Crowblack
Well-Known Member
Coming up from Bardsey with the tide what's the experience of best "offing" around the Stacks to get into Holyhead ?
Against the wind and with the wind.
Against the wind and with the wind.
The Stacks - best offing.
- Thread starter Crowblack
- Start date
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
Depends very much on the wind strength, direction relative to tide, tide strength & any left over swell. Varies from being a laugh going right through the rough stuff in a F3 to 8 miles out in weather you wouldn't want to be out in anyway.
Typically though, in F5 or less, wind with tide, you can see the rough stuff far enough ahead to just steer round it. The worst of the overfalls in those conditions will only be half a mile in extent so easily avoidable as you approach. Wind against tide will make it considerably worse & best to swing a couple of miles out if you're not near slack water.
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AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
Is Holyhead worth visiting again yet?
Crowblack
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the advice.
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
I'm surprised no-one else has chipped in with their tuppence worth, come on Irish Sea mob...
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
I nearly always pass close inshore, there's a band of reasonably calm water about 50-100m wide inside the races. I've been through there many times rarely at slack water. I wouldn't suggest doing it above F5 although I have done it in more.
S1975
Member
Holyhead is always a good, generally sheltered stop to have in hand for shelter, provisioning crew changes etc. And Anglesey/N.Wales is a wonderful cruising area.Holyhead Sailing club visitor moorings most likely to be available, anchoring only if necessary. Holyhead Marina is very restricted in services afloat at the moment (call to discuss) but will advise and help wherever they can. Their yard services are available except bulk fuel.
Offing’s on the Stacks. Light winds with smaller tides are no problem. Moderate to strong winds across and against big or moderate tides can be difficult and should be avoided. I would avoid Irish Sea crossings /transits in such conditions but if on passage in a capable boat properly managed and crewed keep more than 4miles off the Stacks, and be ready to increase the offing, and stay out of the passage between the Skerries and Carmel Head in other than good conditions. All in my humble opinion of course but I do want to keep others and myself out of trouble.
Offing’s on the Stacks. Light winds with smaller tides are no problem. Moderate to strong winds across and against big or moderate tides can be difficult and should be avoided. I would avoid Irish Sea crossings /transits in such conditions but if on passage in a capable boat properly managed and crewed keep more than 4miles off the Stacks, and be ready to increase the offing, and stay out of the passage between the Skerries and Carmel Head in other than good conditions. All in my humble opinion of course but I do want to keep others and myself out of trouble.
Skylark
Well-Known Member
The Stacks (and Carmel Head for that matter) aren’t difficult to transit after a quick check of the Pilot book. My boat speed is generally such that Bardsey and/or PD to Stacks is one flood tide, hence conveniently arriving at about HW slack. I’m with savageseadog and pass close inshore.
I was in Holyhead for many years. I’ve just moved to The Clyde and recently rounded The Stacks to have a night on a club mooring enroute. From The Straits I would have been too early in rounding so I anchored and broke out tea and cakes to help with the wait. Trearddur was untenable so I tucked into Porth Dafarch instead.
Getting the tides wrong, especially with winds above a F4 isn’t something many people would want to do twice.
I was in Holyhead for many years. I’ve just moved to The Clyde and recently rounded The Stacks to have a night on a club mooring enroute. From The Straits I would have been too early in rounding so I anchored and broke out tea and cakes to help with the wait. Trearddur was untenable so I tucked into Porth Dafarch instead.
Getting the tides wrong, especially with winds above a F4 isn’t something many people would want to do twice.
Vegable
Well-Known Member
I agree with savageseadog and david. I always go very close in to the stacks. If it's a bit rough then really close in. Strong winds over spring tides (we're in springs now) will extend the overfalls etc to 7 miles out
You can in very settled weather go via the back of North Stack at High Water. The tides at the Stacks change 8 mins after Holyhead tide changes and the stream reaches full flow 1 hour into the tide flow. You also get back eddies in the bay between both stacks which can be useful.
Mike
You can in very settled weather go via the back of North Stack at High Water. The tides at the Stacks change 8 mins after Holyhead tide changes and the stream reaches full flow 1 hour into the tide flow. You also get back eddies in the bay between both stacks which can be useful.
Mike
