Piel Island

We dropped off the mooring after breakfast with a trip of about 60NM ahead. This part of the Irish sea seems to be covered in wind farms, and we had to thread our way between three farms on this passage. We carried fair tide for what seemed like most of the day, but as we approached Morcambe bay, it turned foul, and had to push into 2-3kts of tide as we entered the channel to Barrow docks.

We had spotted a small creek on the chart, just before Piel Island, which was ideally suited to a Southerly. Having nosed our way in, we dropped the anchor in about 1.5 - 2.0m at LW but there was a lot of very shallow water all around us. About 50m down the beach about 20 seals had hauled out, and didn't seem in the slightest bit bothered at our arrival.

Piel Island is a small rocky outcrop joined to the mainland at low water, and surmounted by the castle, and a pub. Historically, a new landlord at the pub is invested as 'The King of Piel' - I don't know about the legality of this, but he has quite an impressive castle, even if it is a ruin.

This is the view back out to Morcambe bay. The raised structure is one of the leading marks used by large ships making for Barrow docks - the channel is very narrow, with large expanses of sand and shallow water all around.

After a very pleasant night at anchor, and another location ticked off our 'must do' anchorages list, we had lunch, then set off across the bay towards Fleetwood, which was to be NJ's home for the next month, and eventually over winter.

Port St. Mary

There are a number of Anchorages to the south of Douglas before the tidal gate of Calf Sound, Derby Haven, Castletown, and Port St. Mary. We did poke our nose into Castletown but there was a swell getting into the bay, so we decided to continue to Port St. Mary. On the way into the bay the conditions were good for us to calibrate our new autopilot, which was good news, as everything went as expected. As we approached the harbour we found that one of the visitors moorings was free, so we took advantage of this bonus.

The view from the anchorage at dusk, with an oily flat calm, and very peaceful.

In the morning we decided to take the dinghy ashore, have a look around Port St. Mary, and possibly walk over to Port Erin, the other side of Calf Sound.

Both Port St. Mary, and Port Erin were very pleasant places, and it was good to note that in the right conditions, Port Erin would make an ideal stopover on the west coat of the I.O.M.

We caught a bus back from Port Erin to Port St. Mary where there was a lifeboat fundraiser in full swing. We had a look around the all weather life boat, and appreciated it's sturdy construction - but just hope that we never have to be a passenger !!

We really enjoyed our trip to the Isle of Man, and look forward to returning sometime to explore the western coast. We needed to be at home for the middle of August, so we decided to go back across the Irish sea, and investigate Piel Island near Barrow in Furness.

Douglas, Isle of Man

Whilst we were waiting for the marina flap gate to open, a large ferry arrived in the harbour, and proceeded to turn, using all the available space - quite scary !

We had an interesting trip to Snaefell, the highest  mountain on the Island. Having taken a taxi out to Laxey to join the mountain railway, we had great views of the great Laxey water wheel, the largest operating water wheel in the world. A little later a peregrine falcon was spotted, it seemed peculiar to be looking down on this magnificent bird.

On a very clear day it is supposed to be possible to see 'The Six Kingdoms' from the top of Snaefell ( England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Southern Ireland, and the Isle of Man ); we just about saw Scotland, and some fantastic views of the I.O.M. but the others were lost in the cloud.

We had a very nice freshly carved roast beef bap in the Summit Hotel at 2036', before catching the tram back down to Laxey.

From Laxey we caught the Manx Electric Railway back down to the north end of Douglas prommenade.

There was a lovely view back across the bay towards Douglas.

After disembarking from the electric train, we embarked on yet another form of transport; a horse tram. This took us back to the ferry terminal in Douglas, from where we walked back to the boat after a thoroughly enjoyable day.

The flap gate has a raising bridge carrying the road over the marina entrance. The bridge opens at quarter to and quarter past the hour while the flap gate is down.

'NJ' in her berth in Douglas marina.

And the view from the berth, back towards the gate.

After four very enjoyable days in Douglas we left just after lunch, and headed south to do some bay hopping.

Fleetwood, a winter home for 'NJ'

Once we were clear of the River Mersey entrance, we had a good run over from Liverpool to Fleetwood, arriving a couple of hours before the lock opened. Anchoring was a possibility, but there were lots of moorings laid in the area off the marina entrance.

Fortunately, there was a substantial mooring unoccupied, so we picked this up, and had our supper while we waited for the lock.

The lock keeper was very helpful, guiding us in over the deepest water over VHF radio, and allocating us an easy alongside berth near to the facilities, and marina office. We had shortlisted Fleetwood Marina for our over winter home for ‘NJ’, along with Liverpool, and Preston. After the long slog up and down the Mersey, Liverpool had been crossed off. Preston looked quite pleasant, but was again about 10 miles up the River Ribble. The well laid out, and maintained facilities at Fleetwood have persuaded us, and we made enquires at the office. We were invited to look over the whole marina, including the area inside a swing bridge where the pontoon fingers were longer, allowing more scope for securing the boat for winter gales. Another plus point for Fleetwood was a large retail outlet adjacent to the marina, and a large ASDA within easy walking distance.

After a few days recharging our batteries, and restocking the boat, we prepared to leave, bound for Douglas on the Isle of Man. As the lock opened, a flurry of activity on the VHF warned us that there was a dredger about to enter the lock from seaward, and another moving out from the inner dock, squeezing through the gap spanned by a swing bridge. We really felt the surge of water pressure as the dredgers passed us.

Just as we moved off the pontoon, another smaller vessel appeared with a new channel marker buoy strapped to the bow, this followed us most of the way down the approach channel until it got to the intended site  for the buoy ( No. 6 PHS ), so we can expect a nice shiny addition to the channel when we return in a week or so.

