Launching at Broad Haven, Pembrokeshire

[CUSAC]

Has anyone got any experience of launching at Broad Haven they could share please? Info on boat launch is a bit vague.

Looking to go out tomorrow and was planning to launch at Dale but a Southerly F5 could make the trip round towards Skomer a tad uncomfortable! Only have a front wheel drive transit to launch 6m RIB with so does struggle a bit sometimes and wouldn't want to get it stuck in the sand!

Cheers

[Dhf]

Yes I've launched and recovered a 14ft dory there, with a 2wd auto cavalier, you must be careful for soft spots when the tides right out,
(always best to have someone walk ahead of the vehicle checking the ground)
you may, infact probably will need to uncouple the trailer to fully launch when the tide drops back to much,
If there's three or four lads (more the better)should manage to push the trailer to required depth,
so best to launch the top two hours of HW for the least trouble. If you get ready fo launch by 07:00 you should be okay,
make sure you have plenty spare rope for recovery, I should be around the area tomorrow, I'll pm my number if you like,
I don't have a tow bar but have 4x4 with BFG's.

Here's a little vid looking over the slip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcuEiVG4O5w

[Starovich]

Not so bad getting to Skomer worse getting back. We used to launch from little haven over broad haven. Much less surf especially once the tide is in the mouth of the haven. BH surf can ramp up to wave surfing conditions (one of my old haunts)

[CUSAC]

Thanks very much for all the info Dhf & Starovich, couldn't find much around. Nothing beats local knowledge/experience!

Thanks for the offer of assistance but just had a call from Indespension to say the brakes and energy store are knackered (only 6 months and 1000 miles after last service) so grounded for a few days. Info will certainly help for next trip out there though.

[Dhf]

Well I was hoping to catch a moody sunset but it didn't work out, so thought i'd snap some shots of the slip and beach at Broad and Little Haven, so hopfully yourself and others will have a better idea what to expect. firstly I arrived at B H slip @ 21:30, just after a heavy downfall,
I drove slowly in a reasonably direct line in 2WD toward the droping tide, (which at this time was apprx 1hr 30m before LW),

I then stoped about 50m short of the tide and got out to take some shots of the track I'd made, as you can see I didn't sink into the sand to much,
and it seemed quite firm.

however, after a few minutes there was a shallow puddle developing around my vehicle, and my trainers where sinking an inch or so while I stood taking pics,
my tyres didn't sink much though, but they are quite fat. so not sure how many needed to hand push a heavy trailer on this ground,
It took 3 lads to manage my 14ft cjr/dory with me sat in it, and there was hardly any surf at the time. however despite the offshore breeze last night,
there was some playful 1 metre breakers constantly pounding the shore. appologies for the poor pic quality, still not used to new cam,LOL.

[Dhf]

Little Haven, As Starovich mentioned, can be much easier to launch, there's a modest freshwater stream running to the shore on this beach,
which seems to keep the surface quite solid, however there are lots of pebbles and stones by the slip and stream, which could cause problems for road tyres and 2wd vehicles. Although carefull attention must be paid, as to how you get there in the first place, if your already in Broad Haven, Don't use the most direct coast road with any large trailer, the junction into Little haven has a very tight right turn, (infact there's a ban on lorries using that short route).
So depending on craft length, the best route would be from Haverfordwest to Talbenny to Little, which also has narrow stretches and sharp turns.
there was a chap doing tractor launch and recovery down there,
not sure if he's still there though.


Posible alternative slips, weather and tide dependant, within the whole of St Brides Bay would be; N to S, Porth Clais, Solva, Nolton Haven, St Brides, and Martins haven, the last two beaches are only suitable for the experienced launcher, all easy acessable with a large SIB though.
Happy boating folks.

[Dhf]

Broad Haven last night.

[Dhf]

Just a case of timing really, as with all surf beaches.

[SimonStDavids]

Is that a robust ali boat dhf?

[Dhf]

Originally Posted by SimonStDavids

Is that a robust ali boat dhf?

I'm not sure what the make is tbh, sorry for the late reply, just been sorting some pics from a fantastic days cruising with Bern. All the best.