Phun Cruise 2014: 20 and 21 June 2014

20 June 2014 - Ravenglass to Piel Island

Left Ravenglass against the last of the flood. Still cannot see the back leading mark as it is behind trees – you just catch the odd glimpse, but not from the direction of the line.

The directions for finding Piel Island are quite simple: Go along the coast past the second wind farm, turn left and follow the wind farm boats. The whole area is packed with wind farms. At present it is still possible to sail between the farms, however I suspect they will slowly all join up so that we have to weave our way between the turbines – not a welcome prospect.

Picked up a mooring which the ferryman said was free. Later we went ashore and found that the ferryman is also the landlord of the pub, which makes him the King of Piel. The pub was reopened a year or 2 ago. We spent some time looking at the King’s Collection of Curiosities which are well displayed in the back room. The island is a mini holiday destination for people from Barrow and a good nearby cruise destination for yachts from Preston, Fleetwood, Glasson and other places at the end of long muddy tide-limited channels.

Early departure from Ravenglass

Peil Island, complete with castle

Moorings at Peil Island

Castle on Piel Island

The mainland, complete with lifeboat house

21 June 2014 - Piel Island to Beaumaris

Liverpool seemed a good destination, but a quick look at the chart shows that it’s quite a long way to the bar and then 15 miles of buoyed channel from there to the marina, dodging ships and timing the strong tide carefully. On top of that it’s a long way back to Anglesey – there is nowhere any good to stop at the Wirral, the Dee or anywhere else until Conwy or the Menai Strait. So we decided to head to the Menai Strait.

A long day but a good sail. It was good to eventually get clear of the wind farms and gas installations of Liverpool Bay. Anchored at “The Pool” off Beaumaris.