Once past the now derelict RoRo ferry terminal and clearing the entrance we set a course for Douglas, and once clear of the Morcambe bay sands, we followed this between three large wind farms, and then out into the Irish sea. At one point Sue spotted a small pod of Atlantic bottle nosed dolphins ( much larger and more powerful than their common dolphin cousins ) which briefly swam around the boat. At about 36NM to go we spotted the Isle of Man rising above the horizon. We had expected rain or showers on and off all day, but in the end we stayed dry until about one and half hours to go. We tied up to a rather agricultural looking waiting pontoon to eat our supper, and await the lowering of the flap gate into the inner harbour where the marina is situated.

Liverpool

As we approached the entrance channel for the River Mersey, the sea got more, and more unpleasant, and hard work on the steering. The crew had to endure the confused sea until we got to New Brighton, where the expanses of sand finish, and the south bank of the Mersey starts. Fairly strong tides were expected, but in the event nothing over about 2.5 knots materialised. We passed large areas of docklands, some derelict, some definately in use, and the iconic skyline of the city was getting closer. Just as we passed by the waterfront area, the sun came out and forced me to break off from getting fenders and warps out of the locker, and get the camera.

We had made a point of going to Liverpool, as it was easy for us to get home by train. We had been without the autopilot from just before the Isles of Scilly, and had ordered a new drive motor, which was now ready to be delivered. After a short trip home to sort post and take delivery of said motor, we drove back with an assortment of tools to give the pilot a heart and brain transplant ! When everything was installed, and as configured as possible, we used the car to have a trip up the coast to Southport, and on the way back, we went through the tunnel to have a look at New Brighton from the landside. This gave us some good views of the city from the south bank, including the Port of Liverpool building ( below ).

Our son, James, came out from Sheffield to visit, and see the boat in the flesh for the first time, then, after a pleasant meal in the city centre we drove back to Leeds to get rid of the car, and returned to Liverpool on the train. We had bookmarked the 28th or 29th July as potential good days to leave ( tides a big issue ). In the end we chose the 28th, and left our berth at 07-20 to start the rather painfull 15NM slog to the fairway buoy.

As we passed the waterfront, we got a final good view, complete with cruise liner.

Once out of the Mersey we turned northwards past Formby, and Blackpool, and had an enjoyable sail in winds gusting to force 6, surfing down waves at up to 8.4kts. We were making for Fleetwood marina, which has limited access of HW +-1.5Hrs. In the end we had made such good time that we were one and a half hours early for the lock, but picked up a substantial vacant mooring and had our supper while we waited.

The Menai Strait, and Beaumaris.

An hour or so after leaving Caernarfon, we approached the first of the bridges that span the Menai. The Swellies are located between this and the next bridge. Among the information given to us by the marina at Caernarfon were some pilotage notes written by the official Menai Pilot, these give various transits and leading lines to avoid the numerous rocks and ledges which add extra danger to the already severe turbulence caused by the rapid tidal stream - slack water last only 10 minutes at springs, and the initial acceleration is 1Kt every 10 minutes thereafter, with peak rates of 6 or 7Kts !

This is the main mark for the 'Swelly Rock' - ignore at you peril ! Also doubles as a Cormorant perch !

We were soon through the danger area, and under the second bridge, Bangor and it's pier was soon on our starboard side, and shortly afterwards we could see Beaumaris in the distance.

The anchorage at Beaumaris is in an area scoured out of a generally shallow expanse of sand. The shallows are used for the cultivation of mussels, and in fact the mussel business off Beaumaris is the largest in the British Isles. Fairly substantial boats trawl up growing mussels, and then pump them overboard into deeper water where they grow on. This process is repeated several times until the mussels are ready to be harvested.

This is the view of Beaumaris from the anchorage with a telephoto lens eye view of the castle ( below ).

After a comfortable night 'on the hook' we needed to decide on our next destination. We wanted to look at Conwy, but the tides were starting to get less favourable for our next destination, Liverpool. In the end we decided to go straight to Liverpool. The main channel passes between Angelsey and Puffin Island ( yet another tide race ! ). The lighthouse helpfully warns "No Passage Landward" - No Kidding !!!

We had a rather lumpy passage out towards Liverpool, but made good time, in fact we had to heave too for about an hour to ensure we didn't arrive too early for the marina lock opening - at least this meant we could eat our supper in relative comfort as we were swept up towards the Mersey entrance at about 2.5 Kts.

Caernarfon

We like Caernarfon; a great deal of character, and a very friendly welcome. We were met at the pontoon by Mark the Harbour master, who took our lines, and helped make fast. The marina is fairly small and shallow in places ( we took the keel up ! ), but was comfortable, and had very easy access to the walled city ( the outer wall almost borders the marina ), and a large Morrison's supermarket.

Water is retained in the marina by a flap gate similar to that at Padstow, and is opened to a pre-set schedule, a copy of which was provided.

The town itself is very attractive, with the majority being within the outer wall.

The main Keep of the Castle is impressive, and very well preserved.

We were told that the Royal Welsh Yacht Club welcomes visiting Yotties; we didn't actually visit, but the club house is located within one of the turrets in the outer wall,

Here is 'NJ' from the top of the walkway down to the pontoon, if you look behind you would be looking directly at the castle wall.

We had a couple of pleasant days in Caernarfon, including a delicious meal at 'The Black Boy' which was recomended by the harbourmaster. The time was now right to transit the Menai Straight, and the infamous 'Swellies'. It is important to get to the Swellies about half an hour before HW slack ( Liverpool HW -2:00 ), which mean't leaving Caernarfon about half an hour after the gate opened. We paid up for our stay, and headed out, bound for the anchorage off Beaumaris at the NE end of the Menai Strait.