Where to launch

[Lady Campanula]

I'll be looking to launch ( lift in, probably ) a 3 ton, 27 foot, 4'6" draft fin keeler in a few months' time. Said 'small black hole in the wallet' is currently laid-up near Bath.

I'm looking for good suggestions re where to have her launched, mast rigged, and basic kit sorted out before braving the briny. Recommendations, with reasoning, please.....

 

[Sneds]

Bristol marina, in thebBristol Floating Harbour

 

[carise]

The economics/advice will depend very much on where you want to end up sailing from/to/around etc!

Is mast currently up? Any firm plans etc etc??

P.

 

[Lady Campanula]

OK. More info - some facts and 'maybes'....

She's in my yard. The mast is down - we lowered it at Dover to avoid >£130 cranage. The yardeys were taking bets on us dropping it - but I'd done this before....

I own the lifting strops seen, and the cradle.

I have a mooring on the Tamar, but that's a 'delivery trip' away. I'll need to be a few days where launched, to get things set up and working, running back and forwards for tools, kit, etc.

Bristol Floating Dock/yard is nearest, but inquiries a couple of times have not been encouraging. Then there's Portishead. And Cardiff, a good place to spend a few days....

Where else? And what's to choose.....

 

[carise]

Just some late evening ramblings by way of reply -

Well, Cardiff is definitely a decent option, with a couple of yards capable of hoisting you without any problem. We've got really good local riggers and pretty much everything else to hand!

I presume that you have worked out the finances of the haulage versus the time to sail from various points and associated on-costs?

As Bath isn't that far from Plymouth by road (130/150miles?) why not get her on the back of a lorry, pay a few hundred pounds (which is not much more than you will be paying to move it "locally" anyway and get her in her home waters asap? = No worries about finding problems on a delivery trip; no being holed up in Padstow or Falmouth waiting for the weather to ease (whilst paying more for the privilege!) , plus it gives you peace of mind to sort out any niggles/issues without pressure .

Paul

 

[Bosun Higgs]

If the boat is in bath and road transport is involved, I would suggest transporting down to somewhere like Pompey. Sure you could launch nearer home than that but it leaves you with the task of getting out of the Bristol channel which is a PITA in a fin keeler.

Ideally you want easterlies but if you get them then you cannot stop off at Lundy or Combe. If you have westerlies, then you can stop at both but you are doing a wind over tide job. So you wait for calms and then have to motor. Or you wait for northerlies etc etc.

I do it every year and its usually a fairly unpleasant chore.

 

[Allan]

Bosun, I agree that once the boat is on some form of transport the OP may just as well carry on and get closer to where he will be sailing. I would normally be the first to recommend somewhere like Cardiff Marine but the mileage and the extra cost of the bridge would soon add up.
Just to give a different perspective on the trip down the Bristol channel. I've never seen it as a chore, unpleasant or otherwise. I tend to do longer legs than most, so normally head straight to Newlyn or a bit further if I have crew. If you want to take your time then, in a westerly Cardiff, Oxwich and wait for the tide before heading for Lundy is a nice trip. In a good easterly, I have gone down as far as Clovelly and picked up one of the mooring buoys. If you head down the channel with the tide, you get so much of a push that you can continue against the next tide and still have a net gain.
Allan

 

[carise]

Just wondering if you have made a decision?

 

[Lady Campanula]

Just wondering if you have made a decision?

No, I haven't yet. That will depend in part on how complete are the 'jobs' and how much I think still needs to be addressed when she's in the water. If afloat in, say, Portishead then driving down and back, with some work done, can be achieved in a few hours. Even Cardiff is practicable, and I know from numerous visits that the CYC is as welcoming and helpful as they get. And I would like to have involvement in a club again.

Plymouth/Tamar is over 3 hours fast drive away, so only 'overnighters' are practicable. There again, getting just about everything done/installed at home, then transporting the thing all the way, then launching, has much to commend it.

 

[Gelfie]

What about Poole. Plenty of Yards with all the facilities you need and only an hours drive from Bath,

 

[quimby]

Beachley Slipway is safe,wide,and Free!

