Passage planning, going west.

[Allan]

I have a few trips west planned this year. The first will probably be Instow. In the past I have left Cardiff barrage just before high tide and then gone west to places like Ilfracombe with the tide. I would like to get a little more help from the tide by leaving a little earlier and pushing the last of the tide. I have heard there are some back eddies before Barry, is this correct and are they far enough out, to be safe? Once the tide has turned, is it best to head down the centre of the channel or head more for the north Devon coast to get more push from the tide.
Allan

 

[jeanne]

I used to go down channel in an 18 footer with a 4hp outboard, but from Barry, after a trip down from Bristol, so it will be different for you, starting from Cardiff. There is certainly slack water between Sully and Barry, and a west going stream outside Barry entrance.
But from Barry, one could leave at half flood, against the tide, taking a long time to pass the points, but with a fair or slack tide in each of the bays, to arrive at about Aberthaw at H.W.
Then the objective was to clear the North Foreland before the start of the flood, keeping into the middle of the channel, but edging south to be able to get close inshore when the tide turned. This was not usually a problem, it was more common to be down by the Hangman, but all along that coast, from Lynmouth to Combe, the shore is steep-to, and a few yards offshore is safe. The directions I that was given, many years ago, were to keep as close to the shore as you could toss a biscuit There is one offshore rock, the Copperas rock, but that is about a cable offshore, buoyed to seaward, but safe to pass inside.
There are more headlands which will creep past slowly, and Buggy Pits sticks in mind as one, and all the changes of course close inshore mean that the motor will come into play. But while you don´t say what type of vessel you sail, I think it must be safe to assume that you could do it , on a reasonably good day.
If I wished to go to Instow, I would try and go to Lundy first. Its a memorable place in its own right, and one can leave at any time. If you start from Combe, you are either against the tide getting there, or entering a drying area on a falling tide.
Then again, if I were at Lundy, I would think to myself that I had done all the hard work needed to go to Padstow, which is so much nicer than Instow!
Good luck with your plans!

 

[Allan]

Many thanks for that. I have a Westerly 33 and I am hoping to get Instow on one tide. I will go to Lundy soon but my girlfriend lives just up the road from Instow so anchoring there has it's appeal.
Allan

 

[matelot]

The problem in leaving Cardiff too early is that the tides round Lavernock seem to change like a light switch. Well remember doing 6kn through the water against a 5kn tide just one hour before LW coming into the barrage.

Been to Instow once and never again - but then I dont have your reason for visiting. The tide there really does sluice through. If you go, anchor amongst the moored boats or pick up the lifeboat buoy at the entrance - they ask for a small donation.

Cant see you making Instow in one tide - even if you leave 2 hours before at Cardiff you'll be rounding Bull against the flood. Its got to be 8 to 9 hours trip min

 

[graham]

Hi allan Your best bet if possible is to get down to Barry the night before then go from there.

On Neaps yopu can push against the flood tide from Cardiff but its going to be slow,on springs its hardly worth it.

From Barry you can leave well before HW and push down inshore where the tide is weaker.If wind is Westerly this also gives you a better wind angle once you get sailing.

Tidal streams are weak in Sully Bay and there is a westbound eddy close to Barry Entrance but it doesnt go far then leaves you going against the race around Nells Point.

 

[Allan]

On Friday this week, for instance, with HW Cardiff 08-30 and HW Appledore 19-20. I think it would be possible to make it in one go. I dont't have my charts at home but I normally passage plan at 6kts. I think you are right that the key would be keeping out of the stream around Bull point etc. If it goes wrong I will be dragged to Ilfracombe which is not so bad.
Allan

 

[NickiCrutchfield]

Work the tides backwards from HW Bideford to where ever you start from. There is no other realistic method. You can slide over the bar into the Taw/Torridge no more than 2 hrs before HW.
Nicki

 

[graham]

[ QUOTE ]
The directions I that was given, many years ago, were to keep as close to the shore as you could toss a biscuit

[/ QUOTE ]

This method of judging distance is unreliable.A custard cream will fly much further than a digestive .Also we usually have none left after about 4 hours underway. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[matelot]

Allan - The total distance is 57NM of which 12 is after Bull point. Strikes me that 6kn is ambitious for a W33 ( I used to plan on that with our 34 ft cat) so at 5kn through the water that would be 12 hours or two tides. Likely to be less since tides with you at the start will be stronger than against you at the end. That being the case I wouldnt start more than 1 hour before at Cardiff - Lavernock is worse than Bull any day. Mind you I have memories of only just making 1 kn or so progress against the incoming flow at Instow and that was doing 6.5kn under engine.

Let us know how you go on.

 

[graham]

[ QUOTE ]
That being the case I wouldnt start more than 1 hour before at Cardiff -

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats exactly what I was starting to think.Theres no point fighting the incoming tides at the Cardiff end just to arrive too early to go into Instow when you arrive.