Day 82 Mar 31st Fishguard to Milford Haven

 We'll make good use of the nice weather and get ourselves round to Milford Haven. 

The wind is light no there will be lots of motoring.

Set off a 0900 And probably arrive around at 17.00 another sunny day so great for looking out for wildlife.

Day 81 March 30th Aberystwith to Fishguard

 

What a difference a day makes, the wind is now SE F2/3 the swell about a metre, and it's glorious sunshine.

So with the passage plan from yesterday, a quick bite for breakfast. Sandwiches made and we're off at 0800.

My original time scale for the trip was 100 days. and if the weather holds that would still be possible. there being 19 days left. In reality that would be a bit rushed. especially as We wanted to spend a week or so in the Scillies.  Lets see how we get on. 

Day 80 Mar 29th Weather is about to change.

A quick peek outside will tell you its a horrible day. It's wet and the wind is strong and the waves are still crashing over the harbour wall.   The weather,however is on the turn. Tomorrow the wind dies and  changes direction. and we can move on.

We leave at 0800 BST in what should be good conditions.  There may be some residual swell from the Atlantic  but the SE wind ishould help calm the waves. It will also give us a nice broad reach. to boot!

HW Aberystwith  0930  Sea slight Vis Good Sunny.

Wind SE F2/3

Passage is very straight forward.  Clearing the Harbour may be our most hazardous task tomorrow as any residual swell may push us around a bit.  Then set the Sails and head  230° for about 6 hrs. The main Anchorage is to the South of Fishguard Bay. with reasonable holding in light winds.

Day 79 Mar 28 Still in Aberystwith.

http://abermarina.dvrdns.org/cgi-bin/guestimage.html

Watch the marina webcam on the link above in the area shown. You should be able to see the waves breaking over the harbour wall.  Things should die down by Tuesday. and we can move on .

Day 76- Storm bound in Aberystwyth

Fishguard is 30 miles away,  Good shelter in all but NW winds.  but after 3 to 4. days of strong SW wind It turns NW F6 to 7 Which would leave us in an awkward position.

After Fishguard there is not much until Milford Haven, another 60 miles on.  

All things considered I am going to stay put here in Aberystwith at least until Monday and await further developments in the weather.

http://abermarina.dvrdns.org/cgi-bin/guestimage.html

Day75 Mar 24th Phwelli to Aberystwyth

 There are lots of good reasons to end up in Aberystwith by tonight.  

• Its a nicely protected marina.
• There's storms a coming
• There's a reasonable size town
• Good connections for travel

So that where we're going today,

Cardigan Bay is a daunting place to sail with long (12miles) ridges of rocks extenting out from land. lots of shallows , big swells, and a predominately lee shore.  Inviting names of areas like devils tail and devils ridge dot the map.  So well worth studying the map to find out where you definitely don't want to be before setting out.

HW Aberystwith 1740

Wx  Wind SW F3 increasing to F5/6 by evening   

We will  leave at 1100 hrs.  After clearing the exit channel we head  146 deg past the shoals then South and west the best we can against the wind..  We are aiming to get around the end of St Patrick's Ridge which sticks out for 12 miles from the coast. Waypoint B.  If we cannot get far enough west we may motor for a while.  Once we reach the West Cardinal(Causeway), We can turn to 166° to the next West Cardinal (Patches) at which point we turn east again and start looking for Pendinas with Wellingtons monument on top.  It's about an hour before we are close enough to pick up the leading lights on a course of 133d and follow those into the harbour entrance.   

We will be entering at high tide but the photo above clearly shows we should err to the port side as we enter.

The Official Aberystwyth Harbourmaster (as opposed to the Marina) works on channel VHF channel 14, with initial contact on channel 16. He can be phoned on 01970 611433 and the Marina can be phoned on 01970 611422 or Ch 80. It's advisable to book a berth.

Day74 March 23 rd Caernarfon to Phewelli

 The sea is flat as a pancake, and all the sighs are positive to passage over the bar and onwards down south.

Hw Dover 0453  So we up and leave at 0300.  We carefully pick our way down past caernarfon and out over the bar against the last of the flood,  until we reach the safe water markthen head down to Bardsley Sound on a fair tide but little wind. After We're through the sound we head NE up the coast to Pwllheli.     

The good news is the improvement in the weather forecast.  We were originally going to need to be somewhere very safe by Wednesday nightbut this now looks like being more toward the weekend. 

