Launching a sib from Saundersfoot Pembrokeshire

[chrissd330]

is it walking pace upstream of Lawrenny quay?and faster downstream to the toll bridge.

[Dhf]

Only just noticed this thread, and I see you've received some fantastic advice on free launch sites,
they really are worth considering if you plan to launch every day.

The tides are quite small at the moment, around 6 meter high and 2m at low, which means the tidal flow or current,
will be much slower than a big spring tide of say, 8 meter high v 0 metre low. = 8 meter tide range.
However, the currents will still be quite strong with the present 4 meter difference between high and low,
and certainly stronger in the main channel compared to the contributries like Cresswell and Carew,
where you must be carefull not to ground on the soft mud banks as the tide drops, so best tackled on rising tide for that area.

If your already in Pemb's, the weather looks great tomorrow, I would consider launching at either of the following sites,
Martins haven, St Brides, Little or Broad Haven, Nolton, Solva, Freshwater west, Dale (best alround learner beach), Sandy haven, Milford Haven, Freshwater East, Stackpole quay, or indeed Saundersfoot, in most places you'll be able to drive near to the waters edge for launch,
then just park the Landy above the last high water mark.
Either way I hope you have an enjoyable safe visit.
All the best

[Dhf]

How I forgot the opportunity to plug the County with one of my vids is beyond me.

Summer in Wales - YouTube

DALE - YouTube

Daugleddau estuary - YouTube

[m chappelow]

Dont forget you also need an Anchor

[chrissd330]

Dhf some great videos there,I live in Shropshire but come down to Pembrokeshire about twice a year,had my first Kayaking lesson out from Dale,have launched the boat from Nolton didn`t have an engine then ,rowed out dropped anchor and did a bit of fishing.hoping to come down in October .

[Dhf]

That's good you have rowing experience Criss, Kayak and Sib fishing is quite popular around Pemb's, did you catch anything off Nolton?
there's some good fishing spots all around St Brides Bay, with plenty sheltered areas to choose for various wind direction,
and you have a perfect size SIB and engine to carry separately if necessary and launch almost anywhere.
Dale has always been very popular for learners and experienced boaters, although the experienced are usually anchored in the pub or club,lol.
spent my first 20 years learning the ropes in this little village, fell asleep to the sound of crashing waves to the west,
and the whistling of yacht masts to the east, with the occasional fog horn. total bliss.
We usually get some nice weather around October, like in this next video from last Oct.

Cruising Wales II - YouTube

This ones more mid summer.

Discover Pembrokeshire - YouTube

[chrissd330]

I had my first inflatable dinghy(pvc)when I was 12 over 40 years ago,still have one in the loft.
I didn`t catch anything at Nolton ,dropped anchor in 15 feet of
crystal clear water but not a fish in sight.
Would like to launch at Dale,is it free and do you need permission to go on the slipway.
Great videos again
Chris

[Dhf]

Cheers Chris, Been fun learning videography past couple years, moving onto photography now,
There's no charge at Dale, and no permission required either, shame no catch at Nolton, better luck next time.

[chrissd330]

Dale would be a good spot,plenty of parking, shop especially if its free,could inflate it in the car park and carry it to slipway.Nolton was handy too.
Whats the fishing like on the Cleddau above the toll bridge?
Good luck with your photography.

[Dhf]

Thanks again Chris,
I'm not keen on fishing upriver to be honest, only ever caught a few doggies and river crab up there.
The currents can also be quite strong and hard to keep bait down, and the use of lures and trolling is restricted after a certain point.
Once again, Dale is the perfect free option, there's a few reefs and ship wrecks laying just outside the Bay,
surrounded by Sand, Shingle and muddy ground, which is ideal for many species like;
Cod, Bass, Conger, Ling,Thornback Ray, Pollack, Coley, Herring, and many others including Tope and other members of the Shark family.
Many of these fish can be caught by jigging feathers as close to the bottom as possible, whilst drifting over wrecks or reefs,
A little portable depth sounder can be useful for this type of fishing.
Or you could try the locally prefer'd Rag Worm as bait for anchored fishing, you could dig the rag yourself from the local Rag beds at low tide,
you would of course need a garden folk, wellies and plenty of energy,
or there's a really good tackle shop in Milford that supply them, including other baits.
There's also a good chandler in Neyland marina for charts and pretty much all things nautical.
I think you'll enjoy the ease of launching and fishing from Dale. there was a really good chandler in Dale when I where a lad during the 70s,
I remember drooling over there selection of dingh's and outboards, and was lucky enough to have one of the pvc one's at 5 year old.
Best regards
Paul.

[Dhf]

Having said that, once well rehearsed with your outboard in sheltered waters, and always remembering to use the killcord.
You shouldn't get put off your original plan of launching at Saundersfoot, or indeed any of the other locations mentioned above.
Its wise to avoid any launch plans during low water spring tides of course, or its a long haul to the tide as already mentioned.
Here's a few shots at various launch sites, during average low water spring tides.
This one's about half a mile out from Saundersfoot.
IMG_3391 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

Tenby.
IMG_3318 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

Freshwater East.
IMG_3138 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

Stackpole Quay, not quite low water here.
IMG_3113 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

With scenes like this around the headland.
IMG_3015 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

IMG_2842 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

IMG_3054 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

[chrissd330]

Dale it is,i like the fishing there lots of choice .could you find a shipwreck with a depth sounder or would it show on a chart,also would a chart show sea depths and could I get one off ebay.
Is the chandler in Neyland just off the roundabout on the A477,I went down there for the swimming pool jackusi centre last year.
I like your photographs ,Freshwater east looks good ,parking on beach good for the sib and kayak if I get one,also there is a caravan club site nearby,very handy as I am a member.
Thanks for all your help.

