Solva

[bitbaltic]

Evening all

sipping a few artisan ciders for New Year’s Eve, and my idle mind is wandering to cruising next year.

aided by the Reeds I purchased today, I am wondering if anyone has ever followed its advice and anchored in the ‘pool’ at the entrance to Solva harbour (Pembrokeshire).

it’s a long, drying harbour and that’s no good for me, but all the pilots say you can anchor behind the rock in the entrance. I’ve never seen anyone anchored there though. Especially overnight, which would be the ideal.

Any experiences of it?

happy new year to you all!

 

[MoodySabre]

I went there with my son in his Contessa 32. We dried out against the wall - a first time for everything. The HM took the spinny halyard and attached to a ring (there for the purpose) on the sailing clubhouse wall - he suspended a 5 litre container of water on the halyard to give the necessary lean. All good. A lovely place to dine and drink.

Also a good stop after a night in North Haven Skomer

 

[bitbaltic]

I went there with my son in his Contessa 32. We dried out against the wall - a first time for everything. The HM took the spinny halyard and attached to a ring (there for the purpose) on the sailing clubhouse wall - he suspended a 5 litre container of water on the halyard to give the necessary lean. All good. A lovely place to dine and drink.

Also a good stop after a night in North Haven Skomer

I’m wondering about drying out. Another forumite with the same boat and keel (lead wing) has done so happily but I keep wondering about the strength of the wing with bending forces etc. Hence the preference to stay afloat. But, like much in sailing, once you do it the first time it probably seems ridiculously easy thereafter. Did you use a fender board?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Evening all

sipping a few artisan ciders for New Year’s Eve, and my idle mind is wandering to cruising next year.

aided by the Reeds I purchased today, I am wondering if anyone has ever followed its advice and anchored in the ‘pool’ at the entrance to Solva harbour (Pembrokeshire).

it’s a long, drying harbour and that’s no good for me, but all the pilots say you can anchor behind the rock in the entrance. I’ve never seen anyone anchored there though. Especially overnight, which would be the ideal.

Any experiences of it?

happy new year to you all!

I've anchored there. It's shallow at low water. There was about 50cm depth at low tide when I was there and the boat only just stayed afloat. A fisherman returning to the harbour got grumpy because we were anchored and moaned to the HM - who told him to sod off as we weren't doing anything wrong.

 

[bitbaltic]

I've anchored there. It's shallow at low water. There was about 50cm depth at low tide when I was there and the boat only just stayed afloat. A fisherman returning to the harbour got grumpy because we were anchored and moaned to the HM - who told him to sod off as we weren't doing anything wrong.

Thanks that’s great info. Don’t suppose you remember if neaps or springs? What was your draft?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Thanks that’s great info. Don’t suppose you remember if neaps or springs? What was your draft?

No, I don't remember.
40cm. We expected to have more but swung into the shallows overnight.

 

[bitbaltic]

We have a metre draft so guessing not more than you did, so it does sound tenable to go there. Thanks again!

 

[MoodySabre]

I’m wondering about drying out. Another forumite with the same boat and keel (lead wing) has done so happily but I keep wondering about the strength of the wing with bending forces etc. Hence the preference to stay afloat. But, like much in sailing, once you do it the first time it probably seems ridiculously easy thereafter. Did you use a fender board?

Yes we did have a fender board. I guess that the strain on a wing would depend on the flatness of the sea bed. Ask the HM.

 

[jwilson]

Anchored overnight in the pool outside Solva a couple of times, small and fairly shallow draught boats though. I anchored fore and aft to keep in the middle. Very long time ago - 1970s, so things may have changed. Remember filling my water container from a spring by the harbourside.

 

[tico]

Seen boats anchored there and I've stayed there overnight but only draw 1m. Might be an idea to lay to 2 anchors to reduce swinging space so you can stay in the deep bit.
Chart says OK to the north of black rock especially on neaps but don't go east into the bay as it does dry.

 

[Dellquay13]

I've stayed in the pool at Solva once in my Shetland draught 30cm, but not in my Foxhound yet.
I prefer a small anchorage a few miles to the west just below St David's called Porthysgli 15m CD where a yellow safe water cross marks the spot, sheltered from WNW to ENE winds.
Tucked in under the cliffs in deep water, it's my favourite Dark Skies anchorage in the area.
Sorry I don't have a chart on my phone to screen shot, but the windows maps lat/long is pretty close

 

[Dellquay13]

I’m wondering about drying out. Another forumite with the same boat and keel (lead wing) has done so happily but I keep wondering about the strength of the wing with bending forces etc. Hence the preference to stay afloat. But, like much in sailing, once you do it the first time it probably seems ridiculously easy thereafter. Did you use a fender board?

