Sailing from Port Dinorwic to Bristol

[SlimRick]

Well, next week's the week - we'll be heading down to Portishead Marina from Port Dinorwic.
We've got the week to do the trip, so don't intend to rush things. Does anyone have any suggestions for stopovers on the way?
Can anyone recommend a pilot guide (if it's needed) for the Bristol Channel?

 

[NickRobinson]

We launched in May at Borth and went the other way, now in Fleetwood.

Porthdinllaen and Aberdofey are good stopovers, anchor or mooring. I guess Caernafon may be too little a hop, nice though.

Have a good trip, and if you see 'Nutmeg' say hello to the 23' Newbridge on passage from Chichester to Aberystwyth....

Nick (Rivendell)

 

[vyv_cox]

Anchor at Abermenai so you can leave to cross Caernarfon Bar at the top of the tide. You can then carry the ebb all the way down the Lleyn peninsula, and past Bardsey if that's what you want. Anchoring at Bardsey is a supreme pleasure, if you are confident of anchoring in slightly less than perfect shelter and holding. Otherwise Aberdaron is good, anchor on the sandy patches and enjoy the village. If you can dry there are several possibilities down the Cardigan Bay coast, otherwise Fishguard is probably your next good place. From there, round the end of Pembroke, pick up a buoy at Skomer if you can and the weather is suitable, a magic place for bird life. Round the corner into Milford Haven, anchor at Dale or into one of the marinas, Milford itself is excellent and a very friendly place.

From there to Bristol is for someone else to describe but if you can anchor at Lundy you will not be disappointed.

 

[bert49uk]

good pilot book
http://www.imray.com/record.cfm?i_stock_code=IB0012
may be you should post over on the Bristol Channel forum
http://www.ybw.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=-1&f=73

last time i came down we went non stop from Deganwy over top of Anglesea to Milford 23 hrs

 

[trapezeartist]

From there to Bristol is for someone else to describe but if you can anchor at Lundy you will not be disappointed.

I'll pick it up from there, then.

I bought my boat in Milford Haven and moved it to Portishead in one hit. About 19-20 hours if I remember correctly. If you do this you'll obviously have to punch tide somewhere along the way. Try to plan your departure so that you pick up the flood tide around Nash Point; that way you ensure you are going the right way in the strongest part of the tidal stream (above the Holms).

Be sure to come along to Portishead Cruising Club when you've arrived. (Clubhouse in Pill, meeting every Wed evening.)

 

[SlimRick]

Thank you - very useful advice.

 

[SlimRick]

Thanks for all of the advice folks, arrived safe and sound at Portishead at lunchtime today after a very enjoyable sale down here.
Big thanks to vyv_cox for the Skomer advice - we picked up a buoy there and had the cove to ourselves after being escorted in by dolphins, and watched the grey seals playing around in the evening. The silence was only broken by a seal trying to get onboard in the middle of the night, and a suicidal seagull crashing into the rigging

The cabin boy:

Who cannot be parted from his iPhone:

3 hour fuel stop at Milford Haven

Toby even got to press the button in the lock at Portishead:

The "tramp" look after 6 days of not shaving:

 

[Searush]

Excellent report & thank you. We need more of these threads & less of the bitching!!

 

[Heckler]

Excellent report & thank you. We need more of these threads & less of the bitching!!

+1
Stu

 

[trapezeartist]

Ah hah! I saw a strange (ie not previously known, not "peculiar") boat in the marina today. It was you! Welcome to Portishead. Don't forget to come up to PCC on a Wednesday night.

 

[ukmctc]

Well, next week's the week - we'll be heading down to Portishead Marina from Port Dinorwic.
We've got the week to do the trip, so don't intend to rush things. Does anyone have any suggestions for stopovers on the way?
Can anyone recommend a pilot guide (if it's needed) for the Bristol Channel?

Pilot : Imray Milford Haven to St Ives by Peter Cumberlidge
Pilot : Reeds Almanac is perfect for the job

We arrived in Bristol recently after the same trip, Menai Strait, Canaerfon, Fishguard, Dale, Tenby, Swansea, Cardiff and Bristol. An excellent run, Menai Strait free moorings, Fishguard is free anchorage, Dale free moorings and anchorage, Tenby free mooring and anchorage.

Dale and Tenby were both excellent for different reasons. Swansea was not nice, and entry is governed by tide and council office hours (more the later). Cardiff is 24 hr access except at springs and great place to stop, head down to the city centre pontoons and lock pontoon (the later being free).

Portishead is new and unwelcoming, long walk to the showers. Plenty of space though, nearly empty.

Have a great trip

 

[SlimRick]

I will pop in to the PCC when I'm settled down there in October. Will be great to have some other boats around when cruising.

Our trip was split into the following legs:

Port Dinorwic - Porth Dinllaen (Anchor - lots of swell but good holding)

Porth Dinllaen - Aberdovey (Anchor - good holding again, but also bumpy)

Aberdovey - Fishguard (Anchor SW of the pier - good holding and very sheltered)

Fishguard - Skomer (Visitors buoy in N. Haven - the perfect spot to spend the evening watching seals and dolphins)

Skomer - Tenby (Anchored - good holding, but anchor fouled on a rope held tight on the seabed)

Tenby - Porlock Wier (Anchor dragged twice in the night - a little less sleep than usual!!!)

Porlock - Portishead

 

[ghostlymoron]

Good to hear from someone doing some actual sailing rather than repairing their boat. Did you use the dale pontoon ? Its good but a long row to the pub! We moored in Porth Dinllaen recently. Good shelter except from north.