tides are certainly more demanding but the rewards are higher. Scenery is superb and there are more possible destinations for a fin keeler. Don't know the current marina berth situation but you may get in at Caernarfon, Port Dinorwic, Holyhead, Conwy. Moorings probably available in the Menai Strait. Holyhead is nearly an hour further to drive than Conwy. Good clubs abound at all of these.

 

[Searush]

Hi Dave,
Yes the Clyde is a brilliant location - did 3-4years up there myself from Stafford. But current boat is N Wales. Yes, there are big tides & lots of sand/ shallow water but there are also several beautiful beaches - and they're rare on the Clyde!

Why not try it for a year or two simply as a change? The Menai Straits may be smaller than the Clyde but it is just as sheltered for sailing in strong winds.