Port Penhryn moorings/Berthing?

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Darwining

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Hello!

A friend and I just purchased a Hurley 24/70 up in Beaumaris/Gallows Point, North Wales, And me and my co-conspirator have very little idea what we’re doing!

We’re aspiring to live aboard for a few months over the winter, (not a problem, we’re small people used to cramped, spartan quarters) but we’re struggling to find a place to berth her. Presently, she’s on a swinging mooring off Gallows Point, but we’ve no tender and slogging through the mud in wellies is getting really old really fast.

We have our eye on Port Penhryn across the strait, because of proximity and convenience, but when we called they said they’re all full up. But when we passed by, we saw wall space and swinging moorings aplenty.

We’re assuming these are all spoken for, but we were wondering if anyone on the site has or knows anyone that has a space they’re not using that we could rent direct from them for a couple months.

Cheers!
-Darwin
 
We wintered twice at Port Dinorwic outer dock, which dries. Nearly empty in winter but they will throw you out in spring. Pontoons, so nice easy access with locked gates. You might even get inside the lock gates and remain afloat but I don't know the current situation.
 
I would second what Vic says.
Port Dinorwic is way more sheltered than Port Penrhyn which is really bleak in Winter.

There are usually spare winter Berths even in the inner Dock. Mine will probably be vacant by the end of October as I am planning on being lifted out for the first time in three years this winter. Water, Electricity, superb dockside Cafe and restaurant. Takeaway and pub a short walk and buses every half hour into Bangor.
Marina has brand new shower and toilet facilities but have been slow to reinstate laundry equipment.

I ssuggest you give them a call and speak to Ged Tyrer.

Steve.
 
vyv_cox said:
We wintered twice at Port Dinorwic outer dock, which dries. Nearly empty in winter but they will throw you out in spring. Pontoons, so nice easy access with locked gates. You might even get inside the lock gates and remain afloat but I don't know the current situation.
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TSB240 said:
I would second what Vic says.
Port Dinorwic is way more sheltered than Port Penrhyn which is really bleak in Winter.

There are usually spare winter Berths even in the inner Dock. Mine will probably be vacant by the end of October as I am planning on being lifted out for the first time in three years this winter. Water, Electricity, superb dockside Cafe and restaurant. Takeaway and pub a short walk and buses every half hour into Bangor.
Marina has brand new shower and toilet facilities but have been slow to reinstate laundry equipment.

I ssuggest you give them a call and speak to Ged Tyrer.

Steve.
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Oof, two recommendations for Port Dinorwic are hard to beat. We were looking at that port, but for us newbies going through the strait and the dreaded Swellies is a little intimidating. Especially considering this warning from the North Wales Cruising Club. Although we're a bilge keel and we know to go through at slack water, it feels a bit herculean a task to tackle as our first passage (even if its only a short distance away).

We were also looking at Conwy Marina (a bit pricier, still cheaper than rent in London!). Is the strait as intimidating as it seem?
 
The swinging moorings at Port Penrhyn are privately owned but you pay a fee to Dickies every year for the mooring position,the moorings in the dock are usually full as you have found out,but many places dont allow livaboards so you would have to keep a low profile.
 
Darwining said:
Oof, two recommendations for Port Dinorwic are hard to beat. We were looking at that port, but for us newbies going through the strait and the dreaded Swellies is a little intimidating. Especially considering this warning from the North Wales Cruising Club. Although we're a bilge keel and we know to go through at slack water, it feels a bit herculean a task to tackle as our first passage (even if its only a short distance away).

We were also looking at Conwy Marina (a bit pricier, still cheaper than rent in London!). Is the strait as intimidating as it seem?
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Once you have been through the Swellies you will wonder what all the fuss is about.

Respect the 2 hour difference between slack water and high water initially.

I am happy to meet you either at Gallows or off the Gazelle if you want an escort any time you like.

We often do a short day sail through the Swellies and return to Felinheli dock on the same tide. Twice the chance to get it wrong but I have been doing it for nearly 55 years now!

Are you a member of sailing and cruising Wales FB group?.


Steve
 
We spent a couple of winters in Porth Penhryn and it is a bleak, dark place in winter with doubtful security at times. I would think Port Dinorwic is a much safer and much more pleasant place to overwinter.
Sometimes the mussel boats berthed there would berth/depart at some unearthly times in the night.
 
