River Mersey cruising and surrounding areas

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Shakemeister

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Hello.

I am a new user to these forums, and looking to get back into sailing.

I am looking for advice wrt the Mersey. I am aware of the strong tides and the NW wind over ebb tide problems, and am familiar with the marina. I have also seen the ships going in and out!

Could anyone offer any info regarding the Mersey? eg. channels, moorings, anchorages, ideas for day sailings, maritime local knowledge, anything really no matter how trivial.

Thank you in advance.

Yours aye.
 
There is a good racing scene there but that's about it.
I suppose you could leave the marina before HW and go upriver a bit until the tide turns and takes you back but there is nowhere to stop.
To go anywhere you have to get out of the channel and even then you are miles from anywhere.
Apart from Preston probably the worst place to keep a boat on the west coast of the UK considering the cost.
Conwy is your nearest sensible option, or perhaps Fleetwood.
 
I sailed big boats out of Liverpool for many years. It is a long hard hammer to the bar, really not much fun for a yotty and cruisng options are very limited. I kept my own small boat on the dee at west Kirby for a while, that was much better, but in the end I moved it to beaumaris, much more flexible sailing for the price of a longer drive to the boat.
 
As already stated.... Good racing community but it will reall depend on what you will be sailing. Anchorages ect are virtually none existent and day sailing is difficult.

I had a couple of years in Liverpool, mainly for the rebuild of my boat but I left due to the limited cruising available.

It will take approx 2hrs to exit the Queens channel and then the nearest land fall is Conwy.

Facilities in Liverpool are good and it's an easy walk in to China town or the city if you wish. Great place to visit as a destination and look around but IMHO not a good place for day or even weekend cruising.

Tom.
 
Day sailing options up tide, in history dad used to tie up at the Eastham Ferry serious fendering required HW only but a fun trick once in a whilst... We had also anchored off a couple of the pubs on the New Brighton side near LW.

With Miday LW you can go round to Hilbre Island and anchor in the Squash (great seal colonie)... I learned to row and swim :eek: in the Lagoon at Burbo, not certain anyone anchors there now it does not really work for the Marina..

Other than that if you had deep keel its, Meni Straights, IOM and Peel Island...

Depends if you sail to be afloat or feel a need to go some where new every time...
 
The TNC went up the tidal Mersey in 2003, we got up to & locked in at Fidlers Ferry. I believe Chris Coburn in his narrowboat Progress made it up further to the bridges at Warrington. The Mersey upstream of the Runcorn Locks was some of the most difficult we cruised, no buoyage at all. We asked Frank Smith, who had extensive knowledge of the lay of the channel to come along and pilot us up, some photo's of the trip here;

http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_03/Tour03_10.html

http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_03/Tour03_11.html

http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_03/Tour03_12.html

(edit, just looked at the photo's & I'm wearing the same sweatshirt in a photo with Frank Smith today, what a co incidence, now got quite a bit of paint on it)
 
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Thank you for all your replies. It seems like a challenge!

Incidentally I have found an old disused quayside that is accessible +/- 2 hr HW depending on draught that could be recommissioned no probs :)
 
It's possible to sail round the river, past the Albert Dock and Lyver Building. Other than that a day in the Dee is good at West Hoyle bank. The problem is given weekend days only you may only get one opportunity in a summer due to tide times and weather. It's a difficult place Liverpool.
 
Unfortunately for me, I work shifts 24/7/365. Fortunately for me that means I get days off weekdays - and tide tables predict the good days to book off in advance. So I might be able to work it to my advantage.

I have heard of disused quaysides and landing points from the estuary's industrial past (I have found one of them), does anyone have knowledge of others? Or suitable places to beach a boat? I know New Brighton is do-able, but I have heard of other obscure places such as Hale or Manesty.
 
O
Shakemeister said:
Unfortunately for me, I work shifts 24/7/365. Fortunately for me that means I get days off weekdays - and tide tables predict the good days to book off in advance. So I might be able to work it to my advantage.

I have heard of disused quaysides and landing points from the estuary's industrial past (I have found one of them), does anyone have knowledge of others? Or suitable places to beach a boat? I know New Brighton is do-able, but I have heard of other obscure places such as Hale or Manesty.
Click to expand...

It's very uncommon for small craft to beach or tie up anywhere on the Mersey. A combination of mud, wash from shipping and strong tides make things difficult. You should remember that you are very time limited if you are marina based on one tide, you have the full range of the tide to deal with acrosr two tides. You will need to bear in mind that sub 7 knot boat speed will mean you are limited to wrking with the tidal stream.

I met a yacht in the marina lock a whil ago that had gone aground somewhere near Hale. Her decks were covered with sand and mud from the strong flood tide that had surged all over her.
 
O
Shakemeister said:
Unfortunately for me, I work shifts 24/7/365. Fortunately for me that means I get days off weekdays - and tide tables predict the good days to book off in advance. So I might be able to work it to my advantage.

I have heard of disused quaysides and landing points from the estuary's industrial past (I have found one of them), does anyone have knowledge of others? Or suitable places to beach a boat? I know New Brighton is do-able, but I have heard of other obscure places such as Hale or Manesty.
Click to expand...

It's very uncommon for small craft to beach or tie up anywhere on the Mersey. A combination of mud, wash from shipping and strong tides make things difficult. You should remember that you are very time limited if you are marina based on one tide, you have the full range of the tide to deal with across two tides. You will need to bear in mind that a sub 7 knot boat speed will mean you are limited to wrking with the tidal stream.

I met a yacht in the marina lock a whil ago that had gone aground somewhere near Hale. Her decks were covered with sand and mud from the strong flood tide that had surged all over her.
 
Don't believe all the doom and gloom re the Mersey.
I have taken to the ground at Hale head, nice firm sand, just upstream from the Runcorn bridge, a bit muddy but I still got ashore, by the lagoons near the power station, ok but not a lot to do, just outside the lock at Spike Island, the list goes on.
I must admit not all my going amuck was intentional but all good fun!
 
good for you - dead right

bigwow said:
Don't believe all the doom and gloom re the Mersey.
I have taken to the ground at Hale head, nice firm sand, just upstream from the Runcorn bridge, a bit muddy but I still got ashore, by the lagoons near the power station, ok but not a lot to do, just outside the lock at Spike Island, the list goes on.
I must admit not all my going amuck was intentional but all good fun!
Click to expand...

and I am sure Iwill find all sorts of entertaining places to rest my keels

some of the least popular places have been the best

Medway, Humber,Wash

D
 
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