River Severn Moorings

[rolty]

I keep my boat at Dale, which is great in the summer but a no-no from October on..
Id love to have her somewhere nearer home (Herefordshire) and I wonder if anyone has any information or experience of moorings/marinas anywhere from Bristol to Worcester - it would make winter maintenance much more possible if the vessel wasnt 3 hours away by car!
Cheers
Jim

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Have you tried one of the yacht clubs; Cardiff Bay Yacht club or Usk mouth Yacht club and others.

I was marooned in Dale last year where the wind was blowing galeforce 9 at the mooring; I had to use my anchor and a vacant swinging mooring; even the Irish ferry did not attempt the the entrance to Milford.

 

[rolty]

Yes I am trawling through the yacht clubs etc that I can find on the web, but naturally any recommendations/ experiences that may be available are most welcome! Hadnt spotted the Usk one...

 

[europe172]

Severn yacht clubs

The Uskmouth one is Newport and Uskmouth sailing club, we welcome new members who want to be active members in our club, we do often receive interest from boat owners who want to over winter in our compound, but as we have limited room we are reserving places for locally based sailors. It sounds that we might not be the best choice for you, by all means come and look around, but you must be clear on how many months you would intend to in based in Milford.

 

[chanelyacht]

Sharpness Marina may be worth a try, not far on the M5 down from Gloucester if you're coming across from Herefordshire. There may be some available moorings on the Sharpness Canal depending on what depth you draw.
Might be worth trying the clubs at Ketch or Worcester as well.

Could be worth cross-posting this into the Bristol Channel forum too.

 

[rolty]

These are great leads which i am following up, thanks... I'm not forced to remain at Dale so if I can find somewhere thats nearer and not too expensive a move could happen...

 

[chanelyacht]

If you're possibly moving, try Aberystwyth marina - it keeps you nicely in the blue water, not the brown stuff of the channel, and would probably take an hour off your journey or more depending on which part of Herefordshire you're in. They're a nice bunch down there too, they even speak english

 

[rolty]

Theres someting to be said for keeping in the blue stuff, but its so far away (from east Herefordshire).. I remember coming out of Aberystwyth on a lively morning this summer and going from flat calm to survival conditions in about 3 seconds flat!

 

[Redwing228]

Upton on Severn or Worcester

If you can unstep your mast than there's a nice friendly marina at Upton on Severn (where I used to keep a motor launch for several years). Good lift-out and storage facilities too.

Another possibility is Diglis Basin at Worcester.

Be aware though that the Severn can have a big rise after prolonged rain and any up-river mooring can be a bit dodgy unless you are off the main flow i.e. in a marina.

 

[rolty]

Thanks for the suggestion, My mast is keel stepped so a bit of a crane job to get it out, Diglis basin sounds possible though, but arent they 7ft narrowboat locks? (3m beam!)

 

[Redwing228]

Diglis locks..

..are wide enough to let beamy boats such as MFVs etc. lock into the basin although it is the start of the narrow Worcs & B'ham canal..

On the subject of 'air draft', check what passes over the river from Gloucester upwards:- The Mythe bridge at Tewkesbury is one 'barrier' to a stepped mast that comes to mind...

 

[rolty]

I am getting a wealth of info here, thanks to eveybody, dont think my chart of the severn goes as far as Tewkesbury, will investigate the height there, as you say that could pose aq problem! Better to find out now than on the way up the river...