Visiting Holyhead

[Solostoke]

Hi all, looking for some information on visiting Holyhead for a few days next month. From what I can gleam online there will be moorings from the sailing club with a launch available. Does anyone have information on the marina? I'm in a beneteau first 41s5, draft 2.2m.
Thanks in advance

 

[geem]

Hi all, looking for some information on visiting Holyhead for a few days next month. From what I can gleam online there will be moorings from the sailing club with a launch available. Does anyone have information on the marina? I'm in a beneteau first 41s5, draft 2.2m.
Thanks in advance

What marina? It got smashed to bits. What's left is a knackered pontoon.

 

[Solostoke]

What marina? It got smashed to bits. What's left is a knackered pontoon.

And can I use this knackered pontoon?
Are the shore facilities still there?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Best advice for visiting Holyhead unless it's to catch the ferry is don't

 

[Seastoke]

And can I use this knackered pontoon?
Are the shore facilities still there?

Yes there is a short pontoon with rafting proberbly 20 boats walk ashore with resteraunt shower hook up etc. there are mooring as well.

 

[Solostoke]

Oh come on it can't be that bad.....I used to have a mooring in Dover ?
Sounds like I'll be able to grab a bit of pontoon and if not then I'll use the sailing club moorings.
I've got family who have booked a holiday cottage near Trearddur Bay so Holyhead is the only option for a few days!

 

[Seastoke]

Oh come on it can't be that bad.....I used to have a mooring in Dover ?
Sounds like I'll be able to grab a bit of pontoon and if not then I'll use the sailing club moorings.
I've got family who have booked a holiday cottage near Trearddur Bay so Holyhead is the only option for a few days!

rhere is a anchorage in that bay.

 

[Solostoke]

rhere is a anchorage in that bay.

I did see that on NWVYC website but it's open to SW winds and not everyone aboard likes anchoring as much as me so I think in April this will have to be a marina visit.

 

[TSB240]

Marina
Telephone: 01407 764 242
Mobile (out of hours): 07809 737 261
Email: info@holyheadmarina.co.uk
VHF: Channel 37 / (M)
Normal hours 8.30 to 4.30 5 days only.
They do still have a small operational landing stage which can be used for overnighting.
Rafting is not unusual. I would agree that their pontoons were never very pretty even before most of them were destroyed. If it is blowing from the north-east forget it and pick a mooring.

Holyhead Sailing club
Telephone: 01407 762496 –
Office Telephone: 01407 762526
Holyhead Sailing Club Launch: VHF CH 37
Prebook a mooring especially if the ISORA racers are coming in.

Personally I think you would enjoy a longer stay in the recently dredged Doc Victoria at Caernarfon as a there are far better facilities, shops and restaurants available. Just get the latest bar info and gate times off the Caernarfon Harbour Trust website.

Steve.

 

[Solostoke]

Marina
Telephone: 01407 764 242
Mobile (out of hours): 07809 737 261
Email: info@holyheadmarina.co.uk
VHF: Channel 37 / (M)
Normal hours 8.30 to 4.30 5 days only.
They do still have a small operational landing stage which can be used for overnighting.
Rafting is not unusual. I would agree that their pontoons were never very pretty even before most of them were destroyed. If it is blowing from the north-east forget it and pick a mooring.

Holyhead Sailing club
Telephone: 01407 762496 –
Office Telephone: 01407 762526
Holyhead Sailing Club Launch: VHF CH 37
Prebook a mooring especially if the ISORA racers are coming in.

Personally I think you would enjoy a longer stay in the recently dredged Doc Victoria at Caernarfon as a there are far better facilities, shops and restaurants available. Just get the latest bar info and gate times off the Caernarfon Harbour Trust website.

Steve.

Thanks for the detailed info.
I rang the marina a couple of times today but didn't get an answer hence the post on here.
Caernarfon is on my to visit list but unfortunately not on this trip as we're staying on Holy Island for all shore based activities.
I'd rather not raft with having little kids aboard so will probably end up on a sailing club mooring.

 

[geem]

Marina
Telephone: 01407 764 242
Mobile (out of hours): 07809 737 261
Email: info@holyheadmarina.co.uk
VHF: Channel 37 / (M)
Normal hours 8.30 to 4.30 5 days only.
They do still have a small operational landing stage which can be used for overnighting.
Rafting is not unusual. I would agree that their pontoons were never very pretty even before most of them were destroyed. If it is blowing from the north-east forget it and pick a mooring.

