Pwllheli to Holyhead.

Interesting I just rang Aberystwyth and was told that as i have 1.5m draught I may be resting a few feet in mud due to a need to dredge. Being a fin that's out. Irelands12hrs so not enoughlight. lol.....heavy winds tom.

Bit of an eye opener how unpredictable this sailing is. Taking a month of in the summer and thought I could take it slow up to Scotland. I didnt realise it could take two days from Pwllheli to HH alone, I thought Scotland in a week lol. I can see why people give up work to go sailing distances.

Looks like Porth or Caernarfon.

A question...If someone had enough experienced crew can you sail none stop day and night to say Oban from Pwllheli (doing it in one leg, Or would you be sailing against tides and so have stop of at ports?
 
The tides generally go N-S in the Irish sea so reverse every 6hrs. Suggest you do a passage plan and get a tidal atlas.
I've done pwelli to Holyhead in a day and Holyhead to IoM (good stopover to Scotland) in a day.
Maybe you should try something less ambitious first.
 
Sailing through the night is no problem if you have crew who know what they are doing. I recall doing a trip on a Barracuda from Fort William to Bangor, (N. I.), then Fishguard, then Poole. I think we were doing 3 knots over the ground at times, and 15 knots at others, as the tide was with us and against us. Overall, it averages out.
 
We went up to Scotland in 2009. Left from Pwllheli in the evening, rolled around at anchor in Aberdaron for several hours before taking Bardsey sound at slack water early the next morning and on to Holyhead. As Stu said, you need to keep the speed up to avoid too much foul tide. Next day was foggy so we stayed in HH but then it was an easy day sail to Port St Mary IOM. Had a couple of days there then it was another day sail up to Portpatrick. So Scotland is doable in 3 day sails from Pwllheli. This was in a 31foot fin keeler drawing 1.5m.
In fact over the 6 weeks we were away that year, we sailed as far North as Plockton and then came back via the East coast of Ireland to end up in Milford Haven. We did no overnight passages and lost 1 week out of the 6 with the first mate in Broadford hospital on Skye. West coast of Scotland is a fantastic place to sail so I would say go for it but do your homework on the tide gates and watch the weather forecasts.
 
Tryweryn said:
Thanks loads of info there. I'm thinking of leaving HH till I either can get a morning tide to get me into HH, have more time to call into Porth Dinlaen or finish installing the new AIS and radar. I may look for a simple place to get to where I can leave in the morning and arrive before dark. Porth Dinlaen and Aberystwyth are possibles. But would be nice if I can find a nice simple place in Ireland with a nice harbor.

But this is why I love sail its a skill to learn...
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Pwllheli to Greystones (South of Dublin Bay) is a regular run for Pwllheli boats. Greystones has 24 hours access, and Pwllheli of course much better since the recent dredging campaign

We went last year, and used an Abersoch mooring overnight, enabling us to pass through Bardsy at first light. IIRC we sipped our first Guiness at 1430!

Working the weekend, but in Pwhelli Monday for a week if you fancy a chat about it. (5B9) Some useful handouts in the marina office about all things Bardsey and Porthdinllaen

lechyd da
 
Tryweryn said:
Interesting I just rang Aberystwyth and was told that as i have 1.5m draught I may be resting a few feet in mud due to a need to dredge. Being a fin that's out. Irelands12hrs so not enoughlight. lol.....heavy winds tom.

Bit of an eye opener how unpredictable this sailing is. Taking a month of in the summer and thought I could take it slow up to Scotland. I didnt realise it could take two days from Pwllheli to HH alone, I thought Scotland in a week lol. I can see why people give up work to go sailing distances.
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What do Abbawristwatch mean "resting a few feet in mud"? I draw 1.4m with a fin and need to get in there to visit student daughter before she finishes Uni. I was going this weekend till i saw the forecast.

On another note - Holyhead to Porthmadog is achievable easily on one tide, I did it last year.

Steve
 
SteveTibbetts said:
What do Abbawristwatch mean "resting a few feet in mud"? I draw 1.4m with a fin and need to get in there to visit student daughter before she finishes Uni. I was going this weekend till i saw the forecast.

On another note - Holyhead to Porthmadog is achievable easily on one tide, I did it last year.

