Trickiest harbours in the UK to sail to...

[elton]

Staithes, north Yorkshire.



Google maps view https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.5603877,-0.7903209,538m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en-GB

On my approach, late in the day, I couldn't see the entrance through my bins, but went for it anyway, not knowing what to expect. The entrance is frighteningly narrow, and one false move would spell disaster. There were people fishing off the harbour wall, and many came to catch my lines; which was fortunate because I had no plan. The tide went out, and left me sitting in the mud, so I trudged through the quagmire to reach the village. then found a hosepipe and washed myself down. After a few pints, I made my way back to the boat, just as the tide began to rise. It was a long night, as the wind increased, and I set an alarm for every half hour, so I could check I wasn't drifting. Next day it was bright sunshine, with a near gale. When it died down, I took the dinghy and tied up properly to the harbour wall, with two anchors deployed to hold me off. The whole episode was a grand adventure, never to repeated.

 

[Poignard]

Staithes, north Yorkshire.

View attachment 78988View attachment 78990

Google maps view https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.5603877,-0.7903209,538m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en-GB

On my approach, late in the day, I couldn't see the entrance through my bins, but went for it anyway, not knowing what to expect. The entrance is frighteningly narrow, and one false move would spell disaster. There were people fishing off the harbour wall, and many came to catch my lines; which was fortunate because I had no plan. The tide went out, and left me sitting in the mud, so I trudged through the quagmire to reach the village. then found a hosepipe and washed myself down. After a few pints, I made my way back to the boat, just as the tide began to rise. It was a long night, as the wind increased, and I set an alarm for every half hour, so I could check I wasn't drifting. Next day it was bright sunshine, with a near gale. When it died down, I took the dinghy and tied up properly to the harbour wall, with two anchors deployed to hold me off. The whole episode was a grand adventure, never to repeated.

A few pints in the 'Cod & Lobster'.

I know Staithes well because my parents owned a cottage there, right on the foreshore, on the corner facing the pub, so I've had many happy holidays there. I have never sailed there but it would be a tricky entrance in bad conditions. The cobles used to go in and out in all weathers; a dangerous business.

 

[elton]

A few pints in the 'Cod & Lobster'.

I know Staithes well because my parents owned a cottage there, right on the foreshore, on the corner facing the pub, so I've had many happy holidays there. I have never sailed there but it would be a tricky entrance in bad conditions. The cobles used to go in and out in all weathers; a dangerous business.

Cod & Lobster :encouragement:

 

[Stemar]

Have sailed twice into Pompey on two different yachts with fouled propellor problems, one of them a beat.

Both times called QHM who gave permission to enter and delayed ferry traffic until we had rounded ballast buoy and reported. Top geezers!

I called QHM, asking for permission to sail in as my engine had failed, hoping they'd say no and send the Harbour Patrol to give me a tow, but they just told me to go ahead.

It was the last time I left the harbour without moving the dinghy outboard to the boat's transom bracket. 3 1/2 HP pushes a little Snapdragon along quite nicely in smooth water.

 

[[70521]]

I always find the one I am currently entering the most difficult!

 

[oldmanofthehills]

"Racundra's First Cruise" (Arthur Ransome) makes it very clear that even small vessels a) expected to use warps to manouvre in harbour and b) expected to lose paint on a regular basis! And Ransome had a professional mariner on board, not to mention the anonymous "cook", who was Trotsky's secretary and (at that time) Ransome's Significant Other - but not married as he hadn't divorced his first wife at that time!

Adlard Coles later adventures in the same boat (renamed) gives the cautionary tale of being too cocky as one of his and his wife's attempts to short tack into harbour swept the bowsprit over the pier-head causing considerable demolition. I use the tale to reassure the Navigator when we struggle, even great men can get it wrong.

As to warping in, I have seen this done with a modern freighter at Sharpness lock. The tide runs 2 to 4 kts across the narrow entrance and is hard enough for us tiddlers who must charge in full speed. A great big cargo ship could cause a lot of damage charging in so as wind and tide were not slack the vessel concerned moored to the flanking wall outside of the lock and was then winched round the corner and into the lock. I expect paint was scraped but neither ship or lock was at risk of needing repairs

 

[[3889]]

By sail to, I mean by wind alone, not chugging along with the main up. For Scotland I propose Berneray harbour, Sound of Harris. For Wales I reckon Menai Bridge from the south west, for Northern Ireland Portaferry. For England, I'll leave it open.

Menai Bridge from the SW, easy-peasy. Just go arou d 5he top of the island as many permanent berth holders at Beaumaris etc do, engined or otherwise, from severe Swellieophobia. I'd challenge anyone to sail in or out of Fiddler's Ferry on the upper Mersey, it's a frightening enough prospect with a decent engine. And yes, the tidal curve is correct.

 

[ffiill]

Arisaig Bay-not that I would try it.
The last time I was there using my 1868 chart and a Google earth ariel photo it was enough under power.
A heavy swell and very confused waves which had already thrown me across my deckhouse and heading fingers crossed towards a wall of rock then peace and a flat calm.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Arisaig Bay-not that I would try it.
The last time I was there using my 1868 chart and a Google earth ariel photo it was enough under power.
A heavy swell and very confused waves which had already thrown me across my deckhouse and heading fingers crossed towards a wall of rock then peace and a flat calm.

Antares charts has made the navigation considerably less nerve-wracking, but still a tricky entrance.

