What is Swansea like for sailing?

[DennisF]

i'm looking to possibly move my Westerly Berwick from Milford Marina next year. I'm based in the Midlands so looking to reduce the travel time a bit. I've looked at the Solent and nearly fainted at the prices, although a swinging mooring would be a possibility. However, Having the boat in Swansea would lop an hour off the current journey, with similar costs to Milford.

Problem is, I know little about the sailing around Swansea. I've always imagined it to be a little limited in sheltered areas and rivers to explore, but I guess hopping over to Devon is doable. However, I thought asking the knowledgable forumites would be a good idea, as there is bound to be someone with experience of the area! So what is it like?

 

[Allan]

I sail from Cardiff and to be honest, I'm not a fan of Swansea. The marina is surrounded by flats and much more expensive than where I moor. Some places that I like to sail to, like Bristol, are not possibly on one tide. The extra traveling time is an issue with me too. I guess it would take me an extra hour to get to Swansea.
Allan

 

[jonbclarke]

Hi Dennis,

I am based in Swansea (living in one of the aforementioned flats) and moored here also, I find it is a good marina, it is easy to get to from the M4, good value and well serviced by the marina staff and has a decent chandlery with several pubs in range and the city centre a short walk further so plenty of options on a rainy day. Downsides are the limited locking times (7am - 9:30pm) and huge tides. There is little in the way of creek crawling.

Upshots are the bay is ideal for an evening sail and the far side is well sheltered by the lee of Mumbles head - past this you have the Gower which has some good anchorages (Oxwich, Port Eynon etc) and as you correctly note you can make it over to North Devon although most points of this coast should be viewed as a weekend rather than day trip. Also you have Lundy, Padstow and Ilfracoombe in reasonable range.

Jon

 

[bitbaltic]

The further up-channel you go in the Bristol Channel, the less varied the destinations and the more tidally constrained you become (generally). You will find Swansea more constrained with many fewer destinations (far fewer overnight and/or bad weather stops) than you have in Milford Haven. In fact from Swansea I would say the Haven is the most attractive destination in any case! However, the water is blue unlike the brown stuff at our end of the channel, and the marina and beach are really nice. We have friends who berth there and really love it. If I was moving west from Cardiff though I would skip Swansea and go to where you are already.

Cheers

 

[alant]

i'm looking to possibly move my Westerly Berwick from Milford Marina next year. I'm based in the Midlands so looking to reduce the travel time a bit. I've looked at the Solent and nearly fainted at the prices, although a swinging mooring would be a possibility. However, Having the boat in Swansea would lop an hour off the current journey, with similar costs to Milford.

Problem is, I know little about the sailing around Swansea. I've always imagined it to be a little limited in sheltered areas and rivers to explore, but I guess hopping over to Devon is doable. However, I thought asking the knowledgable forumites would be a good idea, as there is bound to be someone with experience of the area! So what is it like?

Pm'd you.

 

[DennisF]

Thanks all. So if I'm interpreting the replies correctly, there are mixed feelings about Swansea! Not much creek crawling either there or Cardiff, some sheltered sailing around Swansea Bay, but not many day sailing opportunities other than the bay or Gower coast. Weekend trips to North Devon seem possible. I assume the same would be true of Cardiff.

From the replies so far, the general view seems to be I may be better spending another hour slogging down to my current berth rather than looking at Swansea or indeed Cardiff. However, a 4 hour journey each way is rather painful!Any other points of view?

 

[Allan]

As I mentioned before I'm a bit biased! I would take issue with the comment that there is a lack of creek crawling from Cardiff. If, like me, you are happy to sit in the mud there are loads of places to visit up one of the biggest and best creeks, the river Severn. Thornbury, St Pierre, Pill etc. are all within one tide. In the Bristol channel there are more places, Weston, Burnham etc. If you don't like mud there is still Portishead, Bristol, Lydney and Sharpness, with the canal to Gloucester. I'm not sure whether to consider Watchet as a muddy place or not! Time will tell. There are also anchorages all along the coasts, Porlock and Minehead are available from both Cardiff and Swansea. I've also just remembered Barry and Jacksons bay!
In between my longer trips I've had enjoyable visits to all of the above. I would add that I also have a mooring in Dale, so I like that end of the channel too.
Allan

 

[DennisF]

