Swansea marina lock

[RobWales]

Hi,
I'm looking for a weather window to move my boat from Swansea marina around to Burry Port, tomorrow morning looks OK at the moment!
How busy would you expect the marina lock to be at 7am in the morning?
I have only been through on my sea trial when I was not helming and this in mind I would prefer to go through when its relatively quiet incase I make an ARSE of thing!
Thanks
Rob

 

[Anwen]

Rob, it's likely to be very quiet at 7:00am. If you are going through single handed for the first time, then let the lock keeper know. If there are other boats going through, he is likely to call them and ask them to take your lines. If this is the case, then wait until a couple of other boats have gone into the lock so someone will be there to help.

 

[RobWales]

Thanks Jon,
looks like I'm gona postpone due to unfavourable conditions,bugger!
Appreciate you posting though
Rob

 

[Csail]

Looks ok to me
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast/inshore/regional_forecast.shtml?9

 

[RobWales]

Yep just checked!
Now I have to decide if I do it this afternoon or not....
earliest I can get into Burry port due to flap gate is 6pm ish, so will mean a bit of hanging about in the dark!
Let you know how I get on.
Cheers
Rob

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

You might get a couple of fishing boats going through at that time.

Just take things slowly.

Have a good trip.

Mj

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

By the way, we all make an a*se of ourselves at least once in those locks.

So maybe welcome to that club as well. (in anticipation anyway)

Mj

 

[Jinks]

Quite right. You're not really part of the marina community until you've done a 180 in the lock.

It's also worth noting that the marina lock can be on free flow for quite long periods - they close the gate for the footbridge only. If you ask the marina office they should be able to tell you if that's the case. The river lock is much less likely to be on free flow but it is much bigger so you can pirouette with less risk and more aplomb.