Day73 Mar 22 through the menai straight to Caernarfon

 Today's challenge is the menai straights.  Reading the advise and cstudying the charts tells us a passage from north to South should start before the last of the ebb tide at Puffin island. and to gently peg the tide through the channel,  This should happen today at 12. 00 or so at Puffin Island,

Weather is settled. Wind W F2/3  

HW Liverpool. 17 15    Neaps.

We leave Molfre at 10.00 to get to Puffin Island a little after 1100The passage information is long and detailed but not particularly difficult.. The main emphasis is to get the timing right.  

We arrive at Victoria Dock about an hour before Local Hw.   

The notes for passage is available on. 

http://www.caernarfonharbour.org.uk/passage-through-the-swellies/

For now we need to find a berth.

After contacting the HM we plumbed for a swinging mooning off Port Dinorwic. The reasoning behind this is mainly to do with the weather and the dangers of Caernarfon Bar.  Caernarfon Bar is rendered impassable. at Low tide, if there is a large swell.  If the are onshore winds,  Wind over tide....... not sure why anyone bothers!!!

So  light winds,slight swell,HW (three out of fours not bad) all occur on Mar23 at 0453. Thats up and away at half past sparrow fart in the morning, so early night tonight.

Day72 March 21 Derby Bay to Molfre.

 Weather: Wind F3/5 N or New Sunny with slight to mod seas

Tides HW Peel 1430

Quite a long journey today, about 50 miles, pretty straight forward,the biggest Hazards being the shipping Lanes near the Welsh coast.  

We set off at 0930 hrs.  This will mean the least amount of cross tides and still arrive at a reasonable time and the shortest journey.

 Weigh anchor then out of the bay and astarboard round St Patricks Isle and set a course of 178° . Until we clear the south of the island the tide will be setting us towards the land so we may have to adjust our heading initially.  

Then it's just keeping lookout for the next 6 -7 hrs. The tide will be pushing us. West as we approach the Anglesey coast. We should be able toget a fix off of Lynas Point Lighthouse then follow the coastline to Ynes Molfire rock/island.

Now we have to find an anchorage.  Molfre bay ishould be sheltered from the expected light NW winds, a little further down the count is Treath Bychan a  small bay with good holding. Failing that its a bit more of ajourney round into the menai straight and find a bout at Beaumaris, 

Day 71 march 20 peel to Derby Haven

With both Peel and Douglas Marina's only open between ± 2 HW we shouldbe able to leave just before being locked in at Peel and getting in at Douglas without too much waiting.

Gare lowers at Peel 1322  Douglas Gate raises at 1730

Weather Forecast· Wind F4 Nw sea slight vis good

After leaving the marina, head to the southwest  around the bottom of the island. The races at the bottom of the island should be calm as we will be there not far off HW. For the same reason we can probably pass throughcalf sound then along the southern coast..and round into Derby Haven.

The anchorage will be save from the wind but the proximity of Manx Airport can prove annoying.

Day 70 Off to the Isle of man

 A change of direction, the wind is lighter than expected and watanga does'nt go downwind well, so a broad reach to Peel seems the better option.

Weather Forecast· Wind N F3 Sea State· slight  Visibility Good

Tides · Hw. PeeI 1437  Peel harbour gates open 1230

Leaving Ardglass on half tide should present no problems, once clear it is a straight run eastwards at about 85°  We should first be able to identify Corrins Tower

Then to the North , St Patrick's Isle with its towers and flagpole.

Then finally round the breakwater and into the harbour.  

We must remember to check with the HM about an hour before arrival on

Telephone:+44 1624 842338, mobile: +44 7624 495036 or Channel 12

Contingency Plans Bolt holes / alternatives 

Shore Contact

What's at our destination Wikivoyage ' Visit my harbour I Trip Advisor,Things to do Crazy tourist, Which museum.

Prices  Eating out.  facilities.

Day 68 /69 Ardglass to Carlingford

 The hope was to go to Carlingford but reading the almanac NW winds make it all but impassable if above F5. Today we have NW F5 winds !!!  

The winds look lighter tomorrow so maybe we'll wait a day

Day 67 Bangor to Strangford Lough (update Ardglass)

A 35 mile journey today

We leave at 1000 hrs

Hw Bangor = 0140

Wx Wind NNW F3, Sunny I Sea state slight.

Leave the marina. and head east along the lough ,heading between Copeland and lighthouse islands. Keep more toward the port side of the channel. Follow the coast south leaving an offing of 1 mile. At south Rock Red channel marker turn to starboard onto 218° When you reach ' Bar Pladdy' South Cardinal turn to starboard into Strangford Lough.

