Pwllheli to The Solent

Done Caernarfon to Solent twice this year, 36' & 40', day sailing. Options are Fishguard, Dale, Lundy, Padstow (why do you want to avoid here... Best harbour in UK IMO?) Porth Curno or Mousehole on hook or Newlyn, Dartmouth, Weymouth, Yarmouth, Hamble. Dale to Newlyn took 19hrs, Lundy and/or Padstow make for a much nicer route. If you get a SW out of Padstow break the leg at St Ives though I've never had to do this, once you pass Cape Cornwall the windward passage along the N coast is soon forgotten. Aberystwyth is also a tidally favourable option if you fancy a gentle start.
 
Quiddle said:
Done Caernarfon to Solent twice this year, 36' & 40', day sailing. Options are Fishguard, Dale, Lundy, Padstow (why do you want to avoid here... Best harbour in UK IMO?) Porth Curno or Mousehole on hook or Newlyn, Dartmouth, Weymouth, Yarmouth, Hamble. Dale to Newlyn took 19hrs, Lundy and/or Padstow make for a much nicer route. If you get a SW out of Padstow break the leg at St Ives though I've never had to do this, once you pass Cape Cornwall the windward passage along the N coast is soon forgotten. Aberystwyth is also a tidally favourable option if you fancy a gentle start.
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+1, but I would avoid Aberystwyth if starting from Pwllheli, unless you are having to beat across the bay and then the entrance might be impossible. An overnight anchorage at Newquay might be better but we usually went directly to Fishguard (Goodwick) from Pwllheli.
 
Yes, my suggestion of Aber is it gives an easy first leg, often a good thing if there is some inertia about starting a passage. Agree it is not an ideal stop but the tide from there will serve to Fishguard if the sea is behaving itself.
 
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Recently did the reverse on our way to Scotland

Pwllheli to Lower Fishguard, there are visitor moorings.

Fishguard to Milford. Can go to Dale and use the pontoon.

Then, hold your breath and go for it to Newlyn. Just have to plan your arrival at Land's End or go around the outside.
Could break the journey at St Ives

Newlyn to Falmouth

Falmouth to Salcombe

Salcombe to Swanage, on the hook

Swanage to wherever home is in the Solent
 
We've done it the other way round and with the exception of rounding Lands End, it can be done easily as pleasant, fair tide day passages. Our (reverse) route to Bardsey was Firshguard anchorage, through Jack and Ramsey Sounds (get the tidal gates exactly right) to Dale anchorage. Longest passage to Newlyn, Falmouth anchorage, Plymouth, Brixham, Portland and Poole marinas and into The Solent. We draw 2.1m. Our trip was almost 500m and took us a couple of weeks We were weather bound in Newlyn for 3 days, otherwise sailed every day.
 
Look out for the Aberporth firing range in Cardigan Bay https://aberporth.qinetiq.com/ . Dependent upon your route this can require a considerable detour. Our preference heading to or from Menai Strait has always been to be well inside the bay to avoid contrary tides as much as possible but now that the range occupies such a large area this is sometimes not an option. This makes a considerable difference to arrival point at the start of the next favourable tide.
 
If the weather is good you can do pretty much the whole trip in one go, although not sure about south coast tidal gates. Some years ago Jill and I did Caernarfon Bar to Lezardrieux in one, 64 hours. Cross the bar as soon as the tide turns, takes you well past Bardsey before the next flood. Next ebb will start just north of Pembroke coast, we went outside Ramsey in the dark, quite a straightforward passage, emerging into the Bristol Channel for the next flood but not too bad as much of the stream crosses your path. Then it's just keep plugging on to Land's End, which we reached just as night began to fall. We had intended to stop at Penzance but the weather was great so we just kept going. Excellent trip and we got there just in time with gales for the next couple of day.
 
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