Swansea -> Penzance

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cpthook

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hi there

I'm interested in a sailing boat from Swansea to the South coast and wonder whether the current Easterlies would dictate a goodly passage to Land's End. Having spoken with a few people some would suggest hugging the S Wales coastline then plunging SSW, others heading SW straight away, sticking mid Bristol channel for a fair tide and nearer the coast for foul (perhaps anchoring strategically on the N Devon coast for the tide). Out of interest is this the sort of passage attempted at this time of year (by the sane /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) or would it usually be deemed too hazardous in case of an unexpected weather from the SW and the paucity of "easy" bolt holes.

Ta
Dude
 
Can't say about the details of the passage, without looking at the charts and books.

It would be useful to know what sort of boat you have, as it will make a difference to the wisdom of your plan, especially if you need bolt holes which dry out.
 
We went from Cardiff to Troon last month and took the outgoing tide for the initial stage then kept going.
60 hours to Howth, once you're on the way there's little point in trying to hide from the tide IMHO. As for the east wind, you'll probably benefit fom a flatter sea.
 
hi there,

Many thanks for your quick replies. The boat is a Halcyon 27, sturdy long keeler, with fittable legs, but crew have no experience yet of drying out, having been on non-drying morrings. I think we need to sort that before setting off since most of the bolt holes appear to dry out.

Dude
 
No offence, but neither the boat,crew and if you are asking this question, the skipper is up for this nasty voyage.
It is a bitch of a journey and your harbour of choice is miserable this time of year.
On the way down you only have Padstow and Hayle, in the current weather prediction, as escape routes they are very nasty if you get them wrong
If you decide to go ahead suggest you get all your affairs and insurances in order.
Newlyn and Falmouth are better all tide refuges.
I wouldn't attempt your voyage in a bigger boat and with an experiencied crew I knew and trusted
 
You would have quite a few places to shelter/anchor with these winds, and once past Lundy/Hartland the tide rate drops off a lot. You should get down to Lundy on a tide OK, and if you wanted to stop, there is Jenny's Cove on the west. The next harbour is Padstow, but arriving at LW means you would have to plug on, though Port Quin Bay is a good anchorage.

If night sailing is OK for you, then just keep going down the coast /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif About 110-ish miles to the corner, so I'd guess about 24 hrs for your boat, so you shouldn't be taken unawares by bad weather.

Get the tides right at Lanzend and it will be fair all the way from St Ives to Penzance (but take good note of the pilot notes about the Pendeen Race!)

Personally I would take a direct route from Swansea, because you would never be far from Devon/Cornwall, and Lundy is en route, about 35-40M.

Wrap up warm /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I wouldn't attempt your voyage in a bigger boat and with an experiencied crew I knew and trusted

[/ QUOTE ]

...but that's you, and not someone else who is maybe a bit less timid (no offence intended, honest /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

Personally I would be quite happy to, in a good boat like the o/p's. In settled conditions like we are having the only problem IMO would be the discomfort. I've done it twice, singlehanded, non-stop from Port Quin Bay or Lundy (not in winter admittedly), and it isn't serious in the right conditions.
 
No argument intended but a Halcyon 27 crewed by people who are not used to taking the ground does not inspire confidence.
27ft may have crossed Atlantic but only with very extremely experienced team
You have the better of me because I have only done this trip as delivery crew from conway to plymouth x2 and that was in + 38ft .
Timid I agree, but the most confusing and aggressive Fishing fleets I have met are Hartland to Lands End, after that there is Lands End itself and its shipping lanes, serious waves if inshore, nasty swell if offshore.
Pots etc and fog into Mounts Bay.
Still think Newlyn and Falmouth best ports
 
Damo is spot on.

It seems unlikely that any 'unexpected weather' will come in from the west for about a week, for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting output suggests that the current dominant Blocking High will continue to dictate our weather until then. So if you have a need to go during winter, now's as good as it gets.

You can expect calm seas, a light, easterly breeze, and motor-sailing ( plus auto-pilot ) conditions for much of the way. As always, working a favourable tide out of the Bristol Channel matters and you'll need to plug away at it all down the North Cornish coast. In these conditions, there should be little hazard to trouble you, other than possible sea fog and avoidance of the lumpy sticking-up bits here and there.

Padstow is a good haven, and you can get into the Outer Harbour at most states of tide - apart from LW Springs. In a stable and light easterly, even anchoring off for a few hours isn't an issue.

If you and your crew ( 2? 3? ) are well-clad for winter sailing and don't let yourselves get too tired, then it's quite practicable to stop at Padstow for a few hours, catch some zzzzeds, then do the rest in one hit. Turning Lanzen - provided the tide stream is not unfavourable - should not be at all difficult in these met conditions, provided you ensure you can see the fixed and moving hazards and don't cut the corners where the rocky bits are.

If the boat's ready, and you are - then go for it. Now's a good time.
 
Re: Swansea -> Penzance

Hi Nick, Start with favourable tides to get you around Lands End, then work backward to determine tides when you could leave Swansea, using 4knts Max as SOG. Swansea to Longships 120 Nm also check tidal stream atlas.

PS- stay well away from 'Pastie Land' until you can smell 'um at the corner & forget about drying out legs, the Bristol Channel doesn't have many refuge ports.
 
Have you looked at the moon we are past Springs towards neaps.
What outside Harbour at Padstow.
Do you know how dangerous Padstow is.
If you can get into inside Harbour then ok but Doom Bar is a very serious risk worse than Salcombe. Check your tide tables with care.
The North coast of Cornwall is not a nice place for Yachts any time of the year
 
Re: Swansea -> Penzance

My friend, if you have to ask such questions at this time of the year then you should not attempt this journey. If you are going to then at least inform the CG. You maybe needing there services.
 
You would have had a very unpleasant time between Lands End and Newlyn almost any time over the last week. Perhaps not unmanageable aslong as nothing goes wrong, just unpleasant, especially given a bit of tide to kick things up or slow you down. 20 - 30 kts, mostly ESE, at Seven Stones over the last 24 hours. In high pressure situations there is often a brisk ENE on the N coast, E or ESE on the S coast. Prudent is the word I would be looking for.
 
Padstow is a pussy cat unless there is bad onshore weather;

You can anchor outside the inner harbour in a moderate draft vessel, even easier at neaps;

You can anchor off in several places, especially with offshore winds;

And I don't see the relevance of a "crew unused to taking the ground" - the likelihood of it being needed is very small, and it only takes one person to know how to do it.

I have been out several times on the BC this winter in up to 40kn, but as always it is the sea state that is the most important - in the lee of land there is little problem. I returned from Lands End to Portishead in just under 30 hours in an SEly gale last August, but with little fetch it was just an exhilarating wet ride /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Sure you shouldn't underestimate a serious coast, but in fair conditions why shouldn't they go...?
 
Fair enough,I have given my view.
I think your view is flawed, but it is the skipper who has to face the Coroner if [--word removed--] hits the fan.
I do not wont to be right this time
 
I agree with Damo - Padstow is no problem in decent weather.

The biggest problems at this time of year are guaranteeing a decent weather window and keeping warm. The days are short and the nights long and I find it cold enough walking to the shops at the moment, never mind standing a watch at night.
 
Padstow is a [--word removed--] because before you commit there is no where else to go and after you commit there is no where to go.
In ideal conditions Padstow, Newquay, Hayle and St Ives are at best worth a speculative punt.
I have a mooring in Falmouth and live on the North coast, I have watched all these harbours for 50+ years as surfing and dinghy sailing areas and wouldn't trust any of them as they demand a huge amount of respect and local knowledge
 
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