Update to going into Portaferry,  We have arrived too late, the tide had already turned, and is flowing fast,  we had  missed the tidal gate for entering Strangford,   The tides are very strong here and can make the seas and entrance very difficult. A local would probably have no problem but felt it would not be safe for us in unfamiliar waters so the decision was made to  continue on to Ardglass.

From the decision point it only added 1 mile to the total journey.

Before making an approach contact the HM on VHF #12 to advise him that you want to come in.. and then call the Marina on #80 to be allocated a berth appropriate for your draft. 

Entry is fairly straightforward but there are a lot of rock hazards so keep exactly to the bouyage on the way in 

There was a review on Navily of Ardglass marina describing it as " Strange but pleasant" which conjours up some spooky mystery movies images. The reviewer did arrive in fog which may have influenced his writings. 

Day 66 Mar 15th Carrickfergus to Bangor

 A quick hop across Belfast Lough to Bangor marina. It's only 7 miles the weather is fair and we'll do it around Midday at the top of the tide.

Should only take an hour or so.

Bangor Marina has many great reviews and we can stock up in the town to prepare for the next few journeys 

Plenty to do with the North Down Museum , Bangor Castle walled garden , Aquarium and plenty of places to eat and drink.

Day 65, Monday March 15th off to Ireland

Tomorrow we leave at 0600 for Carrickfergus in Ireland. 

Weather. Wind Nw F4 dropping during the day. 

Tide. Hw Carrickfergus 1220

We leave at low tide in Campbeltown navigating out. We have 2 recommended tracks to take to keep us in deep water. one of 70° past the first two sets of P+ S markers plus an isolated danger marker. back bearing of 250 on television. mast / tower, then a second track of 60 with a back bearing on transit markers  to take us out round davaar Island and to the south.

Down round the headland of Kintyre, past sheep island on 120 degrees course and across the North Channel towards Belfast Lough.  The dangers of Maiden Rocks being well off to starboard.

entering Belfast Lough Stand off the shoreline as the water is shallow for a long way out. We do have the advantage of being just after high tide at this point.

Entrance to the Harbour is up a dredged channel with a  flashing leading light R.W. G. 3secs occulting on a bearing of 310. 

Contact before entering  Carrickfergus Marina VHF 80       028 9336 6666 

Trip 50 m 

Carrickfergus is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It sits on the north shore of Belfast Lough, 11 miles from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,998 at the 2011 Census. It is County Antrim's oldest town and one of the oldest towns in Ireland as a whole. 

Carrickfergus Castle is worth a visit while we're here. There are plenty of Restaurants and bars within easy reach of the marina.

Day 64 sunday Mar 14th A day in port..

 A chance to relax,  A 7 hour trip tomorrow with an early start. 

Day63 March 13th Broderick to Campbeltown

 Today we travelled from Brodick bay to Campbeltown. (Going round the top of the Isle of Arran simply because it would involve more sailing and less Motoring. There is only a few miles difference from going the other way.

35 miles but mostly broad reaching in good winds. Just a little under 5 hours

Campbeltown is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre peninsula. Originally known as Kinlochkilkerran, it was renamed in the 17th century as Campbell's Town after Archibald Campbell was granted the site in 1667.

 There are various distilleries in the town,a heritage museum. Linda Mccartney's gardens. If you want to stretch your legs a walk around the Mall of Kintyre . will provide great views.

Day 62 March 12th Holy Loch to Broderick Bay.

 There's been a little hiccup in the proceedings. namely a real like dislocated hip which has es meant spending 24hrs in hospital. Still the journey goes on. On Friday We sailed from Holy Loch to Brodick Bay a lively jaunt but good all the same. 

The trip was 15 miles

So now we are on the Isle of Arran.   

Day61 Mar 12th. Port Bannatyne to Holy Loch Marina.

Whilst the west coast is being battered by the high winds We are in a relatively sheltered place. We have the islands of Islay, Jura and the mainland, all contributing to slowing the wand down.

 We will take a short trip up to Holy Loch Marina.  The first bit is straight downwind and then we will be on a broad reach in fairly sheltered water.There are a coupleof dangers to watch for and avoid. namely rocky outcrops to the south of Toward point. and some off Dunoon. Otherwise a fairly straightforward nun.

Trip will be 12m  just a couple of hours.

