Solent or SW Wales? Which is best?

Wales

Spent a year in Wales and couldn't wait to leave.
OK, the scenery is fantastic but the weather?
Also, not too keen on the locals in the North, and my ale consumption dropped to acceptable levels as I and the crew only seemed to get served when there were no locals waiting regardless of who got to the bar first.

Agree that Neyland is a nice spot altyhough the time I was in milford Haven (2001) the water was disgusting with great dollops of crude floating about.

I will confess to bottling out of Jack Sound as my nerves were shot after a brown Mustoe moment sailing down Ramsay Sound

<hr width=100% size=1>My drinking team has a sailing problem
 
Re: Wales

From a base in S Wales, I have sailed all the South coast. The answer to your question depends very much on your own likes and dislikes. To me, the Solent is a crowded rip off, with the crowding often resulting in unpleasant fellow sailors. But on the other hand, if you like racing it has to be the place to be.

The West country (Plymouth westwards) is great, much less crowded, more relaxed and with interesting places to cruise to, not very far apart.

South Wales, and North Devon / Cornwall is even less polulated that the SW, and is not overendowed with all weather all tide harbours. On the S Wales coast, Milford Haven is all tide all weather, but the marinas arent. But the Haven itself is a great sailing area - imagine the Solent with a tenth the boats! After that, the next all conditions place is Cardiff - an interesting city to visit. Then Barry where you can get into the harbour at all states, but you wouldnt want to stay - its an ex S Wales coal port and still a tip. Then Newport (a dump) and thats it. On the South coast ie N devon etc, there is Padstow which is dodgy to enter in really bad weather and is tidal in the harbour, but a nice place, Ilfracombe (Blackpool of the South) which is all tide in the outer harbour, and really thats it. All the other really interesting places are tidal, often drying. Marinas in Bristol, Portishead,Watchet, Cardiff, Swansea, Milfordx2.

I suspect that most people sailing the Bristol channel do so because its home. Given a choice, I would sail elsewhere, but thats not to say it isnt a very interesting place for a year or two.

So come along. Be different! Youll experience yachting very much as it used to be. Friendly, and reasonably priced.

And ignore Jermain! What does he know? /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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Solent v South Wales

"slightly higher tides than you're used to" And how! Solent range about 3-4m, Bristol Channel 10-13m & when it dries, near Milford Haven you have a back yard thats enormous (Carmarthen Bay) - tide fills faster than a racing horse (don't forget this near headlands, can get a bit exciting).
Things to avoid :- Vale of Neath Ales - what about 'feeling foul' (Felin Foel Ales), but there's some great Worthington & Bass in most pubs.
Places to go :- Don't forget the Gower Coast! Within easy cruising range (as long as you work the tides), great anchorages in the bays, Mumbles - may be a visitors buoy & Swansea River Marina should be accessable most tides. Don't go further east along this shore unless sure about the weather & nav. - nasty rocks off Porthcawl (Swansea lifeboat was lost here some years back). Traditional 'foreign' cruise was always to Ilfracome, but make sure you can take the ground & there's water when you arrive.

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Re: Solent v South Wales

And there's a new marina (with hinged sill) at Burry Port, - well, no pontoons there yet - April I think. Tricky bar though, herd there may be buoyage later this year.

I don't think anyone mentioned Lundy Island, and Appledore (where the latest STA square riggers were built)

Challenging but rewarding - try it out. Can't do much about the weather though.

<hr width=100% size=1>Rgds
Phil
 
Re: Solent v South Wales

Phil could you tell us a few more details about the new Burry Port Marina?

I should think access would be limited to about 2 hrs either side HW. I have only visited once a good few years back.

Regards Graham

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