MoodySabre
Well-Known Member
When I suggested bringing a small yacht from Wales to Essex on inland waterways I was told that it wouldn't pass the boat safe scheme and wouldn't be allowed.
Where in Wales?
- Thread starter WoodyP
- Start date
Caer Urfa
Well-Known Member
Hello Woody
I was in a similar position three years ago having my boat up on the Tyne where we had 24/7 tidal access, we then moved to Wellington near Telford and I spent months visiting various West coast marinas and harbors to possibly move too ( draft1.2m)
It soon became obvious that from Milford Haven up to Whitehaven everything is tidal access usually 4hrs either side of high tide and my idea of sailing is not looking at my watch to get back in time.
Agree Milford Haven is a real nice cruising area and tidal access is not a problem
As for transport ask for a 'back load' price, you may have to wait a bit longer and have the boat prepared for short notice but much better deal on price as few transport companies want to come back empty
I was in a similar position three years ago having my boat up on the Tyne where we had 24/7 tidal access, we then moved to Wellington near Telford and I spent months visiting various West coast marinas and harbors to possibly move too ( draft1.2m)
It soon became obvious that from Milford Haven up to Whitehaven everything is tidal access usually 4hrs either side of high tide and my idea of sailing is not looking at my watch to get back in time.
Agree Milford Haven is a real nice cruising area and tidal access is not a problem
As for transport ask for a 'back load' price, you may have to wait a bit longer and have the boat prepared for short notice but much better deal on price as few transport companies want to come back empty
Snoopy463
Well-Known Member
I’d avoid Cardigan, Aberaeron is a great place but they lost a few boats in the floods there, mainly 20 odd footers. My choice would be the Haven, take a look at Rudders Boatyard as an alternative to the marinas. Deep moorings just beyond the Cleddau bridge.
ryanroberts
Well-Known Member
Thames has a time limited dispensation for transit, not sure about the canals. Theoretically its possible to go in at the wash, up the Trent, Trent and Mersey, down the boat lift at Anderton and then out again via the Weaver / ship canal into the Mersey. Would be 2-3 weeks in a narrowboat.
MoodySabre
Well-Known Member
The other problem was that a bilgekeeler wouldn't fit the canal bed profile. I thought it would be great but I was firmly put in my place.
WoodyP
Well-Known Member
It's the sea or the road. If I can get a shared return then that would be great. It cost me nearly£2000 to move my tractors and equipment down here. Realistically my yacht is worth £6k max and stands me at over £20k but let's not go there. From what others have posted it looks like the Haven unless someone persuades me otherwise.
Now I just have to decide left or right. Local knowledge says see which way the wind is blowing and go with that.
Thanks for all your help
Now I just have to decide left or right. Local knowledge says see which way the wind is blowing and go with that.
Thanks for all your help
oldharry
Well-Known Member
Good thing yourb oat is a bilge keeler, if you decide on Cardigan bay, most harbours are drying! Fishguard Old Town as reported dries out but provides pretty good shelter. Goodwick used to have some moorings away from the ferries, but these are completely exposed to the Noth, and many years a go a bad storm wiped out every boat kept there! Newport - Lovely, but a very tricky bar at the entrance, not a lot of water and not realy enough room for a 30footer. I used to take a 24 footer in there regularly, 30 years ago , and there wasnt much room even then!
Cardigan well sheltered but another tricky bar. I used to avoid it when I sailed that way. Aberaeron. Fully drying, quite crowded but very pretty. the boats lost there reported above were swamped by a flood after freak rainfall inland, debris caught their mooring chains and pulled them under. similar to the Boscastle disaster, except it didnt flood the town. Aberystwyth is a little way north but has a marina, and makes a good base. I dont think theres room for other moorings now, but I may be wrong? About as far north as you would want to go is Aberdovey, a wild and exposed estuary, with a very exposed bar. I came within a trice of being pitchpoled coming in there once. Barmouth and Porthmadog are further north and probably further than you woudl want to travel, but both provide good sheltered moorings and have active sailing communties. I never did round St Davids Head - an adveture in itself - so cannot speak for the harbours east of there, except Solva which is again completely drying, fully sheltered but with very narrow entrance that has a rock bang in the middle so not to be negotiated after dark unless you really know what you are doing!