As I mentioned before I'm a bit biased! I would take issue with the comment that there is a lack of creek crawling from Cardiff. If, like me, you are happy to sit in the mud there are loads of places to visit up one of the biggest and best creeks, the river Severn. Thornbury, St Pierre, Pill etc. are all within one tide. In the Bristol channel there are more places, Weston, Burnham etc. If you don't like mud there is still Portishead, Bristol, Lydney and Sharpness, with the canal to Gloucester. I'm not sure whether to consider Watchet as a muddy place or not! Time will tell. There are also anchorages all along the coasts, Porlock and Minehead are available from both Cardiff and Swansea. I've also just remembered Barry and Jacksons bay!
In between my longer trips I've had enjoyable visits to all of the above. I would add that I also have a mooring in Dale, so I like that end of the channel too.
Allan

Thanks Allan, that is interesting. I hadn't really considered Cardiff, thinking it would be a case of out into the Bristol Channel and turn left or right, depending on the tide, without much in terms of pleasant anchorages. However, Cardiff is a mere 2 hours from my house, and that does present quite an advantage. My Westerly Berwick is a 31ft bilge keeler so mud is not a problem - it's rocks I'm nervous about ;-)

How long does it take to sail from Cardiff to Bristol, assuming say 5kn?

 

[bitbaltic]

If you don't like mud there is still Portishead, Bristol, Lydney and Sharpness, with the canal to Gloucester. I'm not sure whether to consider Watchet as a muddy place or not!

Lydney is closed to visiting yachts for the forseeable future. I was there by land on Sunday and the outer basin is completely drained.

Until there are a couple of metres of water retained in Watchet it is a mud berth as far as I can see.

Agreed things are very different if you have bilge keels/will sit in mud though! I'm not interested in trying that with a wing keeled boat.

 

[bitbaltic]

Thanks Allan, that is interesting. I hadn't really considered Cardiff, thinking it would be a case of out into the Bristol Channel and turn left or right, depending on the tide, without much in terms of pleasant anchorages. However, Cardiff is a mere 2 hours from my house, and that does present quite an advantage. My Westerly Berwick is a 31ft bilge keeler so mud is not a problem - it's rocks I'm nervous about ;-)

How long does it take to sail from Cardiff to Bristol, assuming say 5kn?

Allow 4 hrs to Avonmouth and consider stopping there (Portishead). Another 2 hrs from there up the avon but pick favourable tides to prevent a long wait in the locks when HW exceeds the level of the floating harbour.

 

[Gwylan]

i'm looking to possibly move my Westerly Berwick from Milford Marina next year. I'm based in the Midlands so looking to reduce the travel time a bit. I've looked at the Solent and nearly fainted at the prices, although a swinging mooring would be a possibility. However, Having the boat in Swansea would lop an hour off the current journey, with similar costs to Milford.

Problem is, I know little about the sailing around Swansea. I've always imagined it to be a little limited in sheltered areas and rivers to explore, but I guess hopping over to Devon is doable. However, I thought asking the knowledgable forumites would be a good idea, as there is bound to be someone with experience of the area! So what is it like?

We spent several years based up at Portishead and crusing the Bristol Channel.

We spent a large part of this summer on either side of the Channel, including Swansea.

The fact that they remember Dylan Thomas and not me, for being born there, does not influence my comments of course.

Swansea Bay is great place for the afternoon sail. It is constrained by the lock times, but no better or worse than other ports along the coasts of the Channel.
The marina is well served and represents value for money, but not a bargain. Days out and picnics, creek crawling are not something you are likely to be doing from there.

But there are loads of places to explore over a long weekend, when the tides are right of course.
The usual suspects include Oxwich, Port Eynon, Tenby, Lundy, Ilfracombe, Padstow, watchet [ when they sort it out]

Further up the Channel then the tides do become an issue and the general rule is that you are going where the tide is going or working very hard to stand still. Also you will improve your tide calculation skills if you go to Portishead or Cardiff!

Given the choice I would see Swansea as the best choice for a base.

 

[Allan]

I was told last weekend that Lydney will accept single or small numbers of visiting boats and allow them into the river, I've not checked if that's correct.
A number of CYC fin keel boats are happy to sit in the mud and sometimes are more upright than bilges. I have experience of this at Uphill!
Watchet marina have just refitted their gate which when fully back in commission should raise the level a little. They are also promising to dredge more. As I said before, time will tell.
Bristol is about 4 hours from Cardiff, depending on wind tide etc. It once took me nearly 5 hours as I sailed from the Cardiff approaches all the way to the Clifton suspension bridge! If you like challenges, that's worth trying!
Another possible benefit of Cardiff is the ability to have a sail around the bay.
Allan

 

[Tim Good]

I am in Portishead but only there because of a refit. I was previously in Dartmouth so quite a different. If I were you I would go for Swansea because:

1. The water is clean and you can swim / fish easily round the corner in one of the bays like Oxwich Bay
2. The Gower is a nice cruising ground for day trips
3. You can go either way left or right depending on tide. Cardiff and Portishead and pretty much one way which is west.
4. You can reach North Devon across the tide rather than being totally dictated by East or West flows.
5. You can get out of the Bristol Channel in one go whereas from Portishead or Cardiff that is barely possible and you have to make a stop as the tide changes.