Holyhead Sailing club
Telephone: 01407 762496 –
Office Telephone: 01407 762526
Holyhead Sailing Club Launch: VHF CH 37
Prebook a mooring especially if the ISORA racers are coming in.

Personally I think you would enjoy a longer stay in the recently dredged Doc Victoria at Caernarfon as a there are far better facilities, shops and restaurants available. Just get the latest bar info and gate times off the Caernarfon Harbour Trust website.

Steve.

Agreed. A much nicer place to be. Pubs and restaurants nearby.

 

[Laysula]

If it is blowing from the north-east forget it and pick a mooring.
Steve.

If it's blowing from the North East, go somewhere else. It's not pleasant.
In settled weather though the club moorings and club are very pleasant. Not sure if the launch service starts till the end of March. Check with the sailing club.

 

[Halo]

Holyhead is a great departure and arrival port for longer Irish Sea trips. Pity nearly all the pontoons were reduced to pulp.
Caernarfon and Conwy are great but both have severe tidal restrictions.

 

[fifer]

Oh come on it can't be that bad.....I used to have a mooring in Dover ?
Sounds like I'll be able to grab a bit of pontoon and if not then I'll use the sailing club moorings.
I've got family who have booked a holiday cottage near Trearddur Bay so Holyhead is the only option for a few days!

If its very very settled then you could think about anchoring in either Treaddur bay or at Traeth Borth Wen. The walk along the coastal path from Treaddur bay to Rhoscolyn is lovely, and the White Eagle at Rhoscolyn is a good pub for food.

 

[Skylark]

Oh come on it can't be that bad.....I used to have a mooring in Dover ?

It isn't. Holyhead harbour has always been lumpy when there's an easterly element in the wind. Storm Emma was said to be a once in a hundred years event.

I'm out of touch so suggest that you take the advice offered by @TSB240 and give both the sailing club and the marina a call (keep trying, it is still early in the season).

You'll have no problem with a draw of 2.1m. Pay attention to tidal windows, see any pilot book, if you are unfamiliar with getting there.

Sailing club shower block is adequate/acceptable. If available, marina facilities are very good.

Plenty to keep you busy if you use your imagination. Walk along the breakwater, (a very small) maritime museum, south stack / RSPB, breakwater country park, climb Holyhead mountain etc etc. There are nearby supermarkets, local shops and good transport links, all within easy walking distance.

 

[Sandyshore]

Not sure I would use the marina after the insurance case found they could limit liability. If now only one pontoon sounds excessive rafting. and a recipe and all that.
Yacht Club mooring would be my choice.
Suggest you get guidance from your insurance provider if they accept mooring in the current marina.

 

[Solostoke]

Thanks for all the replies.
I will get through to the sailing club next week and check that the moorings will be available. Holyhead will keep me and the kids entertained enough, I don't mind if it's a bit rough around the edges we're more interested in the coastal attractions nearby than the town.
Hopefully if the weather is settled enough then we'll get out anchor, I'm desperate to test out my new anchor!
Passage plan is done, only unknown is how dirty the bottom of the boat is as I haven't antifouled it this winter.

 

[TSB240]

Thanks for all the replies.
I will get through to the sailing club next week and check that the moorings will be available. Holyhead will keep me and the kids entertained enough, I don't mind if it's a bit rough around the edges we're more interested in the coastal attractions nearby than the town.
Hopefully if the weather is settled enough then we'll get out anchor, I'm desperate to test out my new anchor!
Passage plan is done, only unknown is how dirty the bottom of the boat is as I haven't antifouled it this winter.

If you want to test out your anchor before making your way to H H then the finest anchorages on the way are Porth Dinllaen with the second best beach bar in the world. Ty Coch Pub. Great if wind from South through to west totally untenable in northerly. If northerly then aim for Llandwyn Island off Pilots Cove. It is tidal rode with deep water off the cove.
Plenty of alternatives including Silversands Bay at the entrance to the "inland sea" Treaddur and Rhosneigr are jet ski havens but they usually go home at night!

Unfortunately I think your draft excludes you from the most amazing spot for a stay overnight which also gives you a two hour head start going north. This is the mooring in the centre of the Skerries lighthouse lagoon. Hundreds of occupied Puffin burrows and Arctic terns which were very numerous if a little noisy in competition with the seal colony.

Steve.