Preston Marina approach?

[DangerousPirate]

I was looking at getting into Preston Marina. I have read the general pilotage and just wanted to ask here again to double check and verify. The long approach over the mud gives me slight anxiety of being too slow and then getting stuck on the dry with my fin keel or hitting one of those training walls (they look sharp). It's a very "green" area, reminds me of the east coast of england, where I learned to sail. Albeit, then I had a bilge keel and didn't worry much about such things.

How long before HT should I start going up the river from the red and yellow GUT buoy? At 5 knots it's something like a 3 hours trip up the river, if I am not mistaken. And visitmyharbour suggest leaving the buoy 2 hours beforehand. I do think this should be accurate, but as I said: Double checking.

I am using the liverpool tides and it looks like it doesn't dry out all the time. As far as I can see, it's above 1.7m for most parts at MLWN tide. I suppose the springs are quite strong there, which one would expect for that area. Just confirming, because I based this on Liverpool tidal data.

I am sorry if the question is rather basic, I just never went up a river like that and really don't want to mix anything up before going.

 

[Skylark]

Does this river pilotage guide help? Failing that, why not give the marina a call?


Downloads – Preston Marina

 

[Mud Lark]

Leave Gut buoy 2 hours before HW. Maybe stretch that to 2 1/2 hours if the sea is calm.

We don't attempt entry in anything above F5 from SW to NW as you can get breaking waves in the channel.

Once you're in the channel it's pretty straightforward, just stay between the perches all the way to Preston. At 5 knots you'll make Preston Marina easily as you're riding the flood tide most of the way.

If you're late it is possible to anchor off Lytham east of the v-wall port hand buoy but the hole that doesn't dry is quite small and tricky to find.

 

[wingcommander]

I was based at Douglas bank for a couple of years so familiar with the Preston route. Yes the pilot charts are correct. I once left 30 or so min prematurely, the problems multiply on a springs. You just get carried up river with the strong incoming tide . I had to do a 180 and hold position well before Ashland lamp ( Ribble junction). Or i wouldn't have made the turn , OK if I was intending to get to Preston , though being too early may result in mud plowing occasionally.
I personally think the Lytham bend is the biggest problem if you cut it . Very little water starboard if you choose the shortest route.
Once done successfully you think whats the worrying all about.
.

 

[ridgy]

Do whatever the Preston pilot guide says. I went up and back in the last year or so and had no trouble with depth per se but there is significant tidal cross set around the first few buoys so if doing it again I would create a navionics route with intermediate points between the buoys to make sure you aren't getting swept to one side which I nearly did.

I got in and out on a fairly big tide.and calm seas, wouldn't fancy it in any sort of sea.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Alright, thanks people! Just wanted to confirm that the pilotage is alright. In most other situations, you can easily adjust. But in this approach, well, there is the danger of getting stuck on mud between tides with nothing you can do once the stuff hit the fan.

It will be an exciting trip then!

 

[ridgy]

Depends if you really want to be in the marina in the city centre but Douglas marine is a lovely old school boatyard in a rural and relaxing location. Easier to get to and a little cheaper.
DOUGLAS MARINE

 

[BobnLesley]

...Once done successfully you think what's the worrying all about.
.

I think that applies to all harbours; I've yet to go anywhere that has proved scarier than the Pilot Book's suggested.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Depends if you really want to be in the marina in the city centre but Douglas marine is a lovely old school boatyard in a rural and relaxing location. Easier to get to and a little cheaper.
DOUGLAS MARINE

Isle of Man is nice, but I do have something to do in Leeds, hence why I want to be close to there as possible. I do start my passage over from Douglas though.

 

[ridgy]

Isle of Man is nice, but I do have something to do in Leeds, hence why I want to be close to there as possible. I do start my passage over from Douglas though

Not that Douglas. The yard is on the river Douglas, a tributary of the Ribble. Basically turn right off the ribble 5 miles before Preston. However if commuting to Leeds then forget it.

 

[Tranona]

Isle of Man is nice, but I do have something to do in Leeds, hence why I want to be close to there as possible. I do start my passage over from Douglas though.

The link directs you to Douglas Marine located on the Douglas river off the Ribble NOT the IOM. Alternative to going up to Preston

 

[DangerousPirate]

Not that Douglas. The yard is on the river Douglas, a tributary of the Ribble. Basically turn right off the ribble 5 miles before Preston. However if commuting to Leeds then forget it.

Oh I see. And I guess the connection from that boatyard is just not good then?

The link directs you to Douglas Marine located on the Douglas river off the Ribble NOT the IOM. Alternative to going up to Preston

Yeah, I misunderstood. Didn't realise that there is a douglas river branching off.

 

[ridgy]

Oh I see. And I guess the connection from that boatyard is just not good then?

Not really,.no public transport and you'd be adding at least 25 minutes to an already miserable drive I imagine.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Not really,.no public transport and you'd be adding at least 25 minutes to an already miserable drive I imagine.

Public transportation tho. Train or something. But I'll keep it in mind as a fallback. It's only a 1.5 hour trip on train anyway. Half an hour is not that much of a difference. Even an hour. I only have to take that route 4 times in one month.

 

[Marceline]

I think what the other poster was suggesting is with Douglas Marine - its on the west shore of the River Douglas and is near the village of Hesketh Bank. There's no trains from there sadly so itd likely mean a bus to Preston or Rufford (or) Burscough/Ormskirk (which are on a branch line to Preston) to then get a train to Leeds.

Its probably pricey to get a cab from there to Preston train station too

I'd likely have Douglas Marine as a fallback but try and passage plan to Preston if you can

Or is Fleetwood a possibility ? Get a bus (or tram? do they still run along the coastline??) to BlackpoolNorth train station and then a train to Leeds ? There seems to be a couple of direct trains to Leeds from there according to trainline.com

 

[earlybird]

A good while ago ISTR the 12 metre "Sceptre" being berthed at Preston Marina. About 10ft. draft, must have been a tense approach.

 

[Davy_S]

Or is Fleetwood a possibility ? Get a bus (or tram? do they still run along the coastline??) to BlackpoolNorth train station and then a train to Leeds ? There seems to be a couple of

Trams run every 15 minutes from Fleetwood every other tram goes direct to the train station, you can get out of the marina into Freeport shopping, but it's a fair old walk to the trams.

 

[DangerousPirate]

A good while ago ISTR the 12 metre "Sceptre" being berthed at Preston Marina. About 10ft. draft, must have been a tense approach.

Then again, they probably do 8-9 knots under engine anyway.

 

[Mud Lark]

This 58m loa, 3.9m draught coaster is an occasional visitor to Preston. Delivered some very large transformers last summer.

 

[DangerousPirate]

View attachment 191763
This 58m loa, 3.9m draught coaster is an occasional visitor to Preston. Delivered some very large transformers last summer.

Big boy.