Cardigan well sheltered but another tricky bar. I used to avoid it when I sailed that way. Aberaeron. Fully drying, quite crowded but very pretty. the boats lost there reported above were swamped by a flood after freak rainfall inland, debris caught their mooring chains and pulled them under. similar to the Boscastle disaster, except it didnt flood the town. Aberystwyth is a little way north but has a marina, and makes a good base. I dont think theres room for other moorings now, but I may be wrong? About as far north as you would want to go is Aberdovey, a wild and exposed estuary, with a very exposed bar. I came within a trice of being pitchpoled coming in there once. Barmouth and Porthmadog are further north and probably further than you woudl want to travel, but both provide good sheltered moorings and have active sailing communties. I never did round St Davids Head - an adveture in itself - so cannot speak for the harbours east of there, except Solva which is again completely drying, fully sheltered but with very narrow entrance that has a rock bang in the middle so not to be negotiated after dark unless you really know what you are doing!
Gwylan
Well-Known Member
Ah! That must be where I went wrong then.
Gwylan
Well-Known Member
Right is boring and long legs. Left gets you the chance to do bits of the west of Scotland on the way.
Tzu
Well-Known Member
When I bought Tzu (Westerly 31' Fin keel) in Hartlepool I needed to get to Porthmadog in Wales - Just kept turning left. Used the Forth and Clyde Canal which runs from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Cost was very very reasonable but they may have addressed this with an increase since they opened the new link at Grangemouth. (I think we may have been the last boat entering the system through the old lock as they had an opening ceremony for the Kelpies 48hours after we got there). Timings are approximately day 1 arrive Grangemouth after de-masting, day 2 all the locks 'up' , day 3 along the top, day 4 all the locks 'down' and day 5 depart into the Clyde after re-masting. All very leisurely and we were assisted through every lock and bridge by a crew from Scottish Canals people. Thoroughly recommended.
There's an article on it my mate wrote for Yachting Monthly in their April 2016 edition.
There's an article on it my mate wrote for Yachting Monthly in their April 2016 edition.
Quandary
Well-Known Member
Single handed yachts going through the Caley is not that unusual and you would be very lucky not to be given the help you need. You just need a long bow line led under the bow cleat and back to a winch in the cockpit. Just ask them to pull it through and drop it back to you as you leave the locks. The Crinan is practical in that way too but slower as you may have to go up and down the ladders. There is an expectation that both may re-open in July, I would guess about mid month, though there is work to do first on both.
Halo
Well-Known Member
I would turn left and go up the East Coast and through the Caledonian canal. You can do this in easy stages. Avoiding the amazingly long haul round the S Coast into the prevailing wind is a real plus.
I took my W25 coast to coast through the Leeds Liverpool via the Rufforth Branch and River Ribble. Only attempt this if you draw a metre or less and be prepared for stupid narrow boat drivers who think you can pull in to the side despite having a keel. It’s a lot of fun but hard work manually operating the 128 locks
You need to check your air draft and the available water draft for the Forth and Clyde. I have done this a couple of times and it is ok especially if you can get help with the locks. Both times I was fortunate it was raining when I went through injun country around Maryhill.
Whichever way you go make sure you enjoy the trip and don’t rush. A summer in the W Highlands en route is highly recommended
P.M me if you want more detail on the above.
I took my W25 coast to coast through the Leeds Liverpool via the Rufforth Branch and River Ribble. Only attempt this if you draw a metre or less and be prepared for stupid narrow boat drivers who think you can pull in to the side despite having a keel. It’s a lot of fun but hard work manually operating the 128 locks
You need to check your air draft and the available water draft for the Forth and Clyde. I have done this a couple of times and it is ok especially if you can get help with the locks. Both times I was fortunate it was raining when I went through injun country around Maryhill.
Whichever way you go make sure you enjoy the trip and don’t rush. A summer in the W Highlands en route is highly recommended
P.M me if you want more detail on the above.
Minchsailor
Well-Known Member
I did the Caley canal a couple of years ago single handed on my way back from Norway. Absolutely no problem . As Quandry says, I had long mooring lines led through turning blocks so I could control them from the cockpit. Management of the canal is amazing - they radio ahead, so the next lock (and bridge keepers) knew I was singlehanding.
