Gallows Point
Beaumaris
Anglesey LL58 8YL
info@nwvyc.org.uk
North West Venturers’ Yacht Club
Around Anglesey
Anglesey is round – which means that there is always somewhere to go either in the wind (for an exhilarating sail) or out of the wind (for a quiet night). With sufficient breeze, getting from one to the other can lead to some character forming experiences.
For visitors from the south, Anglesey starts some 20 miles down the Lleyn peninsula at Porth Dinllaen (aka PY), because sailing Anglesey is all about planning the tides, and in the prevailing SW winds, PY is a great place to wait for both wind and tide.
From Liverpool (in the east), it can be a slog against an incoming tide for the final few miles to either Moelfre or the Menai Strait.
For those coming from Ireland (Dublin Bay area) the most daunting element in the approach is probably the speed at which fast ferries approach and the nerves of steel needed to accept that you must rely on them to go around you. An approach during the ebb tide can mean an uncomfortable time in the overfalls of Holyhead Deep, whilst an approach on the flood ensures a close up of the rip tides of South Stack.
Finally, there is the approach to Holyhead from the direction of the Isle of Man. This requires careful pilotage around the Skerries with ITS extensive range of overfalls and rip tides. It is probably easier to let down on Amlwch harbour to the East or to round Lynas Point and head for Moelfre and beyond.
Cruise Planning
Don’t let us give the impression that you have to be an Olympic sailor to use these waters! Most of the time the tides and weather are benign and are enjoyed by normal humans.
You do need to be able to plan your passages and we even have races which are specifically designed around planning skills.