Up the Channel to Bristol

M

mattonthesea

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 Nov 2009
Messages
1,522
Location
Bristol
ayearatsea.co.uk
Hi

I am soon to be sailing up to Bristol from around Lands End. Not done this journey before so wondered if anyone good give me advice about tackling it. Pilot doesn't mention much but I imagine a bit of challenge :)

I have sailed around/across to Brittany, Scilly and the Inner Hebrides; it's more the speed/range of tide that makes me think.

Matt
 
Dont worry about the tides - just take them into account. Assuming for the sake of argument that you are in a sailing boat, then I usually depart Penzance a couple of hours after the lock gates shut and I take the inner passage to catch the first of the ebb. The tide turns later outside the Longships.

First stop is Padstow though if you are well crewed you can bypass it and continue north. The thing to register about north cornwall is that it is an exposed coast with no real ports of refuge so dont chance it with the weather.

Anyway the run up from Padstow needs to be timed to reach Hartland or thereabouts at low water. You will make progress up north cornwall against the tides but these become more real after Hartland and Bull points so you need it under you once you round the corner.

We usually head for Ilfracombe and anchor in the outer harbour to time departure for an hour or so before low water. You can go to Swansea or anchor off Lundy but Combe is the better choice for Bristol. Keep well inshore until Foreland point ( care with the almost submerged pots) and then make a course for wherever you are heading.

If you are going to Bristol itself you need to time your entrannce to the Avon and you are unlikely to be able to do that without a further stop at somewhere like Portishead or Barry
 
Totally agree with BHs post except the Barry bit. Cardiff is much better and lock out whenever really.Remember very long mooring lines for Bristol city docks lock.
We got trashed between Padstow and Ilfracombe so make sure the weather is less than F7, we did it F8 and it was the worst sail ever (and keep well off shore)
If it does go F8 don't enter Padstow over doom bar like i did!
 
If going to Bristol, make sure you arrive at the right point in the month

There are severe restictions into the docks. This allows access for a few days each months only.

See Bristol docks notice as follows:

No.40/09
Replacement of Notice 34/09 Restrictions to Navigation
Infrastructure Improvements at Entrance Lock and Junction Lock
Phase 2 of major infrastructure improvements is progressing and is due to be completed by Friday 7th May 2010. During this period, the following works will be undertaken: the removal of the original wooden Stop Gates to be replaced with a set of modern steel gates. Junction Swing Bridge, Inner and Outer Entrance Lock Gates to be refurbished and upgraded to oil hydraulic operation.

It will only be possible to enter or depart from the Floating Harbour on a Stop Gate Tide, arriving or sailing ‘on a level’ and on tides of 9.6m and over.

At all other times the Junction Lock and Cumberland Basin will be closed to navigation. It will not be possible to swing Junction Bridge during its refurbishment and upgrade

The Junction Swing Bridge will be operational by Friday 29th January 2010. Prior to this only vessels with an air draft of 2.5 metres or less will be able to pass through.

Mariners are advised to plan carefully, with adequate notice, their arrival to and departure times from the City Docks as delays can be expected.

The latest updated information can be obtained from the Duty Dock Master on 0117 9273633 or VHF call sign “City Docks Radio” during tidal operations.
 
Done in sailing boats 24' and upwards. Look at the earliest arrival time that will get you into Portishead and work backwards. Falmouth to Portishead can be done in one hit by an average team and boat - mine! You want the last sector from The Holms and onwards to be on the rising tide and not to arrive at Portishead with the tide against you - you are stuffed. After the Bristol Channel all other tidal navigation is a piece of cake........
 
Once above Foreland or Nash point theres no point trying to fight the tide in a yacht.On the English side Blue Anchor Bay can be a good place to anchor and wait for Low water or an hour or 2 before.Good holding but open to any wind from North East to North West.

On Welsh side Barry Docks harbour (not Barry Old Harbour which is mostly silted up) can be used to wait for the tide. Be prepared to anchor and you must stay aboard to move the boat if needed.Or you may be able to borrow a mooring for a few hours but most of the moorings dry at low water.If your staying overnight or longer Cardiff Bay is easy to get in and out and has all the facilities you could need .

Bearing in mind the limited Lock openings at Bristol as mentioned above Portishead is the next safe Haven you can lock in +or- 3.5 hours approximately and this only leaves you about 8 miles to go most of it up the River Avon.

From the English and Welsh buoy upwards you are in a wide estuary with a very narrow deepwater channel so stay in it but be aware that large ships use it in and out of avonmouth portbury and Sharpness Docks. Some of these have over 45 feet draught so are very restricted you have to keep out of the way.Recommended method is to keep to the port side of the channel until almost abeam of Portishead then if all clear cross at 90 degrees but be aware that the tide here may be over 5 knots at thje middle of the tide.

If you listen to channel 12 you are on Bristol vts channel so will hear what is going on.You can call them and inform them of your intentions and ask advice on ship movements especially wise in limited vis or at night.

.
 
Bosun Higgs is correct. If you have a free wind, and you leave Ilfracombe before or at about LW, you can take the flood all the way at least to Portishead. You gain a fair bit more flood - it lasts about 9-10 hours. In a blow, the sea gets flatter as you go - wind with tide, so good progress can be maintained. We have done this in an 18ft Caprice, and our present 33ft cutter.
 
Thanks for all the help. I've been walking over the lock gates most days for months and never thought about checking nav thru' them! DOH

Looking forward to the challenge; let's hope the weather, tides, crew and lock gates synch for me :p

Matt
 
Its a really easy passage but i would still do Ilfracombe to Cardiff bay to be on the safe side then up to Bristol.Keep well off shore on the west bit as there are loads of lobster pots. Also for a couple of days diversion, Scilly isles are worth visiting seeing as your passing.If i were you i'd take about 10 days off and explore the many little places on-route.
 
With the help of your advice I did it last weekend. What a trip! Poole to Penzance in one 33 hour hit and to Portishead in the 36 hours with a 4 hour anchor off Minehead. We had NW 4-5 all the way along the south coast except for a few hours motoring. A convoy of porpoises for 7 hours, bright sunshine, moonshine and cold. Then just after we rounded Land's End on the inside route the wind shifted to W 5-6 and we got to Minehead on 2 fair and one foul tide. A slight miscalculation meant that we had to weigh anchor 1.5 hours before we meant to so we pulled out into the channel in a F8 with wind against tide! Two hourslater, after surfing and riding the waves with a pocket hanky jib, we finally said goodby to Butlins and rocketed (well, in sailing terms)up to Steep and Flat Holm where the wind eased off to the point of motoring the last 10 miles into Avonmouth. Just as we arrived there I got the call that the Bristol Junction Bridge was not finished yet; so into Portishead where the lock gates computer broke down!

Bringing her up to Bristol tomorrow where she's coming out in preparation for an Atlantic circuit next year.

Thanks again for all your advice

Matt
 
Matt,
Great to hear you made it, where are you going to be in Bristol? I hope you saw the benifit of the tides in the Bristol channel for making the miles. I suggest you do a little exploring before you set off for far off places.
I am on the boat in Cardiff tonight but back home in Bristol tomorrow, by car.
Allan
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top