I chose a bilge keel boat to be able to visit the local drying harbours like Solva and even the tiny pool at St Brides

 

[TSB240]

Evening all

sipping a few artisan ciders for New Year’s Eve, and my idle mind is wandering to cruising next year.

aided by the Reeds I purchased today, I am wondering if anyone has ever followed its advice and anchored in the ‘pool’ at the entrance to Solva harbour (Pembrokeshire).

it’s a long, drying harbour and that’s no good for me, but all the pilots say you can anchor behind the rock in the entrance. I’ve never seen anyone anchored there though. Especially overnight, which would be the ideal.

Any experiences of it?

happy new year to you all!

Our friends with a bilge keel Moody 36 dried alongside at Lower Fishguard and Solva noting the bottom was pretty hard sand with a little mud on their way in advance of our summer cruise. This encouraged us to dry out in your sistership at Fishguard where we were storm bound for 5 days on our way to the Scillies.

We had the option of doing the same at Solva on our return to North Wales but somehow managed to time our passage from Dale such that we cut out a stop at Solva and ended up overnighting carrying a flood tide all the way to the Llyn and Porth Dinllaen.
Drying alongside on the 301 wing really is no problem. The wing has a slight bulb on the base and the boat will usually take up a minor heeled position if on a harder base. We used a fender board with 5 fenders which resisted the gale blowing us on to the harbour wall.
After 5 days the keel had fomed a small impression in the harbour bottom such that she dried out level
I have every confidence in the quality build and design of the Hanse 301 to take the ground on the wing alongside or with legs. They are tough little boats. Ours sat on chocked wing most of last winter when lifted out with minimal weight being taken by cradle supports.

Another friend anchored up inside the Solva pool in a bilge keel sadler 29. I seem to remember he reported very shallow and significant swell.

I’m wondering about drying out. Another forumite with the same boat and keel (lead wing) has done so happily but I keep wondering about the strength of the wing with bending forces etc. Hence the preference to stay afloat. But, like much in sailing, once you do it the first time it probably seems ridiculously easy thereafter. Did you use a fender board?

Yep once

I’m wondering about drying out. Another forumite with the same boat and keel (lead wing) has done so happily but I keep wondering about the strength of the wing with bending forces etc. Hence the preference to stay afloat. But, like much in sailing, once you do it the first time it probably seems ridiculously easy thereafter. Did you use a fender board?

As you know I rode out a storm in lower Fishguard for 5 days in your sister ship! Get over your nerves for drying out. The 301 is built for it. The wing doesn't get stressed just the owner.
We missed out Solva on the way home from Dale. It was a planned stop but fog had delayed us by a couple of days.
A friend in a Moody 36 BK dried alongside. Another in a Sadler 29 had a rolly night in the shallow pool. I know which I would prefer.
Steve.

 

[bitbaltic]

Our friends with a bilge keel Moody 36 dried alongside at Lower Fishguard and Solva noting the bottom was pretty hard sand with a little mud on their way in advance of our summer cruise. This encouraged us to dry out in your sistership at Fishguard where we were storm bound for 5 days on our way to the Scillies.

We had the option of doing the same at Solva on our return to North Wales but somehow managed to time our passage from Dale such that we cut out a stop at Solva and ended up overnighting carrying a flood tide all the way to the Llyn and Porth Dinllaen.
Drying alongside on the 301 wing really is no problem. The wing has a slight bulb on the base and the boat will usually take up a minor heeled position if on a harder base. We used a fender board with 5 fenders which resisted the gale blowing us on to the harbour wall.
After 5 days the keel had fomed a small impression in the harbour bottom such that she dried out level
I have every confidence in the quality build and design of the Hanse 301 to take the ground on the wing alongside or with legs. They are tough little boats. Ours sat on chocked wing most of last winter when lifted out with minimal weight being taken by cradle supports.

Another friend anchored up inside the Solva pool in a bilge keel sadler 29. I seem to remember he reported very shallow and significant swell.

Yep once


As you know I rode out a storm in lower Fishguard for 5 days in your sister ship! Get over your nerves for drying out. The 301 is built for it. The wing doesn't get stressed just the owner.
We missed out Solva on the way home from Dale. It was a planned stop but fog had delayed us by a couple of days.
A friend in a Moody 36 BK dried alongside. Another in a Sadler 29 had a rolly night in the shallow pool. I know which I would prefer.
Steve.

Great experience and advice Steve, thanks. I’m going to have to give it a go aren’t I!

cheers
Huw