Shelter in North Cornwall

[pugwash]

Planning a trip round Land's End and up to Padstow in a few days but I'm concerned about the open nature of that coast and all my charts and books are on the boat which is four hours' drive away. Is St Ives a good bet for a night stop, assuming SW or W winds? What other bolt-holes might be available? My draft is 4ft 6in. Thanks.

 

[PBrooks]

I've stayed in Hayle, though it is some years ago now. Very safe when inside, (lean against the harbour wall), but you only want to approach on a rising tide and very calm - and we had to ask to follow a local boat in as the channel markers were a little out of place.... Others (or ring the harbour master) probably have more recent information as to whether the approach has changed or whether there is depth. St Ives dries and is very busy - could be difficult to get alongside a wall, but OK if you've got bilge keels or legs (?) or are happy to stay further out (quite a swell if I remember, even in settled weather).
Have a good trip.

 

[jeanne]

The best plan is to assume no stops before Padstow, and then think about it if conditions are favourable. There is good shelter anchored off St. Ives if there is some south in the breeze, but to go in and take the ground anywhere on the coast, the important factor is the swell/ ground sea. Even a foot or so of swell will drop you on the hard sand like a piledriver , accompanied by scooting up and down the beach. This lasts longest on neaps. If you are early on the tide when you reach Padstow, there is a good anchorage for westerly winds in the lee of Trevose head, by the lifeboat slip. If you get there at night, wait for full H.W. to go in, not because of the 'Doom Bar', which is not a problem in any weather that you would be happy to set off in, but to let the currents ease, and for water over the Town Sands. The last quarter of a mile of the channel is between these sands and the land, within 10 metres of the rocks. No one visiting for the first time can bring themselves to go close enough in the dark. Padstow is woth the effort, though. If you feel like going further up towards the Bristol Channel [home sweet home to me and Iris Mary] , you may need the following traditional Pilotage information.-----From Padstow Bar to Lundy Light, A watery grave by day or night-----

 

[Guest]

I thought I'd have something to add - being home ported in Penarth and having rounded Lands End four times in June - but the reply above is bang on. Entry into Padstow is "iffy" except in benign conditions. You mention "shelter", so my conclusion is you are thinking of a bolt hole in case of a blow. In that case, Padstow is unlikely to suit you.

Really it's not as bad there as it might be, as the channel swells don't (generally) have that much fetch. How about thinking of going on up the channel and sheltering at Lundy? A pretty island with two fair anchorages.

It's a great sailing area - very few boats, fewer fishing boats, and only one or two ships per tide, if that.

Humperdinck

Email: HJ@Seacracker.org
Website: www.seacracker.org

 

[NigeCh]

Padstow is only OK if you get the tides right.

Otherwise head for Lundy. If things really go wrong than you next best option is to either go alongside or anchor at Ilfracombe - There's nothing else till Watchet

 

[pugwash]

Why Padstow?

Have daughter and family plus wife waiting for me on town quay with ice creams and cold beer. Thanks for your helpful advice. The Lundy option looks sound. I'll give it a go if the weather looks promising.

 

[charles_reed]

It's an oxymoron, talking about ports of shelter along the N Cornish coast.

Not for nothing is it called Doom Bar, the entrance to Padstow, except in settled weather is fraught and you've got to get to the harbour in time for the lock gates to open (generally 2 hours before HW, but dependent on tidal range state).

I prefer using the anchorages at either end of Lundy (depending which way the wind is blowing) or even better to do it in one hop round St David's and a rest stop at Fishguard or straight on to Pwllheli.

St Ives is for emmetts and impossible except in utterly settled weather, Hayle dries, but is quite sheltered if you know the channel (now unmarked). Boscastle is OK, but gloomy, if you have a shallow-draft boat, take it slowly and there's no swell.
Bideford has a fairly exciting bar and a long channel up to the town - it's silted up since its Elizabethan heyday.

I used to regularly single hand from N Wales down to Scillonia and S Brittany and soon gave up trying to stopover between Lands End and St David's.
It's far safer to keep 80M out away from those rocks, currents and sudden seas.
Don't forget Eric Tabarly.

 

[ccscott49]

Wasn't Eric lost just out o Milford Haven? I was at sea that night in the same area, sad loss! But the weather wasn't bad. I tend to agree with you about the north cornish coast, but doom bar was not named that because of its reputation, which is fairly benign, can't remember exactly what the "doom" bit is, but it's written somewhere in the harbourmasters office.

 

[hlb]

Once set off for Padstow from Milford Haven in a F4/5 which turned into a F7. So had to turn round 10 miles off Padstow and go to Swansea 70ish miles away. Only set off for an evening sail. 150 blummin miles latter, with seas higher than the fly bridge chasing me all the way up the Bristol chanel. They could not catch me though!! Got parked up, nearly missed the pub time!! Nice place is Padstow though. They send me a Christmas Card every year.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[ccscott49]

Nice Christmas cards, lovely little spot if you can put up with seagull s...t and chip containers/paper all over your boat! I love the pub with the lobsters and crab for dinner though! and grannies pasties and the London Inn, oh well! maybe I can put up with a few chip wrappers!!

 

[hlb]

Ah! Dont know what your missing, buggering about round that Med pond. Much more fun in Padstow!!

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[ccscott49]

You may be right Haydn, but I'll give it a try for a few more years yet, you never know it may improve! Ever the optimist!