Day 60 Mar 10th Ardrishaig to Port Bannatyne

 After the high winds of last night ,we need to make a quick dash in the fresh winds to Port Bannatyne on Bute. Its a bit of a roundabout route but some beautiful scenery.  Again if it's all a bit too feisty we will stop early at. either Tarbert or Portavadie.

On leaving the canal, head South using the lighthouse on the breakwater as a back bearing and exit between the red and green bouys on a bearing of 135

Continue south for about 1.5 hrs and follow the port coastline past the lighthouse on Sgat Mor  and on a bearing of  110° on past Andlemont Point.  (Red port marker No 47') turning N at this point. Follow the" Kyles of Bute" to the northern most point of Bute (the land on the right).  Waypoint"C" on the map below

We then turn southeast and thread our way through the small islands. There are two routes clearly bouyed.  

Finally keep to the centre of the Loch and follow the starboard coast until we reach Port Ballantyne 

Trip 27   about 5 hrs 

Day59 Man 9th Sailing the Crinan Canal.

 Well the storms are still coming, but after getting to the other end of the Crinan Canal we will hopefully miss the worst of the winds. We need to be somewhere secure on Tuesday night and then Thursday all day.  If we can do the canal in one day (which is possible ) It's a short hop to Portavadie marina, otherwise we can stay somewhere on the canal.

Many people advise hiring a pilot to help, to speed things, but that may be an unnecessary expense. 

Day58 Mar 8th Loch Aline to Crinan Boatyard.

 Off to Crinan today, about 35 miles leaving about 0800.  We'll get sorted with licences and such and sail the canal on tuesday.

The journey is a bit involved  

After exiting Loch aline We heed south down the sound of mull. Skirt the eastern coast of mull Then South past Insh Island. 

: Still travelling South leave Bogha Ghair to Starboard. then down between Fladda and Dubh SGeir lighthouses.

Carry on down the Sound of Luing ,out past the end  of Gulf of Corryvreckan and head between the two small islands of Reisa n S truth and Reisa Mhic Phadean on a course of about 165°  then south again keeping a group of small low lying islands /rocks on the Port hand side. As you pass these islands  Crinan Bay wi ll be visible on the port side about one and a half miles distant..Aim for the middle of the bay as tides run strong at the opening edges. Crinan and several anchorages are to the South side of the bay.

Trip 32 nm   6 hrs  

Day 57 Tobermory to Loch Aline

 A short trip today down the Sound of Mull.

Weather Wind S F1/2  cloudy with some rain later.

HW Tobermory 12.37

The tidal stream will be with us from about 1130 So we'll spend the morning in town and go straight after Lunch.

Journey time will be about 2 hrs 30 min. under motor a lot of the way.No major hazards along the way.  The entrance to Loch Aline needs some care. There are leading lights and adequate bongage to see us in and out. We can anchor or go on a pontoon. 

Day 56 Mar 6 th. Tobermory.

 A sail from Canna to Tobermory should take about 6 hr.  But with a fresh wind on the nose, it could be a bit of a chore.

Weather  Wind. S to SW F4 to 5  Sun at first rain later, sea slight to moderate. Vis Good 

We'll set off at 0900 hrs and see how we get on, as we will have to beat into the wind. If it's too uncomfortable we'll divert to Singing Sands bay which will be more of a broad reach.  Then we can continue to Tobermory on Sunday

 

Day 55 Mar 5th Eriskay to Canna

 A quick look at the long range weather show some heavy Storms hitting midway through next week.  

It's  a little early to predict how long they will last or how severe, (the prediction has lowered from F10/12 to F8/9  but we should look for somewhere safe with plenty of shore based entertainment. by tuesday.

 Meanwhile we are off to Canna today.

Leaving at 1000 hrs carefully leave the anchorage leaving green bony to port out beyond the headland using the transit markers on a back bearing.

Then set a course due east for the North side of Canna. Keep to the north of the Island to the eastern end and turn South towards Canna harbour. There are transit beacons on a track of 233T  to lead us in.

Trip 30nm  

The islands were left to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) by their previous owners, the Gaelic folklorists and scholars John Lorne Campbell and Margaret Fay Shaw in 1981, and are run as a farm and conservation area. Canna House, one of two big houses on the island (the other being Tighard), contains John Campbell's important archives of Gaelic materials that were donated with the islands to the nation.[5] Since then the NTS has engaged in new initiatives to attract new residents and visitors to Canna.

