Concerto
Well-known member
Up at 5 to be ready to leave as soon as the Conway Marina flap dropped at 5.55. At 5.50 I started moving out of the berth, but it was slow progress as I was cutting through some mud. Reversed out to the channel between the pontoons and the depth increased to 0.3m below the keel and the main channel was showing 1.3m clearance. Perhaps some dredging might be in order. The sun was just starting to show over the hills across the water. The flap had dropped 2 minutes early, so I was able to immediately leave the marina. Finding the buoys to follow the channel out was much easier than entering on Saturday as there was hardly a whisper of breeze. The sails stayed stowed today.
It was such a peaceful morning, making it a shame to disturb the tranquility as I motored towards Puffin Island. Halfway there, a Fisheries Protection boat powered past, so I need not have worried. Puffin Island is a rocky outcrop that shows the fractures in the rock, but the puffins had already left. Swinging round to enter the start of the Menai Straits, the black and white lighthouse on Anglesey has an unusual sign painted on the side. There was a light tidal push of about a knot aiding my progress, so I decided to reduce the engine revs to keep the speed at a sensible level. There are plenty of buoys to ensure you stay in the channel. It was lovely to see lots of green fields and trees on both sides of the straits, plus the hills on the mainland side. The first place I passed was Beaumaris with its castle, closely followed by Bangor with its long Garth Pier.
Finally, Thomas Telford's Menai Suspension Bridge, which opened in 1826, came into view. It is a magnificent structure and for those with larger boats might like to know there is 21m clearance at highest astronomical tide. Now came the tricky part of the Swellies. The narrows had pushed the tide up to 3½ knots with plenty of swirling eddies that tried turning the boat. Then I was fast approaching Robert Stephenson's Britannia Bridge, which was completed in 1850 and combines a rail and road bridge. I passed under the mainland arch, but could only photograph it after passing under it as it is so close to the Swellies. Just past it on the Anglesey shore, is a statue of Horatio Nelson, which was a surprise. Ahead was an impressive mansion on the same shore, this is Plas Newydd House, which is maintained by the National Trust.
Then Port Dinorwic passed on the port side, which I have been told that one lock gate is currently inoperative and there is only 12ft of width to enter the lock. At last I approached Caernarfon and called up Victoria Marina on VHF for a berth. There was certainly quite a strong cross tide approaching the entrance, but watching how fast the sideway slide along the wall made it look tricky. In reality the tide eased the closer to the wall and it was easy to enter safely. I was told to berth alongside a catamaran, even though there were plenty of empty finger berths. This did make it slightly more difficult to connect to the mains electricity (over £5 a day!) and fill the water tank. The trip had taken only 4 hours and I could still have entered the marina an hour and a half later.
Still feeling peckish I had some brunch and looked at the forum. I had difficulty keeping my eyes open, so stretched out and slept for 3½ hours. Walking ashore, I started chatting to Dave and Carol on a Sadler 34, Liquid Asset. They were returning from having been down to the minor rivers and creeks of the southern coast of Cornwall. Off I toddled to the ASDA supermarket for some shopping, but once returned I realised I had forgotten some items. This time I went to Morrisons, which was a bigger store than ASDA, with a better range of products.
Sun is just rising between the entrance markers of the marina.
An even more striking photo has been posted here. Just pictures #847
Looking back at Great Orme Head. Oops, I have been told this is Little Orme, not Great Orme.
Puffin Island
Some idiots must have tried it in the past
Telford's suspension bridge
Britannia Bridge in the distance with the Swellies between
Just about to get to the narrowest point of the Swellies
Looking back at the Britannia Bridge
Horatio Nelson statue
Plas Newydd House
Caernarfon Victoria Marina
For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
Round Britian day 1
It was such a peaceful morning, making it a shame to disturb the tranquility as I motored towards Puffin Island. Halfway there, a Fisheries Protection boat powered past, so I need not have worried. Puffin Island is a rocky outcrop that shows the fractures in the rock, but the puffins had already left. Swinging round to enter the start of the Menai Straits, the black and white lighthouse on Anglesey has an unusual sign painted on the side. There was a light tidal push of about a knot aiding my progress, so I decided to reduce the engine revs to keep the speed at a sensible level. There are plenty of buoys to ensure you stay in the channel. It was lovely to see lots of green fields and trees on both sides of the straits, plus the hills on the mainland side. The first place I passed was Beaumaris with its castle, closely followed by Bangor with its long Garth Pier.
Finally, Thomas Telford's Menai Suspension Bridge, which opened in 1826, came into view. It is a magnificent structure and for those with larger boats might like to know there is 21m clearance at highest astronomical tide. Now came the tricky part of the Swellies. The narrows had pushed the tide up to 3½ knots with plenty of swirling eddies that tried turning the boat. Then I was fast approaching Robert Stephenson's Britannia Bridge, which was completed in 1850 and combines a rail and road bridge. I passed under the mainland arch, but could only photograph it after passing under it as it is so close to the Swellies. Just past it on the Anglesey shore, is a statue of Horatio Nelson, which was a surprise. Ahead was an impressive mansion on the same shore, this is Plas Newydd House, which is maintained by the National Trust.
Then Port Dinorwic passed on the port side, which I have been told that one lock gate is currently inoperative and there is only 12ft of width to enter the lock. At last I approached Caernarfon and called up Victoria Marina on VHF for a berth. There was certainly quite a strong cross tide approaching the entrance, but watching how fast the sideway slide along the wall made it look tricky. In reality the tide eased the closer to the wall and it was easy to enter safely. I was told to berth alongside a catamaran, even though there were plenty of empty finger berths. This did make it slightly more difficult to connect to the mains electricity (over £5 a day!) and fill the water tank. The trip had taken only 4 hours and I could still have entered the marina an hour and a half later.
Still feeling peckish I had some brunch and looked at the forum. I had difficulty keeping my eyes open, so stretched out and slept for 3½ hours. Walking ashore, I started chatting to Dave and Carol on a Sadler 34, Liquid Asset. They were returning from having been down to the minor rivers and creeks of the southern coast of Cornwall. Off I toddled to the ASDA supermarket for some shopping, but once returned I realised I had forgotten some items. This time I went to Morrisons, which was a bigger store than ASDA, with a better range of products.
Sun is just rising between the entrance markers of the marina.
An even more striking photo has been posted here. Just pictures #847
Looking back at Great Orme Head. Oops, I have been told this is Little Orme, not Great Orme.
Puffin Island
Some idiots must have tried it in the past
Telford's suspension bridge
Britannia Bridge in the distance with the Swellies between
Just about to get to the narrowest point of the Swellies
Looking back at the Britannia Bridge
Horatio Nelson statue
Plas Newydd House
Caernarfon Victoria Marina
For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
Round Britian day 1
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