Pembrokeshire & Ceredigion

[Bluestu41]

Morning all!
I’m pretty new to Ribbing and having bought a small Valiant a few months ago, I took the RYA PB2 course and at the weekend bought myself a bigger boat.

I live in North Pembs, about 10 miles north of Fishguard, but did my course at Rudders on the Cleddau.

I’m thinking of going out and the end of the week and am looking for any local knowledge and tips.

Not sure whether to launch locally or go to the Cleddau.

Thanks

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Bluestu41

Morning all!
I’m pretty new to Ribbing and having bought a small Valiant a few months ago, I took the RYA PB2 course and at the weekend bought myself a bigger boat.

I live in North Pembs, about 10 miles north of Fishguard, but did my course at Rudders on the Cleddau.

I’m thinking of going out and the end of the week and am looking for any local knowledge and tips.

Not sure whether to launch locally or go to the Cleddau.

Thanks

Although I have a SIB, I think the same thoughts would apply.

If it's your first time out in a new to you bigger rib, I'd want to be going out in familiar, sheltered waters. Cleddau would get my vote, especially the all tides slip at Pembroke. Loads of space to get set up, wide slip in great condition and no time/tide constraints.

[Bluestu41]

Thanks!
Is that the slips at the Pembroke activity centre at East Llanion?

[Jon Tallis]

Hi there Bluestu.
Steve's advice is spot on - the cleddau is a great place to start and Llanion an excellent launch point for a SIB.
I'm based in Pembroke so if you want any other local advice feel free to reply on here or PM me and we can chat on the phone. Weather permitting I might well be on the water this weekend [emoji16][emoji16]

[Bluestu41]

Thanks Jon!
I’ll send you a PM

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Bluestu41

Thanks!
Is that the slips at the Pembroke activity centre at East Llanion?

It certainly is, only visited for a week but I will definitely be back. Brilliant place.

Video of the slip at low tide

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Jon Tallis

Hi there Bluestu.
Steve's advice is spot on - the cleddau is a great place to start and Llanion an excellent launch point for a SIB.
I'm based in Pembroke so if you want any other local advice feel free to reply on here or PM me and we can chat on the phone. Weather permitting I might well be on the water this weekend [emoji16][emoji16]

Hi Jon, how are you? Shame we never got to meet up, must do it next time I visit.

[Jon Tallis]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Hi Jon, how are you? Shame we never got to meet up, must do it next time I visit.

All good thanks Steve - just need some bloody decent weather to get on the water!
Drop me a line next time you're down this way [emoji16]

[Bluestu41]

Great video Steve!

[Steve509926]

Thanks, I really loved the Cleddau. The next time I'm there I want to make sure it coincides with a really high springs so I can get upto the Cresselly Arms for a pint, what a pub.

[mr4bx]

Novice here also. I have exclusively launched from East Llanion slipway, usually launch at low-ish tide and recovery at high-ish, although this Monday we launched at low and recovered at lower. I can testify that even for a complete novice, this is an ideal location to begin.



I think my only reservation for the location would be that the (usually) prevailing South Westerly wind can make journeys West a little breezy, and it will whip up some waves in unsheltered areas. I would also say, make sure you adhere to the no wake zones marked out on the port authority guide, the rangers are very hot on keeping people in check and we witnessed a number of boats get 'pulled over' for a reminder.



Closer to you, we've checked out Goodwick slipway a couple of times and will be launching from there next time the weather is favourable, as it seems a great site for testing and adjusting etc in relative saftey of the breakwater.

[bend93]

Bit further away from you but regularly launch from saundersfoot, easy slip and parking and access to great beaches by rib, been planning a few a longer trips to barafundle but weather hasn't been right yet.

Can launch 2.5hr +/- of hightide, a little bit less on neaps, but can also go out all day if times are right, i.e if hightide is 8am-ish can launch at 10am and come back at 6pm.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by bend93

Bit further away from you but regularly launch from saundersfoot, easy slip and parking and access to great beaches by rib, been planning a few a longer trips to barafundle but weather hasn't been right yet.

Can launch 2.5hr +/- of hightide, a little bit less on neaps, but can also go out all day if times are right, i.e if hightide is 8am-ish can launch at 10am and come back at 6pm.

Hi bend and welcome, noticed its your first post.
Is there room to park up the trailer? What's the cost to launch?
When you say "easy slip and parking", is that outside the school holidays?

[bend93]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Hi bend and welcome, noticed its your first post.
Is there room to park up the trailer? What's the cost to launch?
When you say "easy slip and parking", is that outside the school holidays?

Yes 1st post on here but been around a while just never registered, all info on the harbour website.

I have a season launch which i think is good value and dedicated trailer space and there is plenty room for visitors by my eye. I've never had too much of a problem tbh with car parking after. They have a dry stack now which is also a good option and you can launch any state of the tide bar an hour-ish either side of low tide iirc via tractor off the back of glen beach but i've never done this, but pretty sure my info is correct and see it happen all the time.

I believe you can also launch sibs from coppet hall beach as i;ve seen honwaves lined up there, there is dedicated trailer parking there if need be for sailing dinghy road bases and small sib trailers which is £5 a day if you have a trailer (same as a car space) and free car parking after 6pm. This would mean pushing the sib down to the water and back. I've seen a few honwaves and such here so may take my 3.8ie down soon as not tide limited at all. Just there is a big stretch of submerged rocks that would catch the unaware out at low to mid tide and end up with a nasty repair bill with a big crowd watching.. especially if the rnli lifeguards have there flags out for swimming I reckon it would be a small channel to get in to the right of the rocks. Shame it's not better advertised in truth.

[Steve509926]

Great info, much appreciated.

[Bluestu41]

Thanks for everyone’s help!
Just returned from a few hours out, launching at East Llanion.
Launched just after low tide and came in just before high tide. Stopped at the Lawrenny Arms.
First time for just me in the new boat and absolutely loved it.

[Steve509926]

Great you had a good time Stu. Good pint and Sunday lunch at the Lawrenny Arms.
If you visit again, watch out on a neaps tide, the pontoon does dry out.

[Jon Tallis]

Well done Stu, pleased it all went well [emoji16]

[HJones]

Hi Stu - I’m up on the Teifi just outside Cardigan and have been boating around these parts for ~ 10 years now.

I usually launch at St Dogmaels or the Teifi Boat Club at Gwbert so if you end up wanting to explore up north, let me know - always happy for an excuse to get on the water! [emoji23]

[Bluestu41]

Originally Posted by HJones

Hi Stu - I’m up on the Teifi just outside Cardigan and have been boating around these parts for ~ 10 years now.

I usually launch at St Dogmaels or the Teifi Boat Club at Gwbert so if you end up wanting to explore up north, let me know - always happy for an excuse to get on the water! [emoji23]

Will do HJones!
I know the slip at St Dogs, but haven’t used it yet.