When navigating the Moray Firth you MUST arrive at the Kessock Bridge on the flood before local HW - the tidal streams are fierce and you won't make way against the ebb. Cromarty makes a convenient anchorage while waiting for the tide.
When navigating the Moray Firth you MUST arrive at the Kessock Bridge on the flood before local HW - the tidal streams are fierce and you won't make way against the ebb. Cromarty makes a convenient anchorage while waiting for the tide.
Tamar
Well-Known Member
Milford is ok, as is dale. I bought a boat in Milford and the guy let me use his mooring on hakin point around 20 years ago, just near Milford marina. I was there for 4 season. Idea base to sail anywhere really.
WoodyP
Well-Known Member
Wow, never had so much interest in my thread before. Usually I kill them ?.
I draw 3ft 11 in old money, and I'll have you know she's a twin keel, not a bilge keel, according to the designer Rags Neirop. Probably delusions of grandeur, but they are quite capable.
Crewing I've been through the Caledonian before, and the Crinan, but hadn't thought of the Clyde canal, as I had heard of problems with it. I will have to make enquiries. I think it would take a big chunk of time out of a delivery, but may spoil a pleasant cruise.
Thanks for all your suggestions,
George
I draw 3ft 11 in old money, and I'll have you know she's a twin keel, not a bilge keel, according to the designer Rags Neirop. Probably delusions of grandeur, but they are quite capable.
Crewing I've been through the Caledonian before, and the Crinan, but hadn't thought of the Clyde canal, as I had heard of problems with it. I will have to make enquiries. I think it would take a big chunk of time out of a delivery, but may spoil a pleasant cruise.
Thanks for all your suggestions,
George
ryanroberts
Well-Known Member
Yeah the earlier canals are often shaped like |_/, built against a stone wall and shallowing up to the off side so that makes some sense
V1701
Well-Known Member
How about Aberdovey if a mooring was available, winter storage across the bay at Ynyslas boatyard at extremely reasonable rates (£1.50 per day!). Aberystwyth has a small marina. I only know these places from when I bought my Bowman 26 from there last year. Everyone we met was super friendly and relaxed about things. We also stopped a few days at Milford Haven, again very friendly & good value. A refreshing change from the busyness of the south east of England. As you're retired I'd be tempted to turn left and make it more of an opportunity to sail about the west of Scotland for a bit before heading south, although overall it might be a bit easier to do turning right (shorter hops/more places to stop) but you still have the whole of the channel against the prevailing wind. West of the Solent I found that there were more places to anchor than I'd previously thought. Enjoy the trip, you have the time to do it, after all there's no enjoyment to be had from having the boat transported by road...
Kurrawong_Kid
Well-Known Member
+1 for turning left. With a twin keel Yacht day sails moderate, especially if you use F&C canal. If you turn right you are in for a series of long legs, often against the prevailing wind, until you reach the Solent. Grimsby to Lowestoft over 100 miles unless you divert by Wells (about 60 and 45). Harwich to Ramsgate a tricky 45, Dover to Eastbourne shortened help from the tide. Going left harbours are about a tide’s flow apart although you may have to start earlier than HW to get in to say Scarborough or Whitby before LW. Longest runs going North probably Eyemouth to Arbroath and Stonehaven to Peterhead if using the Caley. Then south via Irish coast to Kilmore Quay for crossing to Milford. Cheaper harbours too!
duncan99210
Well-Known Member
Skippers guide to the Forth and Clyde is here https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/wp...Canals-Lowlands-Skippers-Guide-WEB-May-16.pdf. The Guide for the Caledonian is here https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/wp...ttish-Canals-Caledonian-Skipper-Guide-WEB.pdf. Both currently shut....
Worth reading the guides through. In many ways, I’d prefer to do the Caledonian: it’s truly amazing scenery, the staff are amazingly helpful and I’d willingly do it again any time someone offered a space.... We took our motor boat through about 15 years ago now and had a wonderful time. Another advantage of the Caledonian is there’s no need to take the mast down and you should be able to sail on most of the lochs.
Worth reading the guides through. In many ways, I’d prefer to do the Caledonian: it’s truly amazing scenery, the staff are amazingly helpful and I’d willingly do it again any time someone offered a space.... We took our motor boat through about 15 years ago now and had a wonderful time. Another advantage of the Caledonian is there’s no need to take the mast down and you should be able to sail on most of the lochs.