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Bosun, I agree that once the boat is on some form of transport the OP may just as well carry on and get closer to where he will be sailing. I would normally be the first to recommend somewhere like Cardiff Marine but the mileage and the extra cost of the bridge would soon add up.
Just to give a different perspective on the trip down the Bristol channel. I've never seen it as a chore, unpleasant or otherwise. I tend to do longer legs than most, so normally head straight to Newlyn or a bit further if I have crew. If you want to take your time then, in a westerly Cardiff, Oxwich and wait for the tide before heading for Lundy is a nice trip. In a good easterly, I have gone down as far as Clovelly and picked up one of the mooring buoys. If you head down the channel with the tide, you get so much of a push that you can continue against the next tide and still have a net gain.
Allan

I guess its down to personal preferences Allan. I have done the Cardiff / Padstow trip in one 12 hour stint several times but I would never describe it as anything other than a chore. Even my normal Cardiff / Watchet / Padstow is hard work to my mind and thats in a 35 ft boat. The OP's boat is a bit smaller and slower.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Even Cardiff is practicable, and I know from numerous visits that the CYC is as welcoming and helpful as they get. And I would like to have involvement in a club again.
.

CYC are a friendly bunch but then so are the guys at CBYC and at Newport Uskmouth. If you really wish to be " involved" in a club then CBYC is a marina with a club attached but CYC and Newport in particular are clubs of the old self help type. Newport has excellent facilities and access for you would be easier.

 

[Csail]

To save messing about why not just book a crane in the perfect place.

 

[donm]

I'll be looking to launch ( lift in, probably ) a 3 ton, 27 foot, 4'6" draft fin keeler in a few months' time. Said 'small black hole in the wallet' is currently laid-up near Bath.

I'm looking for good suggestions re where to have her launched, mast rigged, and basic kit sorted out before braving the briny. Recommendations, with reasoning, please.....

Is that a Cutlass? Happy to welcome you at Barry.

20T boat hoist, slipway trolley and mast crane - free with membership

Loads of level serviced and secure storage in the winter - for your boat around £150 total

Plenty of moorings - for your boat around £270 pa

And a still a Club in the truest sense of the word

 

[Sneds]

Do you have any mobo members at Barry?
Am I right in thinking that the harbour drys?
I am surprised that the commercial docks at Barry aren't looking at becoming a locked marina.

 

[donm]

Do you have any mobo members at Barry?
Am I right in thinking that the harbour drys?
I am surprised that the commercial docks at Barry aren't looking at becoming a locked marina.

Yes we do have mobo members, and fishermen. You can access the harbour at any state of tide but most (but not all) moorings dry after 3 hours.

We have discussed a marina with VoG Council, Welsh Assembly Government and ABP who are all in favour. Studies have been carried out but the economic situation is not on our side. Biggest problem for ABP is water loss as the docks are not fed by rivers etc and so only gain water from the sea. Between neaps and springs they can lose a lot of water - probably 2 or 3 metres - so the current locks will lose too much water if operated regularly for yachts, and installation of yacht locks will require a new entrance to the dock - expensive. We have suggested a cill to the basin (which is little used) but this seems to be a non starter at the moment.

But watch this space - times and priorities can change...............

 

[Sneds]

Thanks, an interesting reply.
I had never considered the absence of a river feeding the docks!

 

[graham]

Even with 2 major rivers feeding Cardiff Bay during low rainfall times coinciding with busy summer sailing season the Locking times are sometimes restricted over low water to reduce water loss.

Cardiff Bay must be an extreme example though with the locks working almost continually at busy times.I dont imagine lack of water being an issue just now though.

 

[chrishelen]

Yes we do have mobo members, and fishermen. You can access the harbour at any state of tide but most (but not all) moorings dry after 3 hours.

We have discussed a marina with VoG Council, Welsh Assembly Government and ABP who are all in favour. Studies have been carried out but the economic situation is not on our side. Biggest problem for ABP is water loss as the docks are not fed by rivers etc and so only gain water from the sea. Between neaps and springs they can lose a lot of water - probably 2 or 3 metres - so the current locks will lose too much water if operated regularly for yachts, and installation of yacht locks will require a new entrance to the dock - expensive. We have suggested a cill to the basin (which is little used) but this seems to be a non starter at the moment.

But watch this space - times and priorities can change...............

Is Porthcawl getting a marina? read that there are plans afoot, dont think that gets fed by a river.