 

[bitbaltic]

I was told last weekend that Lydney will accept single or small numbers of visiting boats and allow them into the river, I've not checked if that's correct.

That's useful to know, cheers. I don't think we'd be able to get up there this season now though, but if the chance occurs I will ring them and enquire.

 

[jordanbasset]

Just a thought, have you thought of some where like Plymouth. Much more reasonable than the Solent, but great sailing area. Used to take me under 4 hours from the west midlands. We were at PYH but there are other marinas

 

[Allan]

I was also told that the problem should be easy to fix, it's just the authorities not giving it a high priority. It came from a LYC member but again, I've not checked. If true they may be back in business soon. The harbour is worth a visit, especially during the festival.
Allan

 

[Daydream believer]

Reading this thread really makes one apreciate the east coast round the Thames esuary.
Creeks galore plus places to go for afternoon,day or weekend sails
All at reasonable prices
Very few Welsh about though so not sure if that is a bonus or not

 

[theoldsalt]

DennisF,

If you hanker for south coast sailing but not solent prices then as previously suggested consider Plymouth where I currently moor.

However to minimise cost I fully recommend the river Exe. I had a Westerly Berwick there for many years. River moorings are very reasonable and provide good access for sailing to Torquay, Brixham, Dartmouth and beyond.

Travel time to Exeter from Bristol (door to boat) is about 1½ hours so I think from the Midlands probably quicker than Swansea and much more enjoyable sailing than the Bristol Channel.

 

[tatali0n]

When we bought our Griffon last winter, she was lying in Swansea. We were very tempted to keep her there. The marina was fine, the immediate sailing area perfect for the sort of pottering about day sailing we enjoy and the tides a little less vicious than nearer waters, with tidal access only restricted on springs. Swansea offers opportunities to turn left or right or head straight across to Devon if you want to go somewhere. And the water's blue.

But living in Gloucester, Swansea is almost 2 hours away. The same drive would get us to Exmouth, or a mere extra 30 minutes to Plymouth, so no contest really.

However, we really brought the boat to sail and not to commute, so moved her to Portishead, a mere 40 minute hop down the motorway from home. As long as you pay attention to the weather and tides, and especially the effect they each have on the other, and as long as you can adjust to sailing on waters the hue of strong tea, if not the taste, it's really not so bad. Cardiff and back is quite manageable in daylight on a spring tide through most of the summer. Neaps can make for pleasant lunchtime jaunts out and up under the bridges and back. Chepstow, Thornbury and Lydney are easily within reach in that direction. Barry or Porlock Weir make good staging posts to wait out the tide if you want to head further afield down channel.

To be honest, if I lived on the other side of the estuary, I'd probably pick Cardiff over Swansea. You've got the advantage of that big, fresh water lake behind the barrage, all the facilities (shops, pubs, restaurants, etc) of a lively city, excellent 24 hour access through the locks to the Bristol Channel beyond on everything but the biggest of spring lows. On a summer time spring, you're within an easy day sail of blue water downstream and back. The holms are great, everybody loves an island or two to sail around, and Lydney, Bristol, Portishead, Weston, Porlock Weir, Barry, Sully Island, Swansea, Portcawl and Ilfracombe are all within a single tide's reach.

If they'd only waive the Severn Bridge toll for us sailors, I could be seriously tempted with a move to Cardiff, despite the extra distance to drive

 

[ditchcrawler]

Have you considered the east coast. Lots of rivers to sail in as well as coastal stuff. Blackwater,Stour,Orwell,Deben,Crouch,Ore/Alde in no particular order.Cheap moorings as well as marinas.
I live in Woodbridge and travel to B'ham to see family.3 and a quarter hours including a stop for coffee.A14/M6/M42.I know several people who have boats here who live in Midlands(Staffs and Derbys as well as central).
I do not know where you live of course and it may be too far for you.