Sailing North from Conwy

[andythefiddler]

HI all,

Don't know what I would have done without this forum this summer.

My last post was about negotiating The Skerries - That went extremely well.

This one is about moving North from Conwy, Crew of 3 (perhaps 4)

Liverpool looks OK (on Neaps)
Douglas Looks OK (a long haul)
Fleetwood is not bad (not as long haul as Douglas?)

Any suggestions where we can break the trip a bit?

Help from here has always been good.

Andy

 

[Concerto]

I sailed Douglas to Conwy last year. Personally I would sail to Peel, slightly further but a much better marina.

All of these marinas require access close to high water. There are definitely holding moorings at Peel and a holding berth at Douglas to await the marina opening. I cannot comment on Liverpool or Fleetwood.

These were my reports on Peel and Douglas, you might find interesting to read.
Round Britain day 83
Round Britain day 85

If you watch from 6 minutes in this YouTube video you will see Peel and Douglas.

 

[vyv_cox]

Isle of Man is your best option, about 10 hours In a good breeze. Definitely not Liverpool, a huge diversion needed and very tidal.

 

[ridgy]

What is your destination? If Scotland then Douglas or somewhere on the island is the obvious thing to do eg peel or PSM.
Forget Liverpool, its a big detour (less maybe if using Rock channel) and by the time you've got in and out you would be in IoM. Getting out not much fun wind against tide in the channel.
My boat is currently in Fleetwood, easier access but again what's the point. By the time you've negotiated the channel it's almost as far as IoM and there are no good options if you miss the gate.

 

[SteveA]

If your aim is to get to Scotland then the Isle of Man is the best option, Douglas has become quite run down but is very sheltered but I would probably choose Peel. If you would like to visit different ports you might consider hopping up the NW coast; Preston, Fleetwood, Piel Island, Whitehaven, Maryport etc. Our boat is at Roa Island so this is our stomping ground.

 

[wingcommander]

If you decide on Fleetwood , do check locking in times as presently they are dredging the marina basin and working on the lock gates so access times will be affected. Normally 90 min each side of high water on a spring .

 

[searocket]

Also consider Ardglass N Ireland, similar distance as Peel but without the tide access limitation.

 

[Skylark]

As others have asked, @andythefiddler it depends upon your final destination and/or how much free time you have and/or how long do you plan to stay at your next destination and/or how much of a tourists are you and your crew?

Contrary to the view of other posters, I would not miss Liverpool. Transiting the Mersey is very satisfying. It's a great city (said by someone who has lived in Manchester for almost 40 years) with many attractions and much cultural diversity.

Douglas is another good choice. So are many of the other IoM ports.

I've never been into Fleetwood so can't comment.

Fair winds.

 

[steve yates]

If your heading North then definitely the IOM is your best destination for a stop, its a day sail with summer light. Douglas or Peel of you want pontoons in a marina, Port St Mary if your happy tied to the harbour wall. ( and the closest)

It’s also much nicer than Liverpool or Fleetwod

 

[Jim@sea]

In 1982 I was taking a yacht from Guernsey to Liverpool and being on my own I hired a delivery skipper to go with me as he would obviously be more experienced.

He was a retired Liverpool Pilot.

As we approached Liverpool at low water you could still see the masts of ships sticking up out of the sand. He explained that during the war these were the boats from America bringing ammunition, bombs etc, which had arrived at the approach's to Liverpool at the wrong sate of tide and could not enter so they anchored up. And as the Luftwaffe presumably knew when low tide was they would bomb all the boats waiting to enter Liverpool.

Many of these boats would have sunk with the explosive cargo intact.

He explained that should any of these boats explode making the other boats also which had been sunk explode, the explosion would take Wallasey & Birkenhead up with it.

It looks like an awful lot of houses have been built on that coastline since.

 

[vyv_cox]

As others have asked, @andythefiddler it depends upon your final destination and/or how much free time you have and/or how long do you plan to stay at your next destination and/or how much of a tourists are you and your crew?

Contrary to the view of other posters, I would not miss Liverpool. Transiting the Mersey is very satisfying. It's a great city (said by someone who has lived in Manchester for almost 40 years) with many attractions and much cultural diversity.

Douglas is another good choice. So are many of the other IoM ports.

I've never been into Fleetwood so can't comment.

Fair winds.

Sailing into and out of Liverpool is a great experience but the question was about sailing north, not east

 

[Halo]

IOM or straight to Bangor (NI).
You can’t leave boats IOM and go home for a while

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Peel is lovely, as is Ardglass. Bangor very functional if you need big marina stuff as we did.

 

[steve yates]

IOM or straight to Bangor (NI).
You can’t leave boats IOM and go home for a while

Ummm, yes you can, I have done it twice, once for 3 weeks

 

[wingcommander]

Carrickfergus, you usually get 2 for 1nights if Belfast is on route.