How to navigate the Menai Strait Swellies

[Chris Caton]

nice pic Neil

maybe it's coz Helen has good taste and knows a nice rib when she sees one

[Adam and Hayley]

if one's heading though the swellies then it's probably worth noting the navigation of the Caernarfon sand bar at fort belan as well

(... I wish I'd had a copy of this when we were grinding the paint off the prop and Skeg and not working out why we're weren't going very fast!)

[Adam and Hayley]

The wreck at C4 is covered at high tide and I'm sure will have claimed a few gearboxes

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by Adam and Hayley

if one's heading though the swellies then it's probably worth noting the navigation of the Caernarfon sand bar at fort belan as well

(... I wish I'd had a copy of this when we were grinding the paint off the prop and Skeg and not working out why we're weren't going very fast!)

Attachment 98409

Originally Posted by Adam and Hayley

The wreck at C4 is covered at high tide and I'm sure will have claimed a few gearboxes

yeh, fair comment, even the latest chart updates from Garmin etc don't show the current location of the channel over the bar, it tends to move every winter due to the storms etc, but last winter has made a real difference, C4 is best given a wide berth, that wreck is only just below at high tide so is apt to take it's toll on anything passing too close

[HUMBER P4VWL]

most recent from harbour site.

[Chris Caton]

not much change there since the start of the season Paul, one other word of caution is that you'll often see fishing boats either side of the Mussel Bank marker, that's fine for them, they fish the area regular, are only going slow or maybe even drifting and will have their top of the range fish finders working overtime, but for anyone travelling at speed the safest place is to stay on the correct side of the buoy, Mussel Bank is well named, it's a lump of hard rock well coated with mussels n lurks just below the surface, it's claimed a few skegs n props over the years

[telcowilliam]

The mussel bank buoy is currently off station a well so even more care is needed if your are unfamiliar with the area.

[simon23]

Originally Posted by Chris Caton

not much change there since the start of the season Paul, one other word of caution is that you'll often see fishing boats either side of the Mussel Bank marker, that's fine for them, they fish the area regular, are only going slow or maybe even drifting and will have their top of the range fish finders working overtime, but for anyone travelling at speed the safest place is to stay on the correct side of the buoy, Mussel Bank is well named, it's a lump of hard rock well coated with mussels n lurks just below the surface, it's claimed a few skegs n props over the years

Thanks for the heads up last Sunday Chris. It was nice and sheltered were you suggested. Bit bumpy on the way back to trearddur bay though. Must remember next time no dog's or barbecues at pilots cove!

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by telcowilliam

The mussel bank buoy is currently off station a well so even more care is needed if your are unfamiliar with the area.

hmmmmm ......... that'll catch a few out no doubt

Originally Posted by simon23

Thanks for the heads up last Sunday Chris. It was nice and sheltered were you suggested. Bit bumpy on the way back to trearddur bay though. Must remember next time no dog's or barbecues at pilots cove!

no probs Simon, good to meet you, hopefully next time we can have a better chat, nice little sheltered spot there too