St Georges Channel / Irish Sea Passage planning

[jimi]

Leaving Falmouth I plan to catch the tide round the Lizard and should carry it all the way past Lands End. If heading straight for the North Channel to the North of Ireland is it best to head straight up, keep just to the right of Ireland or stick to the right of the traffic lanes until clear of Wales?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Leaving Falmouth I plan to catch the tide round the Lizard and should carry it all the way past Lands End. If heading straight for the North Channel to the North of Ireland is it best to head straight up, keep just to the right of Ireland or stick to the right of the traffic lanes until clear of Wales?

Just to the East of the Irish coast there be dragons - miles and miles of shallow linear sandbanks complete with wind things on them, and fierce tides. Tides less strong further out.

You also have all that dross around the snout of Wales' pig to avoid, the Smalls. If I was doing it in one go from Land's End I'd head to the west of the Smalls, then more NNE to stay away from the aforementioned dragons, not getting too close to Holyhead or Calf of Man because of tides again, and then battle the North Channel. The North Channel always seems to be a bumpy battle.

Personally I wouldn't do it in one go. You can stop in Holyhead or the IoM without deviating too far from that route. It really isn't worth the bother of fighting the tide in the North Channel if you arrive there at the wrong time, especially if it is at all springy. Better to wait and go with the flow. Here's the North Channel on an unusually pleasant day - Mull of Galloway to be precise...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1537025573019522075

 

[whipper_snapper]

And I would rather be caught out in a Westerly blow off Wales than in an Easterly blow off Ireland! Although neither is fun.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

And I would rather be caught out in a Westerly blow off Wales than in an Easterly blow off Ireland! Although neither is fun.

The only all weather havens are Milford, Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire. Not much to choose from on either side. If a forecast is obtained at Land's End there should be no nasty surprises until within reach of Holyhead/Dun Laoghaire.

 

[whipper_snapper]

The only all weather havens are Milford, Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire. Not much to choose from on either side. If a forecast is obtained at Land's End there should be no nasty surprises until within reach of Holyhead/Dun Laoghaire.

True, but there are more wiggly bits on the welsh coast, you can usually tuck in somewhere. When I last did that trip, I went straight up the middle.

 

[jimi]

Straight up the middle is my plan keeping to the right of the traffic lanes off St Davids and to the left of the Smalls, but not having done the trip before any comments are welcome.

 

[GrahamM376]

We used to do Penzance to Conwy every year. Round Lands End, outside the Smalls light and then a choice of Menai Straits or round Anglesey depending on tides and wind.

Heading to Northern Ireland, Holyhead would be a good stopover, then Peel or, from St George's channel cross over to Arklow and work the tides up the east coast of Ireland.

 

[Medusa25]

Peel and Portpatrick would be good for me

 

[Medusa25]

When do you plan on making the trip?

 

[john_morris_uk]

A few weeks ago I started as you describe, but went overnight to St David's. Then caught the tide through Jack Sound etc

Fishguard hasn't much going for it and no alongside berths, but it does offer a port of refuge in almost all conditions. I had a night at anchor in F7 and slept very well.

Holyhead is a pleasant stopover and the I O M is an interesting diversion if you want places to break the passage, otherwise keep going and you're in Scotland!

I really dislike plugging against a tide, so enjoy making hops working the tide and making good progress. We called into Portpatrick because the tide turned foul.

Of course there are alternative stopovers in Ireland which I have no experience of.

 

[jimi]

Hi, I'm not planning on making any stops until Belfast. Planning early August if weather plays ball.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

, keep just to the right of Ireland ..

Keeping just to the right of that coast is preferable to keeping just to the left of it.

 

[Medusa25]

Only as it's lifeboat week early August in Portpatrick so might be a little more going on than the norm.

 

[jimi]

Keeping just to the right of that coast is preferable to keeping just to the left of it.

Depends what direction you're going, smartarse!

 

[Juggler7823]

Harbours

Dependant on the direction of the wind, there is always alternative accessible harbours in the Irish sea other than those suggested by Angus. Howth and Beaumaris are useful if the wind is south, Pwllheli if the wind is north etc

The only all weather havens are Milford, Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire. Not much to choose from on either side. If a forecast is obtained at Land's End there should be no nasty surprises until within reach of Holyhead/Dun Laoghaire.

 

[Tintin]

Are you returning to the homeland?

 

[Sybarite]

Just to the East of the Irish coast there be dragons - miles and miles of shallow linear sandbanks complete with wind things on them, and fierce tides. Tides less strong further out.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1537025573019522075

They are well marked so no real navigational problem. In addition you can work the tides to your favour.

Don't forget to have a detour to Strangford Lough on the way. It's well worth it.

 

[Sybarite]

The only all weather havens are Milford, Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire. Not much to choose from on either side. If a forecast is obtained at Land's End there should be no nasty surprises until within reach of Holyhead/Dun Laoghaire.

Arklow? Howth?

 

[Sybarite]

Hi, I'm not planning on making any stops until Belfast. Planning early August if weather plays ball.

In that case I would prefer Bangor to Belfast. There is a regular train service between the two. Still it would be a pity to miss Strangford Lough.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Arklow? Howth?

Well Howth is no distance from Dun Laoghaire, so I didn't include it, and Arklow is most certainly not an all weather haven. Waves break in the entrance channel in a strong Easterly.