Sailing Advice PortPatrick to Douglas IOM early September

[Robsant999]

As per the title. We have to move a 40ft Sailing boat from Inverkip to Conwy, we were thinking Inverkip to Portpatrick, Port Patrick to Douglas, and then Douglas to Conwy. So 3 day sails.

Has anyone advice with this?

Thanks.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Sounds great. There's often a period of good weather in early September. After the end of September it often is miserable for weeks.

Once out of the Clyde it's strong tides all the way. Mull of Galloway can be evil and the north end of the IoM can be unpleasant.

Portpatrick is not safe to enter or comfortable inside in strong winds with any west in it. In that situation go to somewhere on Belfast Lough instead. It can have a strong cross tide entering but not unmanageable if you are aware. The entrance is narrow and rocky to either side.

Douglas you have to call ahead or else they moan at you. If there's strong winds from the East (which is unlikely in Spetember) then the west side of the IoM may give you more shelter. Moorings/marina at Peel and moorings/anchoring at Port Erin.

Conwy is tricky to enter in the dark - unlit moored boats in a fast moving channel and the tide can whoosh past the marina entrance. If you arrive in the area in the dark it may be better to wait until daylight or slack high water somewhere on Anglesey or the Menai. Plenty of anchorages around.

 

[TSB240]

We have made this trip home to North Wales a number of times.
Personally I don't like Douglas as much as Peel.
Port Patrick is a great stop off but you won't get to stay there in any comfort if there is a strong Westerly wind. We have docked on the end of Donagadee Harbour if draft allows as an alternative to Belfast Loch in strong westerlies.

You get a best passage to the IOM from Port Patrick by hugging the coast right up to the tip of the Mull of Galloway against the tide from Port Patrick. Don't go too fast as you end up waiting for the gates to open at Peel!
Alternative to Peel and Douglas is to take one of the moorings or anchor at Port Erin which avoids locking in and out of Peel or Douglas but this is wind and weather dependent.

Angus gives good advice for Conwy. There are plenty of anchorages off Anglesey to choose from with shelter in virtually all directions Cemaes, Porth Wen, Lynas, Moelfre to name a few.

Best of luck.

 

[ridgy]

Sounds fine, did similar last summer, Troon to Holyhead. Stopped at Stranraer, Portpatrick, and Peel.

If not in a rush then throw in Girvan.

Stranraer bit of a trek down the loch but a decent setup when you get there.
As said depends on the weather regarding Portpatrick vs Stranraer vs Bangor and Douglas vs Peel. Amlwch on Anglesey similar to Portpatrick if arriving too early or late for Conwy and you'd rather tie up for the night than anchor.

 

[rotrax]

More helpful at Peel in my experience.

The other route is Inverkip/Ardglass/ Conwy depending on wind direction and force. Zigzagging across the Irish sea has always worked for us. Had some great sails when the wind has been right.

 

[Mud Lark]

We've always found the staff at both Douglas and Peel very helpful. Just bear in mind that neither have all states of tide access to the marinas. The visitor moorings in the bay at Peel are untenable in strong westerlies, as is the waiting pontoon in Douglas outer harbour in strong north easterlies.
Calling Douglas on the VHF before entering the harbour is a must. The entrance is fairly narrow and you're likely to meet a ferry coming the other way!

For striking off to Conwy from the Isle of Man we always start from Port St.Mary. There's 24 hour access on the wall, decent shelter except strong easterlies, toilets and showers and a great restaurant by the harbour.

 

[searocket]

We are based at Conwy marina and have been to and from the Clyde a few times.
We find stopping in Bangor and Ardglass makes a better passage plan. The tides at Peel / IOM never work for Conwy.
Unless you are really averse to night passages consider it if conditions are favourable. Give Chicken Rock at the Calf of Man a very good offing.
Approaching Conwy we pass the fairway buoy no sooner than HW -3hrs, once into the river the tide runs very strongly.
Menai straits / Menai Bridge moorings makes a good stopover and can be done in the dark - e.g. if you have come from Ardglass and the tide or darkness make Conwy difficult.

 

[eebygum]

We've always found the staff at both Douglas and Peel very helpful. Just bear in mind that neither have all states of tide access to the marinas. The visitor moorings in the bay at Peel are untenable in strong westerlies, as is the waiting pontoon in Douglas outer harbour in strong north easterlies.
Calling Douglas on the VHF before entering the harbour is a must. The entrance is fairly narrow and you're likely to meet a ferry coming the other way!

For striking off to Conwy from the Isle of Man we always start from Port St.Mary. There's 24 hour access on the wall, decent shelter except strong easterlies, toilets and showers and a great restaurant by the harbour.

Second Port St. Mary which is a regular stop for us on that passage. They also have visitor moorings laid.

 

[eebygum]

We are based at Conwy marina and have been to and from the Clyde a few times.
We find stopping in Bangor and Ardglass makes a better passage plan. The tides at Peel / IOM never work for Conwy.
Unless you are really averse to night passages consider it if conditions are favourable. Give Chicken Rock at the Calf of Man a very good offing.
Approaching Conwy we pass the fairway buoy no sooner than HW -3hrs, once into the river the tide runs very strongly.
Menai straits / Menai Bridge moorings makes a good stopover and can be done in the dark - e.g. if you have come from Ardglass and the tide or darkness make Conwy difficult.

Anchoring off Moelfre on Anglesey (if the wind is W/SW) is always a good stopover whilst waiting for the right tide to head for Conway and the channel. Nice pub there too.

Amlwch often has very limited space for any yachts; if seeking shelter from a southerly wind I would usually head for Porth Wen or Porth Ellen; both beautiful bays but no facilities.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Second Port St. Mary which is a regular stop for us on that passage. They also have visitor moorings laid.

And a rock just where you wouldn't expect it.

 

[Supertramp]

Little to add to good advice already given. If you don't need marinas there are several easy but weather dependent anchorages down the Irish coast which help make best use of the tides (Copeland Islands, Knockinelder, Benberg). And there is a big soft tide spot W of the IOM where the flood streams meet. Plenty of shelter on N and E Anglesey, weather dependent.

In my experience its best to be flexible to the weather conditions at the time rather than a rigid plan in advance. And unless you are in a rush or a fast boat its best to avoid pushing an adverse tide.

 

[Robsant999]

Brilliant thanks everyone. Lots of great advice and info to look into. Sounds like we probably will need to plan on 2-3 options depending on the weather forecast.

 

[Zing]

Don’t forget Ramsey. Once you are in, total protection. Lots of options, all depending on wind direction around the IoM.

 

[Robsant999]

Looking at options I think we are likely to day sail Kip to Bangor, Bangor to Port st Mary, Port st Mary to Conwy. This should give us some good options if the weather changes. It also means the longer sail on the first day should end with a decent pint of Guinness !