27 June to 2 July 2014 - Messing about around Anglesey Part 2

27 June 2014 - Caernarfon to Menai Strait E

Went through the bridges and the Swellies a bit early, so the tide was flowing quickly but smoothly and continued flowing with us on the other side.  We did not fancy the exposed anchorage at The Pool off Beaumaris or the moorings at Beaumaris, but instead found one shortly W of Gallows Point, which is a little more sheltered.  There seem to be quite a few moorings that one can borrow on such occasions, and it is accepted as the way to go through the strait as without a really fast boat it’s best to take the tidal gates one at a time. The problem is that the landing places on the shore are all private so you have to stay on the boat.

Britannia Bridge – we will to through the other span

 

The pyramid mark, from under the bridge

The next transit, looking backwards

Swelley Rock and Menai Bridge

Menai Bridge

Bangor Pier

28 June 2014 - Menai Strait E to Conwy

Probably the slow option, but one suited to first-time visitors. We beat slowly past Beaumaris and through Puffin Sound, then headed over to Conwy Fairway buoy.  However by the time we approached the tide was well up and a number of boats were sailing well outside the buoyed channel, preparing for a race. Berthed in the marina and walked into Conwy to take part in the Pirate Day.  As we were berthing a pirate ship arrived and fired a few cannons.  Helen, Kamal and family came and joined us on the boat for a very late lunch and we rowed the children round the marina in the dinghy.

Pirate Day at Conwy. Novice pirates try rowing

A short trip round the marina

29 June 2014 - Conwy to Menai Bridge

We decided Conwy was not a good base – for a day sail you have to leave 2 hours before high water and motor against 4 knots of tide past Deganwy, do a bit of sailing and then reverse the process the process on the way back.  Maybe that’s why there a re a number of big power boats there.

Sailed through Pemnaen Swatch, trying to follow the instructions in the pilot books.  This is a high tide route that save going N of Puffin Is (so several miles).  Picked up a mooring in the strait just past Bangor. Later we phoned the piermaster at Menai Bridge, who let us use Prince Madoc’s mooring there, which is a heavy pontoon and allowed us to walk ashore.  It is much visited by people fishing or just wandering abou, so is a bit noisy.  It is also the base for Menai Boat Club, who have a dinghy on a running mooring there. A member can unlock the dinghy, paddle out to his boat, then bring the dinghy back for the next person – very handy and well used. [Prince Madoc is the ship used by Bangor University’s school of Ocean Science – we have seen it a few times in the area]

Leaving Conwy at Sunday rush hour

Dayboat race off Beaumaris

Moored at Menai Bridge

30 June 2014 - Menai Bridge to Caernarfon and Snowdon

Shopping in Menai bridge, including fuel and camping gaz. We then slipped the mooring at the appointed time to go through the bridges and the Swellies. We put up the mainsail and found that we were in a slight contrary tide.  However another boat a short way behind us was motoring into a much stronger flow of tide. It’s surprising how the tide varies over a short distance. The boats on moorings at Menai Bridge seemed to always by lying in different directions. With enough wind right behind us, we decided the motor was unnecessary, so sailed through the bridges with mainsail only following the marks carefully. 6 other boats went through at the same time, which gave confidence that we were going at the right time.

1 July 2014 - Moel Elio

Bike ride to Llanberis, tea at Pete’s Eats, who kindly agreed to store the bikes for the day, circular walk up Moel Elio, more tea at Pete’s Eats and biked back to the boat.

2 July 2014 - Caernarfon to Belan Narrows and back

Forecast not too good but maybe we will have a look.  Once out in the strait we realised how sheltered the harbour was – this will be just a short outing not a passage! Beat down to Belan narrows with 1 reef. By the time we got there the flood tide had lessened and there was no problem going through, except that we did not fancy a beat all the way to Porth Dinllaen, followed by a couple of days hanging about waiting for the weather for the next leg. So we headed back and were soon back in the same place in the harbour.