Hello, from the Bristol Channel

[martcol]

Hi,

My name is Martin, and with my Partner, Louise, I sail Ishtar, a 28ft cruiser in Wales, UK, or the Bristol Channel and Pembrokeshire, if you know the area. We've been sailing just 3 years, but would eventually like to buy a bigger boat and sail much further afield.

Until then, we consider ourselves to be 'brown water sailors', due to the colour of the water we sail in, the huge tides (up to 13m range), shallow water and bad weather contributing to the amount of mud and sand carried by the tide.

[Cavalier]

Hi Martin (and Louise),

Welcome to CruisersForum!

I know your area well, not for pilotage, but as a road-vehicle-bound touroid. You've got yourself a great learning area there! Nelson himself undoubtably learned valuable lessons in his younger years from similar tidal ranges, screaming straits and instra-dryouts on the Norfolk coast.

From the description of your local waters I can see you wading into "what's the best antifoul?" threads before you know it...

Phil

[nigel1]

Another welcome.
I'll keep an eye out for you in May, be calling into Bristol Channel after Ireland, and before heading back to Liverpool. Plan on a few days pottering around the islands, Lundy, Skomer and Ramsey

[martcol]

Cavalier - you're not wrong about learning. Whatever we do, it's tide first, then wind, and anchoring is great fun when you drop the hook in 2m, knowing it will be 14m deep in a few hours!

It has it's up side, though. If planned carefully, sailing with a big spring tide can give some impressive distances covered, and s.o.g s

Nigel. We stay in Dale, Milford Haven in the summer. If you see our boat, come and have a coffee/beer. We're often at Lundy, and Skomer, beautiful islands, both, although again, fierce tides need to be taken into account.

[Khagan1227]

Welcome aboard Martin!

I'll be one really has to check tide charts in that area pretty well before setting out.

[nigel1]

May stop over in Dale, depends if I need to wait on the tide to get through Jack and Ramsey Sounds on the way back north.
I'll keep an eye out for you
Cheers

[martcol]

True, Khagan, but local knowledge is key, too.

Nigel, you can wait for the tide at Dale, for Jack Sound, but clearly you won't catch slack in both Sounds, not unless you stop at (say) North Haven, Skomer after Jack Sound, or Porthllysgi Bay, just South of Ramsey.

All the best, and hope to catch you at some point

[anjou]

Welcome aboard

I grew up in Sandy Haven and the harbour.

This world is getting far too small.

[limejucer]

Hi Martin.
Welcome to CF,
If you are coming to cardiff you can moor at mermade key for a pound an hour. or visit Cardiff bay yatch club for the price of a beer or two in the bar.
will keep an eye out for you in the beige water we call home

Dave

[martcol]

Wow, so many that know the area. Great. Anjou, we took our yacht right up Sandy haven on a spring tide last year. A truly beautiful place.

Limejucer, we know the bay well, we keep Ishtar at Cardiff yacht club in the winter, and regularly sail across to mermaid quay!

[anjou]

My moms parents lived in the last house before St Annes lighthouse nr Dale. We had a mooring at Dale fort and 3 more in Sandy Haven.

It was a great place to grow up

PM me if you want to chat.

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by martcol

Nigel, you can wait for the tide at Dale, for Jack Sound, but clearly you won't catch slack in both Sounds, not unless you stop at (say) North Haven, Skomer after Jack Sound, or Porthllysgi Bay, just South of Ramsey.

All the best, and hope to catch you at some point

Wont manage to quite make both on the slack, but can push through Jack at the last of the ebbb, and then make Ramsey for the start of the flood. Its doable, boat can manage 8 kts on the motor if pushed.
Looking forward to it anyway, but it will of course depend on the weather at the time

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Martin & Louise.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
You've reminded me of all the fun I'm missing by having only 2 foot tides here in the islands.
kind regards,

[limejucer]

Hi just read your tails of sailing the channel/wales. You have much more local experiance than me. will say high if our paths cross this year as it should now my engine is debugged and repaired. Dale will be on our list to visit before any trip to ireland takes place.
limejuicer