Meni Strights

Garygee · 26 October 2001, 20:03

I have been throught the Swellies on the Meni Strights many times in yachts. We always stick to high water plus minus about 30 min.

Do anyone have any comments/experience of the swellies at other times, low water, full flow etc.

Can it be done safely in a Rib (Ricbraft 4.8M / 50Hp)

Any comment welcome

Thanks Gary

Alan Mckewan · 27 October 2001, 01:17

Yes I've been out through the Swellies at HW +3, but only in very good conditions. Less than F4 should be OK in a fast rib, but not sure about F5+.

sirzap · 27 October 2001, 02:25

Any chance that RibNet could post a good chart of the UK?...so that Ribsters in other countries could quickly locate the area of these discussions?...

Brian · 27 October 2001, 10:48

Sirzap
Let me try to help.
The Menai Straights are located at the "top left-hand" corner of Wales, between the mainland and the Island of Anglesey.
Just below C52-see two maps following, one of the Irish Sea area and the second, a closeup of the staraits themselves.

Brian · 27 October 2001, 10:51

...and now the close-up...

sirzap · 27 October 2001, 12:57

Does walking across offer itself as an option as well?...

Garygee · 27 October 2001, 13:09

Hi Alan

Thanks for the reply, what size rib did you use,(ie what do you call fast! as My RIB is only good for 25 MPH with full load) and what was the sea state like, just fast flow or choppy.

Sorry to people who didn't know where they were thought that the Swellies were infamous world wide

Gary

Brian · 27 October 2001, 17:19

Sirzap
Sorry, I don't know the area at all. I have never even heard of the Swellies. Can someone describe them to us?
I am just a guy sitting at home with a map of the area.
I strongly suspect walking across is not an option though!!

Keith Hart · 27 October 2001, 17:23

Hi there

I'm with Brian here. Tell us all about the 'Swellies'. It doesn't look very wide, but is this what causes the problems (whatever they are)?

Keith Hart

Garygee · 29 October 2001, 21:51

Hi everyone

Well the Swellies

They are a narrow section of the Meni Strights, in total about 100 meters wide and run for about 250m long.

The channel through is much narrower than that maybe 25 metes in some places with rocks at each side and is far from stright

Now all this sounds OK but if you look at your tide tables for Liverpool and then North Wales, at each ends of the Meni Strights and look at the time differences and heights you may see why problems can be found.

Without checking there is about 1-30 to 2-00 hours difference and on tides of upto 10 meters height.

The top and botton of the Meni Strights are quite wide, hundreds of meters maybe 1000's, the tide floods down the strights and when it comes to the Swellies things get interesting.
I have never been there at full flood, hence the question but have done the passage in yachts and was only out of the slack water window by 30 min and had 4/5 Kts of flow aginst us. At full flood i dont know what it runs but its fast.

Anyway hope this helps, this area has a bit of reputation (or so I thought) I know people who go round Anglesy rather than get the times right and go through the Swellies.

If you ever get chance I would think it cound be Er interesting I think is the word. I plan to have a look at some point leaving plenty of margin to bail out if need be, When I do I will let you know how things went

Regards Gary

sirzap · 29 October 2001, 22:35

The area sounds like a must see...

Alan · 30 October 2001, 09:12

in my RIB as part of a circumnavigation of Anglesey. Its very spectacular scenery.

I can't recall what state of the tide we went through in .... trip was organised by a friend who was a local. Seem to recall we were going against a fairly strong (4-5kt) flow with no real problems. Also have a vague recollection that the tide only ever flows one way through the straits but I might be making that one up..........

The interesting bit was Carneavon (sp) Bar at the Southern entrance. Big breaking waves or what seemed like one big breaking wave. It was weird, we seemed to go up a long way but not down so far, as though the sea level one side of it was higher than the other!

Beautiful part of the country though. Good ribbing territory!

Alan

Scubakid · 01 November 2001, 13:11

I have been through them many times both in power and sail, the important thing with power (as you may not be on slack as you have to with sail) is do NOT turn round if you have a problem with the flow just reduce power a bit and drift back out slowly. I must agree with Alan it is a very senic part of the country. The other interesting part of Caernarfon bar is it changes every year !! so your chart will not be correct, Caernarfon harbour master has updated photocopies. If navigating round Anglesea Batleship reef round the corner from South stack lighthouse is great for major overfalls 12' + at times

John

Keith Hart · 01 November 2001, 16:24

This Swellies sounds great. Has anyone else got a 'dangerous' or intersting stretch of water to tell us about?

Keith Hart

Alan Mckewan · 01 November 2001, 19:26

Hi Garygee, been through the swellies at HW +2 at about 25 knots, but the weather was only F3-4 from the NW so it wasnt wind over tide. All we saw was two or three standing waves, and it did feel like a different "level" each side, but no problem in a 5M rib.
Keith, good idea to open it up to other "interesting" bits of water, suggest anyone doing so opens a new thread. We have a very obvious one in N.I. - the Strangford narrrows. I'll start a new thread on it.

Garygee · 01 November 2001, 19:31

Thanks Alan

Were planning to give it a go as soon as we get a good weekend.

And Yes lets here about other fun places, I thought everyone know about the Swellies, but was wrong so look forward to hear about other places to have fun.

Gary