Piel Island moorings.

[steveparker]

Hi. Does anyone know what the moorings are like at Piel Island. Someone told me there are probably only swing moorings available for visitors, so you need a dinghy to get ashore. Is this correct?

Thanks for any information,

Steve.

 

[earlybird]

Correct. The moorings used to be all private, and still are AFAIK. The "King of Piel" used to keep an eye on them, and would suggest a suitable vacant mooring if called on VHF. Call "Piel Bravo", (ch.13 IIRC). The regime has changed, but I believe this arrangement still exists. Anchoring is an alternative, the ebb is brisk. If you're averse to rowing, the ferry between Roa and Piel will pick you up from your boat if you ask nicely, (and pay). Used to anyway, but I expect it's now banned on H&S grounds.

 

[steveparker]

Thanks, Earlybird. I guess I'd better get patching the dinghy then...

Cheers,

Steve.

 

[earlybird]

Just looked on the website, appears that Piel Bravo is now called on ch.16

 

[Gwylan]

Sat out a couple of days gales at anchor there waiting for a messed up crew change - benighted place. Was terrified most of the time and scared or nearly seasick the rest of the time. What possible reason can you have to go there?

 

[steveparker]

Thanks, Earlybird. I've found the website now, and I'll give them a call on the way. We only want to sneak in for a couple of hours, so you never know, we might get a mooring. Failing that we'll park and ride (swing and row!).

Gwylan. It's a new boat and a new area, and it's an obvious easy day out with a couple of kids. There's a castle and a pub, even a king and some knights apparently... What more could anyone ask for? Er...

Cheers,

Steve.

 

[tyce]

Forget what Gwylan has said, it is a fantastic place and i love it, the new king is doing a fantastic job and my kids adore it there.
Shelter is good, people moor there boats there all summer, it can get a little choppy in certain conditions, but if you move down channel a bit its not a problem.
All moorings are swinging, pick up a mooring with no name on but make sure it looks solid and you should be ok.
If concerned or bad weather due speak to Steve the king and he will advise, he is a splendid chap and very helpful.
Get yourself over there you will love it.
Ferry man happy to pick you up of the boat but he only runs during the day so a dinghy will give you more choice.
The pub is shut at the moment and restoration work is ongoing for next year opening but the king has opened the bunk house at the rear of the pub and has converted it to a bar, he also has a food van there.
If you get the weather there is no finer place to visit.

 

[Avocet]

I too have very fond memories of the place. I haven't been there for over 10 years, but I've left a boat at anchor for a few hours in settled conditions and rowed ashore in an inflatable dinghy with no problems. There used to be a bit of a sand bar just off the shore. You thought it was getting shallower but then there was a deep bit further inshore. Just about half way betwen the jetty and the castle. Don't know if the sands have shifted since then though. We drew 4'6" and could stay afloat there on neap tides.

 

[steveparker]

Thanks for the replies, folks. Hoping to get there tomorrow if the weather is okay. I'll pass on your regards to the king...



Steve.

 

[Miker]

Did you go? I had a great sail from Fleetwood and back between the tides. We did not go ashore though. Instead we picked up a mooring and had a fry up. F4/5 so single reef going and did the it in a shade over two hours. Going back it dropped to F3 and took an hour tacking down the Barrow channel to Halfway Shoal..