Canna is renowned for its wildlife, including sea eagles, golden eagles and puffins. Recently, peregrine falcons and merlins have also been sighted. The island is also inhabited by a number of rare butterfly species. In the nearby waters one can spot dolphins and smaller whales.

Canna is noted for its tiers of basalt pillars that rise over the eastern half of the island and the sea cliffs that dominate its northern shore. The highest point on the island is Càrn a' Ghaill (Scottish Gaelic for rocky hill of the storm) at 689 feet (210 m). Another point of interest is Compass Hill. Its peak is at 456 feet (139 m) and sits on the eastern edge of the island. It is made of volcanic rock called tuff, and it has such a high iron content that the compass of nearby ships are distorted, pointing to the hill rather than north

Day 54 Mar 4th Whisky Galore. We're off to Eriskay.

Most people will have heard of or seen the film "Whisky Galore".  This comedy film is based fairly closely on the true story of the cargo ship "A. M. POLITICIAN". She ran aground off the coast of Erisky with amongst other cargo, 260,000 bottles of Whisky.  The Islanders having rescued the crew after the accident took to "rescuing"  the cargo of whisky, with the excise men always trying to catch them.

A few were caught but there were tales of looting, police turning a blind eye, buried caches being dug up and sophisticated attempts to foil the excise men.

All that said Eriskay is our next destination. 

 

We should have a nice broad reach in gentle east winds.

Leaving at 0900 hrs

We'll exit Caolas Mor to the North between Eilien nan Each and Siolaigh Mor immediately turning east out into Loch Skipport.  as we pass Ornish Island we can turn cts 150m until we pass Ushenish Lighthouse on the headland.

New CTS180 for about 2 hours until we can see Erisky open past the headland. Now it's a bit rocky round here as "AM Politician" found out when it ran agound. so we'll keep about 500yds off the headland and heading to the south of the Island past the small Island of Hartamul and Red rocks to the south of it.

There are leading lights into Arcairseid Mhor and a green bouy to help you miss an isolated rock Keep it to starboard. Just beyond is the anchorage..

Pick a spot.

It's a mile or so's walk to the North of the island and the Pub Aptly named the "A M Politician"

Day53 March 3rd Off to the Hebrides

 Today s jaunt is to South Uist. There are a couple of anchorages at Caolas Mor, in amongst the small islands to the north of the Island. We shall tuck in behind the two islands of Siolaigh Mor and Siolaigh Beig 

The winds are light and the sun is out so apart from commercial traffic we should have a pleasant sail.  

From the anchorage we will head NE across Loch Snizort leaving the rocky outcrops to port while heading anticlockwise round the headland and lighthouse of Waternish and then take a heading of 230° for the next 5 hrs.

By this time We will be closing the land and need to get a fix. Now without modern GPS  I think I would be hard pressed to do this. If the visibility is good we should be able to see Ushenish Lighthouse to the south and the northern edge of Loch Skipport which form a line of headlands.  Not that easy to identify so reliance on navigational equipment will be the order of the day. 

This is proper wilderness country so don't expect pubs or coffee shops, just stunning views, wildlife and the maybe a few fishermen.

Day 52 March 2nd Over the Top

 Well here we are with 48 days to go,  637 sea miles from home. Let's estimate 10 days for bad weather that leaves us  637/37  = 17miles a day average.  That sounds like a fairly leisurely pace.  Let's see how that goes!

As the title for today says,we're going over the top of Scalpay then we start to head South.

Tomorrows destination is Uig, no idea how to pronounce that but we have several days of settled weather so that opens up the west coast of Skye.

Passage plan.

Hw. Portree 0850 

Weather Wind Variable FI  Sunny.

There are few problems to worry about on this trip. Keep Skye to port until we get there!  There will be variable tidal streams. We set off at 0900  and can expect to motor all the way.

Portree is the capital of Skye

Day 51-52 Kyle Akin and onward to Portree

 We spent Sunday in Kyleakin, did some sightseeing, and had a meal at " Saucy Marys" 

Today we move on. to Portree

We leave port taking at 0900 hours  into Lock Akin and West towards s

Skye Bridge we keep West after the Bridge across the inner sound towards the southern end of Longay Island then along the coast of Scalpay. There are rocks to  north of Scalpay with a green marker to guide you keep that to port. We then head towards the passage between Scalpay and Raasay following the South Shore of Raasay round to port into the Narrows and continuing towards the Sound of Raasay with Ben Tianavaig mountain on your left we sweep round into the bay with Portree his head.