Steve
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A guy with a brummie accent asked the size of boat. I said 30ft long 1.5m draught. He started on about dredging and i'd be ok but resting in a few feet of mud...he was I hope joking. Mentioned a few boats had cancelled due to the weather.
 
harstonwood said:
Pwllheli to Greystones (South of Dublin Bay) is a regular run for Pwllheli boats. Greystones has 24 hours access, and Pwllheli of course much better since the recent dredging campaign

We went last year, and used an Abersoch mooring overnight, enabling us to pass through Bardsy at first light. IIRC we sipped our first Guiness at 1430!

Working the weekend, but in Pwhelli Monday for a week if you fancy a chat about it. (5B9) Some useful handouts in the marina office about all things Bardsey and Porthdinllaen

lechyd da
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I'll take you up on that offer of a chat I'll pm you over the wend. A chat about a few things will put me on the right track. So many thanks for that.
 
Bilge Rat said:
We went up to Scotland in 2009. Left from Pwllheli in the evening, rolled around at anchor in Aberdaron for several hours before taking Bardsey sound at slack water early the next morning and on to Holyhead. As Stu said, you need to keep the speed up to avoid too much foul tide. Next day was foggy so we stayed in HH but then it was an easy day sail to Port St Mary IOM. Had a couple of days there then it was another day sail up to Portpatrick. So Scotland is doable in 3 day sails from Pwllheli. This was in a 31foot fin keeler drawing 1.5m.
In fact over the 6 weeks we were away that year, we sailed as far North as Plockton and then came back via the East coast of Ireland to end up in Milford Haven. We did no overnight passages and lost 1 week out of the 6 with the first mate in Broadford hospital on Skye. West coast of Scotland is a fantastic place to sail so I would say go for it but do your homework on the tide gates and watch the weather forecasts.
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Thats fantastic news. The place I'm aiming for this summer is the Isle of Barra. I have a month so no rush. Shes a solid Moody 30 1.5 draught fin....so she'll be fine lol Should have the radar and AIS connected then so I'll be trying a night passage maybe.
 
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If I seem a bit cautious, I sail with the family mostly and two great daughters 9 and 7. They just started sailing classes so I'd hate to scare them and put them of. Such a fantastic thing for them to get into.
 
Tryweryn said:
If I seem a bit cautious, I sail with the family mostly and two great daughters 9 and 7. They just started sailing classes so I'd hate to scare them and put them of. Such a fantastic thing for them to get into.
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You are absolutely right to be cautious, and not put them off.

Just had a quick peruse of the tides, and had the winds and general weather been better, a decent trip to ireland could have been had using the HW slack water at Bardsey at 1005 today (DVR HW -1)
This would mean leaving pwllheli about 0705 . (Pwllheli HW 0800 today)
Using the HW slack does give a slightly foul tide down to Bardsey but abated by staying inshore and it's never to bad. Less of a problem if leaving from Abersoch. However as previous posters have stated the LW slack (calculated as DVR HW +5) is a better proposition for the tidal advantage up to HH

f82d669cabd01c2bb8894d7bd38ff46d.jpg

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Once through Bardsey It's a matter of sailing a curved route to Greystones using the tides.

I know the cruising section of PSC are planning a trip to Aberwystwth this month, and with 1.5m you will be fine. It's a great trip for the family, and you could go via the inner passage and back via the causeway buoy, or vice versa depending on winds etc.
The berths near the fuel pontoon seem to have plenty of water last time we went and we draw 2.1 m
Anyway am around Monday-Thursday, hoping to sail Monday afternoon/evening

Another good family trip is to phone SCYC (Abersoch) and book a mooring ....us the club Launch for a trip to the club/village and stay overnight (avoid if any easterly in the wind!) it's. A good adventure for the young ones, and your never to far from base

Cheers

Mark
 
Tryweryn said:
A question...If someone had enough experienced crew can you sail none stop day and night to say Oban from Pwllheli (doing it in one leg, Or would you be sailing against tides and so have stop of at ports?
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You could, but sometimes it's just not worth it. A good example is tacking up the North Channel against a contrary spring tide. With nearly 3 knots against you there might be hardly any progress at all. In that case it's better to stop for a tide and give everyone a rest.
 
Its not compulsory to have AIS and radar in order to sail at night. Just keep a good visual lookout. Big ships will see you anyway.
Tryweryn said:
Thats fantastic news. The place I'm aiming for this summer is the Isle of Barra. I have a month so no rush. Shes a solid Moody 30 1.5 draught fin....so she'll be fine lol Should have the radar and AIS connected then so I'll be trying a night passage maybe.
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We had been trying to take a summer cruise to the Clyde for several years but until last year we were beaten by poor weather forecasts. Last summer was fantastic. We did HH to Ardglass, to Belfast city, to Campbell Town, to Loch Ranza, to Portavardie, to Burnt Island, to Largs, to Millport, to Troon, to Port Patrick, to Peel and return to HH.