 

[chrisclaydon]

The docks at Salford quays, via Manchester Ship Canal. We did it, although we did have to use the motor on a few bits where the wind died between trees and derelict factories. One of the swing bridges has a canal in it, they swing the bridge full of water! A chase team follow you in a van to operate the locks and bridges because there isn't enough traffic on the canal to staff them properly. We were the first sailing vessel in Manchester for decades as far as I know, this was about 15 years ago.

 

[robertj]

Salcombe for sure

 

[JumbleDuck]

Arisaig could be interesting

Been there, done that (under sail), got the t-shirt. With a south or west wind it's peasy. Wouldn't like to have to tack in.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Most Harbours had conveniently placed warping points and posts where a long line could be taken and the vessel warped closer.

I saw a Thames Barge as a kid doing just that in Ramsgate once.

As I recall, Porthmadog harbour has a small artificial island in the middle for warping. Or am I thinking of somewhere else?

 

[JumbleDuck]

Kirkcudbright is fun. Once you've timed it right to get over the bar, the tide increases as you get to the pontoons and if you miss the hour or so of slack water it's 3kt floods and anything up to 5kt ebbs, depending on how hard Tongland power station is working. When I had a berth there (inside face of the pontoon) I always felt it was cheating to use the engine.

 

[C08]

The docks at Salford quays, via Manchester Ship Canal. We did it, although we did have to use the motor on a few bits where the wind died between trees and derelict factories. One of the swing bridges has a canal in it, they swing the bridge full of water! A chase team follow you in a van to operate the locks and bridges because there isn't enough traffic on the canal to staff them properly. We were the first sailing vessel in Manchester for decades as far as I know, this was about 15 years ago.

Being from Manchester this is a trip I always wanted to make and overewinter at Salford Quays. Envy.
The chase team doing the locks and bridges sounds similar to the team who do the locks and bridges from the Marsh lock off the Ship Canal at Ellesmere and then down the Weaver to Northwich.

 

[[3889]]

Being from Manchester this is a trip I always wanted to make and overewinter at Salford Quays. Envy.
The chase team doing the locks and bridges sounds similar to the team who do the locks and bridges from the Marsh lock off the Ship Canal at Ellesmere and then down the Weaver to Northwich.

Neither the Weaver nor Salford are feasible under sail though, surely? I strongly doubt the £8 fee I paid for two men in a van to operate locks and bridges between Frodsham and Jalsea Marine in Northwich over the course of a day can still be viable after the demise of the hyper-inefficient British Waterways? I have fond memories of being berated at the Leigh Arms at Acton Bridge where I had had the temerity to include a lunch stop.

 

[jamie N]

I think Lybster harbour would be very tricky under sail.

Did Lybster with a Honda 2.3hp on my Folkboat; wouldn't advise it for the faint hearted!

 

[chrisclaydon]

Being from Manchester this is a trip I always wanted to make and overewinter at Salford Quays. Envy.

That's exactly what I did - I lived in Manchester and brought the yacht up to salford quays for the winter. Much cheaper than Liverpool and handy to nip down and work on it. Salford quays is very close to Ordsall a very rough area but there was a guy with a big dutch barge houseboat moored in the middle of the dock, not against the wall, with a long, gated gangway for security. He rented out berths alongside his barge to us and the occasional narrowboat which strayed out into the ship canal. As far as I know he is still there if you fancy doing the trip and over-wintering. If I remember rightly his name is John Wassell and he runs a theatre company (and previously a theatre ship). Your yacht would be stripped of all valuables within hours if you tied it to the wall! Things may have changed now that the BBC are based at the quays.

It cost about 100 pounds for the trip and we had to have a ship canal approved surveyor inspect the yacht (just a safety equipment check, not a full survey) before going in, which was a formality.
It's a fascinating trip through the post industrial landscape and not much about the canal has changed in 100 years, the lock gates are still water-powered, pulled open by chains from unseen water wheels powered by water from the water towers next to them.
We sailed for most of the route up to manchester with the engine running on standby but we were lucky to have a strong cross-wind.

On the way back out we had to motor. It was so unusual for the Centenary bridge in Trafford Park to open back then that a lorry didn't expect it and drove straight through the gates as they closed! Took them 3 hours to fix it and open the bridge so we arrived at Eastham locks (exit to the Mersey estuary) in the dark. No locks on the last half of the canal before that so they had changed shift and forgotten about us! The lock keeper was a bit miffed that we had continued in the dark but he let us out - there were no bunks on board and 5 people, we were not spending the night there!

 

[scotty123]

There must be loads where this dying art is seldom practised.

Used to enjoy the following all under sail only.

Out of Rothesay and up round the Kyles of Bute going through caladah on the way. Had access to a Sigma 33 and no fear!

On my friends Spring 25 up the Hamble to the pub at the end opposite Moodys Yard. Beer and sail back, no engine used. (wouldnt do the beer now!)

Had use of a Sadler 34 out of Gosport and used to make ourselves really popular sailing into Bembridge, up the river to Bucklers Hard, up the river at Lymington to the town quay....often bottled and used engine last 20 metres but great for sailing back out again and marinas like Ocean village in Southampton and right up to the lock gates at Port Solent.

Wouldnt be allowed now

That's impressive, didn't realise you could sail to Bucklers Hard & Lymington Town Quay by way of Bembridge!

 

[scotty123]

I reckon Keyhaven would be a challenge.

Only on LW springs.