Peel at Low Tide

[macca499]

Hi all,

Heading to Peel from NI for an overnight stay tomorrow to make the most of the settled weather, we will be arriving and leaving at low tide so can’t enter the marina. Wondering where is best to stay for the night - mooring buoy if available, anchor or tied to breakwater wall? If mooring or anchor where is best to get ashore on the dinghy at low tide?

Thanks

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Moorings are good in offshore winds. There's a small stone jetty that runs out into the bay across the western part of the beach that is good for dinghy landings, but it slopes gently and the seaward end covers quickly on a rising tide. Plan for the tide changes. You can land on the jetty and then drag your dinghy up the beach. Breakwater wall you are in with the fishing boats - sometimes ok, sometimes not. It's a long way up the ladder at low tide.

 

[lustyd]

Looking at the forecast a mooring should be fine but for future bear in mind if the wind/swell are coming into the harbour those moorings aren’t just uncomfortable they can be quite dangerous so do check every time you go. If the swell is bad the wall is usually fine if free.

 

[Concerto]

I visited in 2022 and arrived at close to high water. In the attached video I have some good photos and drone video of the harbour. I should mention to look out for the submerged wall on the shore side running parallel to the harbour wall. There are several visitor mooring buoys you can pick up. Not sure of where you can anchor, but a VHF call to Peel Harbour on channel 12 should give you an answer,

 

[lustyd]

Not sure of where you can anchor

The whole rest of the bay is fine for anchoring. Anywhere beyond the buoys that doesn’t have pot markers.

There are quite a few well marked pots near the end of the wall by the way so keep your eyes peeled.

 

[lustyd]

If you do call the harbour, just be aware that out of hours it’s Douglas Harbour that responds, you didn’t get lost

 

[macca499]

Thanks very much for the great replies - I’ll update on our fate on the way home

 

[macca499]

I visited in 2022 and arrived at close to high water. In the attached video I have some good photos and drone video of the harbour. I should mention to look out for the submerged wall on the shore side running parallel to the harbour wall. There are several visitor mooring buoys you can pick up. Not sure of where you can anchor, but a VHF call to Peel Harbour on channel 12 should give you an answer,

Some lively seas on your approach to Peel, very useful thanks!

 

[Concerto]

Some lively seas on your approach to Peel, very useful thanks!

Glad you found it useful.

 

[macca499]

So we ended up arriving earlier than expected due to 4 knots of current with us through Donaghadee Sound and got into the marina, just need to wait until 11.10 tomorrow to exit, a beautiful place

 

[Concerto]

Glad you enjoyed Peel. By comparison I cannot recommend Douglas Marina. The berths are very narrow and angled to the main pontoon. To come out of the berth and you might just be able to turn to motor out but more likely need to reverse back to the end on the main pontoon before you can go forward. The photos of the facilities say it all.

 

[Stemar]

That looks more like the prison facilities than a marina's

 

[PabloPicasso]

That looks more like the prison facilities than a marina's

That was exactly the words I was thinking seeing that.

 

[Concerto]

Now you can see why I do not recommend Douglas as the facilities looked and felt like a prison. Whoever thought that this was acceptable for a marina should be made to pay for a refit.

I should mention that Douglas is worth visiting, but my recommendation is berth in Peel and catch the bus as it is only about 10 miles away across the island.

 

[Davy_S]

Now you can see why I do not recommend Douglas as the facilities looked and felt like a prison. Whoever thought that this was acceptable for a marina should be made to pay for a refit.

I should mention that Douglas is worth visiting, but my recommendation is berth in Peel and catch the bus as it is only about 10 miles away across the island.

when we sailed to Douglas I am sure it was the yacht club showers we used, we moored on the inner harbour and bought shower tickets, they were nothing like the showers shown, was quite a while ago but we also went into the yacht club for a drink and meal. they were very welcoming.

 

[macca499]

Glad you enjoyed Peel. By comparison I cannot recommend Douglas Marina. The berths are very narrow and angled to the main pontoon. To come out of the berth and you might just be able to turn to motor out but more likely need to reverse back to the end on the main pontoon before you can go forward. The photos of the facilities say it all.

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That’s a shame - looks a bit like Stranraer facilities but at least I think they have started improvements, Peel facilities are good, the berths are also small - ours was around half the length of the boat but it sufficed. The harbourmaster Michael at Peel is an absolute gentleman, he walks along the quay to guide you into your berth and is always friendly.

 

[Seastoke]

Fuel is right pain in peel and Duggy

 

[lustyd]

Peel have a diesel pump right in front of the harbour office.

 

[Concerto]

when we sailed to Douglas I am sure it was the yacht club showers we used, we moored on the inner harbour and bought shower tickets, they were nothing like the showers shown, was quite a while ago but we also went into the yacht club for a drink and meal. they were very welcoming.

When I was there the yacht club was not open. These were the showers for the marina.