My crew is very prone to sea sickness and we were incredibly lucky with the weather to do this trip in 2 weeks. Towards the end of the holiday the forecast was deteriorating so I did a single handed over night from Peel and we arrived back at our berth at about 06h00 and a few hours later a deep depression past through.

It's 100% contingent upon the weather. Puffwelly to Scotland is a very long way in heavy weather. Nothing wrong with being cautious.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
You could, but sometimes it's just not worth it. A good example is tacking up the North Channel against a contrary spring tide. With nearly 3 knots against you there might be hardly any progress at all. In that case it's better to stop for a tide and give everyone a rest.
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With planning, it can all be done by day sailing in a leisurely fashion - which is the name of the game :)

It wouldn't be the end of the world if the target destination isn't reached - fun would still be had!
 
harstonwood said:
You are absolutely right to be cautious, and not put them off.

Just had a quick peruse of the tides, and had the winds and general weather been better, a decent trip to ireland could have been had using the HW slack water at Bardsey at 1005 today (DVR HW -1)
This would mean leaving pwllheli about 0705 . (Pwllheli HW 0800 today)
Using the HW slack does give a slightly foul tide down to Bardsey but abated by staying inshore and it's never to bad. Less of a problem if leaving from Abersoch. However as previous posters have stated the LW slack (calculated as DVR HW +5) is a better proposition for the tidal advantage up to HH

f82d669cabd01c2bb8894d7bd38ff46d.jpg

72dffefe689a4acecaa1c7aa07f68d28.jpg


Once through Bardsey It's a matter of sailing a curved route to Greystones using the tides.

I know the cruising section of PSC are planning a trip to Aberwystwth this month, and with 1.5m you will be fine. It's a great trip for the family, and you could go via the inner passage and back via the causeway buoy, or vice versa depending on winds etc.
The berths near the fuel pontoon seem to have plenty of water last time we went and we draw 2.1 m
Anyway am around Monday-Thursday, hoping to sail Monday afternoon/evening

Another good family trip is to phone SCYC (Abersoch) and book a mooring ....us the club Launch for a trip to the club/village and stay overnight (avoid if any easterly in the wind!) it's. A good adventure for the young ones, and your never to far from base

Cheers

Mark
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Early 2000s, learning. First big adventure, Pwllheli to Barmouth! Followed Juggler of this parish in his Fulmar. Inner passage. As R said at the time, as long as you go over at hi water doesnt really matter where you pass over the reef, there is enough water!
S
 
Tryweryn said:
A guy with a brummie accent asked the size of boat. I said 30ft long 1.5m draught. He started on about dredging and i'd be ok but resting in a few feet of mud...he was I hope joking. Mentioned a few boats had cancelled due to the weather.
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It was like that in the corner a few years ago when i was there. worse towards the fuel pontoon. No probs, the mud was soft. He did say though that he reckoned we could get in to the harbour itself at lo neaps. Remember going there with a few pw boats, lumpy and windy, got there early, stooged around, big swell rolling in to the harbour, finally one boat chanced it, calling out the depths, then another, we went for it, caught a swell going in, it was trying to push us to port.
give her full chat and then hard to port as soon as you enter and all the noise and motion goes away!
Good fun!
 
ghostlymoron said:
Its not compulsory to have AIS and radar in order to sail at night. Just keep a good visual lookout. Big ships will see you anyway.
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There's not a lot of shipping on the Pwllheli to Scotland route anyway. Nothing until HH where it's just the ferries which follow a predictable route, a few sometimes going through the top of Anglesey TSS, a few going round the top of the IoM and then some in the North Channel, but they keep away from the edges where the small boats can go. Ferries again from Loch Ryan/Belfast, but not many.
 
I've encounters a fair amount of freighters in the TSS around the skerries prumably heading for Liverpool. But nothing to worry bout in clear visibility.
AngusMcDoon said:
There's not a lot of shipping on the Pwllheli to Scotland route anyway. Nothing until HH where it's just the ferries which follow a predictable route, a few sometimes going through the top of Anglesey TSS, a few going round the top of the IoM and then some in the North Channel, but they keep away from the edges where the small boats can go. Ferries again from Loch Ryan/Belfast, but not many.
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