Northish Wales

PabloPicasso

PabloPicasso

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Thinking of next summer, if weather allows...

What are the places to visit by sailing boat (fin keel, 1.7m). In the Northern half of Wales?

Holyhead (? Not great?? )
Places along the Menai Straight?
Caernarfon?
Pwllheli?
Anchorage off Anglesey?

Any others?
 
Porth Dinllaen, many locations in Menai Strait, Port Dinorwic, Porthmadog, Shell Island, Barmouth, Conwy. Many great anchorages off Anglesey, mostly weather dependent. Abermenai and Moelfre are available in most weathers. Some of these need care with your draught but all are possible
 
As vyv_cox says there are many good anchorages around Anglesey including Moelfre, Porth Wen (locally known as Brickworks bay), Cemaes Bay, Cemyln Bay, Porth Eilian, Borth Wen at Rhoscolyn, Pilots Cove,
The guide is

Cruising Anglesey and Adjoining waters

​

 
Holyhead is my home port and while the town is a bit grim, as a stopover for the night you're probably not going much further than the pleasant sailing club for feeding and watering. There is a nice walk up to South stack and the light house. Worth a night there, very reasonable visitor moorings. Also a fine jumping off point for Dublin or Isle of man.

A trip through the straits and the swellies is a must do if you haven't been before.
Would strongly recommend the pilot book as above.
 
You have to be flexible with wind and weather conditions - many of the anchorages are fantastic in the right weather and untenable in the wrong. Some of the tidal gates (Bardsey, South Stack, Skerries, Caernafon Bar) can be very uncomfortable in strong tides and fresh weather or swell.

A fin keel is restrictive but look out for neap tides which make some of the shallow options much easier.

Llandwyn Island, Porth Cerriad, Bardsey Island and Aberdaron are worth visiting and possible overnights in the right weather. Swell rolling up the Irish Sea can be a factor.

Holyhead is ok - mooring buoy with on demand ferry ashore. Ireland is a day sail away.

Pwllheli is my base and has good services and total shelter but avoid entering on the lowest hours of the tide - depth gauge at the entrance.

Don't ignore the South Wales area from Fishguard to Milford Haven - great scenery and anchor spots.
 
ridgy said:
Holyhead... There is a nice walk up to South stack and the light house.
Click to expand...

We did that walk one breezy day in May 2003 and whilst up there I got talking to a chap who advised that "It's not as wild as it was yesterday afternoon, one squall came through and a yacht get knocked flat on its side out there; it was bloody scary to watch." In reply I assured him that it probably wasn't as scary to watch as it had been helming said yacht.

But every day's a school day and I've never since pulled up the hood on a set of oilies without wearing a baseball cap underneath it. I was wearing a harness, but was still pleased to see - during a VERY close inspection - just how well the new guard wire lashings that I'd replaced in the Aberdaron anchorage only the evening before held up to my weight. While I didn't actually crap myself, I might've p!$$ed my pants... though I was so wet by the time I'd got us back upright and under control (using that term loosely) that it was hard to know for sure.
 
We are based on the Strait and use any opportunity to use anchorages in or around Anglesey and the Llyn if at home.
There is always a good side of these to be on in respect to wind direction and anchorage. Plenty of locations some not extensively used by visitors are better!

Access via Caernarfon bar is much easier now assisted by two permanent perches as way markers and a commonly used local passage route to a well known favourite.

Depending upon your timing our private mooring is in the best location on the strait and might well be free.

Your draft is the same as ours and really isn't a problem in most anchorage locations.

Give us a pm and I or others from the local sailing fraternity can give you up to date and accurate info and advice on good locations,services and restaurants.

Steve and Beverley.
 
No problem at all if entering caenarfon bar after hw-3. Couple of shallow bits between the bar and the swellies but channel is buoyed and with that rise of tide no issues. Plenty of water on the north side of the swellies. I've gone aground on the bar trying to sneak in at LW with 1.8m draft but floated off soon enough. The afore mentioned pilot book has it all if a little melodramatic.
 
North wales is traditionally frowned upon by South Coast itinerants. You can expect a lot of comments as it is probably easier cruising up the east coast of Ireland!

Plenty of people choose to ignore our area thinking a draft of 2.1 is a challenge. It really isn't unless you still use a plimsoll line or 6 foot bamboo stick as a depth guage!

I can't give you any further advice as you have committed the cardinal sin.
The Menai has only one STRAIT !🤣
 
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