I suggest you speak to a member at North West Venturers YC on Gallows Point about transiting the Swellies. In the direction you will be going, towards SW, almost any time after the correct time, 2 hours before HW Liverpool, will be OK. So long as you are with the tide, which will turn in your favour after slack water, you can be an hour late and it will sweep you through with no risk of hitting any rocks, although I would stick with the normal sailing directions.
 
TSB240 said:
Once you have been through the Swellies you will wonder what all the fuss is about.

Respect the 2 hour difference between slack water and high water initially.

I am happy to meet you either at Gallows or off the Gazelle if you want an escort any time you like.

We often do a short day sail through the Swellies and return to Felinheli dock on the same tide. Twice the chance to get it wrong but I have been doing it for nearly 55 years now!

Are you a member of sailing and cruising Wales FB group?.


Steve
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I am not, but my friend is! And it seems you’ve found them as well! We’re still getting used to the boat, but if/when we inevitably try for the straits, we’ll definitely be in touch!
vyv_cox said:
I suggest you speak to a member at North West Venturers YC on Gallows Point about transiting the Swellies. In the direction you will be going, towards SW, almost any time after the correct time, 2 hours before HW Liverpool, will be OK. So long as you are with the tide, which will turn in your favour after slack water, you can be an hour late and it will sweep you through with no risk of hitting any rocks, although I would stick with the normal sailing directions.
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That’s what we’ve been hearing/reading, I think we may take some time at Beaumaris getting used to the boat before braving the dreaded swellies, but enough people seem to think we can do it, so who am I to disagree.

C08 said:
We spent a couple of winters in Porth Penhryn and it is a bleak, dark place in winter with doubtful security at times. I would think Port Dinorwic is a much safer and much more pleasant place to overwinter.
Sometimes the mussel boats berthed there would berth/depart at some unearthly times in the night.
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Say no more, friend. I think we’ll reach out to Port Dinorwic.
 
Darwining said:
I am not, but my friend is! And it seems you’ve found them as well! We’re still getting used to the boat, but if/when we inevitably try for the straits, we’ll definitely be in touch!


That’s what we’ve been hearing/reading, I think we may take some time at Beaumaris getting used to the boat before braving the dreaded swellies, but enough people seem to think we can do it, so who am I to disagree.



Say no more, friend. I think we’ll reach out to Port Dinorwic.
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If you don't have any luck, they may still have some last minute spare winter berths at Caernarfon marina. Much better to be on a pontoon or alongside over the winter, with power for lights and heating to keep condensation and damp away.
 
fifer said:
If you don't have any luck, they may still have some last minute spare winter berths at Caernarfon marina. Much better to be on a pontoon or alongside over the winter, with power for lights and heating to keep condensation and damp away.
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Very good to know. We really liked the prices at Victoria Dock, but getting in touch with them has been a bit difficult. Now that we're in the area, we may just try and drop by to arrange things beforehand.

...In the meantime we did manage to snag some space by the wall at Penhryn, but only temporarily, with hopes to move on to Dinorwic afterwards, and then maybe farther afield if they don't have space. More convenient than a swinging mooring and less wear on our wellies until then though! Definitely see the point about it being a bit of a bleak, industrial space though....
 
I have a mooring there and I know a few others there , if you pm me your number ill pass it on to the guy who does all the moorings.
 
There is just a ton of information online about the swellies. It's really nothing to worry about if you do 1/2 an hours research and planning. And Jolly good fun too!
 
Rhylsailer99 said:
I have a mooring there and I know a few others there , if you pm me your number ill pass it on to the guy who does all the moorings.
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Do you mean Penhryn or Dinorwic?

Buck Turgidson said:
There is just a ton of information online about the swellies. It's really nothing to worry about if you do 1/2 an hours research and planning. And Jolly good fun too!
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AngusMcDoon said:
And all over quickly. Surprisingly short distances in the interesting bit.
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And we've DEFINITELY done more than a 1/2 of research! Honestly, enough folks seem to think we can do it, and we've done enough research to have a healthy respect for the dangers present, so I think we can make it through. Thank you for the encouragement! We newbies appreciate it significantly!
 
Darwining said:
Do you mean Penhryn or Dinorwic?




And we've DEFINITELY done more than a 1/2 of research! Honestly, enough folks seem to think we can do it, and we've done enough research to have a healthy respect for the dangers present, so I think we can make it through. Thank you for the encouragement! We newbies appreciate it significantly!
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I wouldn't normally link my videos, (more shame than ethics) but if you can stand the boredom
 
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