[kerny]

Great info and superb pics Dhf, you are the Alan Whicker of S.Wales

[Dhf]

Originally Posted by kerny

Great info and superb pics Dhf, you are the Alan Whicker of S.Wales

I take that as a great compliment, cheers Kerny.

[Festinghouse]

many great childhood holidays in saundersfoot, and where my love of boats really started - basically watching other people on boats whilst in my holiday inflatable! i still love seeing little day fishing boats from when we used to watch them landing their catches on the quayside in the harbour, sadly though many of these small fishing fleets have disappeared from around our coast.

[Dhf]

Originally Posted by chrissd330

Dale it is,i like the fishing there lots of choice .could you find a shipwreck with a depth sounder or would it show on a chart,also would a chart show sea depths and could I get one off ebay.
Is the chandler in Neyland just off the roundabout on the A477,I went down there for the swimming pool jackusi centre last year.
I like your photographs ,Freshwater east looks good ,parking on beach good for the sib and kayak if I get one,also there is a caravan club site nearby,very handy as I am a member.
Thanks for all your help.

A shipwreck most certainly would be marked on Admiralty charts, including the depth at its shallowest point at LAT, all chart depths refer to LAT meaning lowest astronomical tide, this is when the Sun and Moon have there greatest gravitational effect.
LAT low tide will be marked with a black contour line on the chart, any ground above this mark will be coloured green, right up to the high tide mark. depths below the LAT line will be coloured blue up to the 10 meter contour line, and then white any deeper that 10 m.
A depth sounder/fishfinder is a great piece of kit, and will display the altering depth as you move, and a very basic layout of the sea bed on small screen with fishfinders.
Tis worth noting only the really expensive one's are any good at actually finding fish, but the cheaper one's are great showing ground contour.
You will of course need to refer to the chart for accurate positioning, you could use traditional methods like using a handheld compass, point the compass at three different fixed points on the land or sea, then use the chart to interpret your Estimated position.
There's a whole load more to understanding about navigation to get the best from a chart, but its a start.
Marine navigation courses: Lines of position, position fixes: 4 Plotting & piloting.
Or you could always cheat like so many these days,lol, and get yourself a GPS chartplotter,these are available on smart phones as app.
There another fantastic piece of kit really, and will position you very accurately.
The chandlery is right down by the marina btw, although charts bought online are just as good of course.
I pefer the folio's as they focus on smaller areas and well worth the money.

Admiralty Folio SC5620 - South West Wales - Only £44.30 - Force 4 Chandlery

[Dhf]

The weathers been fantastic here this weekend, so decided to take a little spin up the coast today,
I've been looking forward to trying some aerial photography for a while now, and I've discovered its not so easy,
but I really enjoyed the experience anyway, and would highly recommend the coastal experience offered by Haverfordwest pleasure flights.
I haven't uploaded all shots yet, but here's a few from Saundersfoot to Tenby. the tide here is 1 meter above LAT.
Starting with a distant view of Amroth and Pendine sands.
IMG_5123 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

IMG_5127 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

IMG_5133 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

IMG_5135 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

IMG_5141 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

IMG_5147 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

IMG_5151 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

IMG_5159 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

IMG_5167 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

[kerny]

Nice pics Dhf that could be the med.. you certainly push the limits, what's the circle on pic number 7 ?

p.s. do it by paraglider next time

[Dhf]

Originally Posted by kerny

Nice pics Dhf that could be the med.. you certainly push the limits, what's the circle on pic number 7 ?

p.s. do it by paraglider next time

Cheers Kerny, I've been sorting some better pics but not uploaded yet, this was my 4th local flight in 15yr I just love it! that little circle was a jetski I think, we where flying at about 2000ft and my eyesight isn't the best,
I have thought about paragliding funny enough, but not sure I'd like it.
Anyway here's some more land based shots from Dale, the tide has actually dropped slightly lower than LAT here, driven with offshore winds.

The Brig Dale by still_drifting1, on Flickr

Dale Bay by still_drifting1, on Flickr

Where's my Wheelbarrow gone by still_drifting1, on Flickr

Dale fort jetty by still_drifting1, on Flickr

My childhood playground here.
Dale Meadow by still_drifting1, on Flickr

[Dhf]

Moving on from the last aerial shot of Lydstep, I'm not sure if its possible to launch a SIB at Manobier.
IMG_5170 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr
Freshwater East would certainly be easy enough.
IMG_5174 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr
IMG_5177 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

And Stackpole with a short hop to Barafundle just around the corner.
IMG_5182 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr
IMG_5188 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr

Not sure if its posible to carry a SIB down to Broad haven South.
IMG_5191 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr
IMG_5195 by still.driftingpembrokeshire, on Flickr