Mid June 2021 - Conway to Caernarfon via Menai Strait

17th June – Thurs – Conwy to Caernarfon

An early 06.00 start to make the 26 miles to Caernarfon.  It is a bit less straight forward than usual, as we have to pick up a buoy near Bangor Pier and wait for exactly the right time to pass under the Menai Bridge via the infamous Swellies (turbulent water, if approached at anything other than slack water).  The Menai Strait is the body of water between Anglesey and Mainland Wales.

We had overcast skies and a chilly wind first thing.

We sailed around the back of Puffin Island.  Spoiler alert……there are no puffins!!!!!

Apparently the rats won that inter species battle.  Plenty of Guillemots and Cormorants though. 

We passed Beaumaris Castle and picked up a buoy opposite the Gazelle Hotel, near the end of Bangor Pier.

The sandbank demonstrates the need for care in this area.

Back at the helm.

View of Bangor Pier and Snowdonia from our buoy mooring.

Our lunch stop lasted from 10.30 to 14.00.  Time to negotiate the Swellies.  Like most things they are much less scary than legend proclaims when the weather is good and the Captain has timed it to perfection.  Two hours before High Water Liverpool.

So we followed the buoys and headed for the central span of the Menai Bridge.

The next marker in the pilot books is the Bungalow.

Then to the Boat House.

Pass the Swellie buoy to Starboard.

Line up the Transit Points under the Britannia Bridge.

Until we are abeam (next to) the Pyramid marker on the Port side.

Passing under the middle of the left hand arch of the Britannia Bridge.

Aiming towards Lord Nelson’s Statue until you reach the middle of the river.  And relax.

Disclaimer - These pictures are not for navigation purposes and full planning should take place prior to passing through the Menai Straits.

We meandered past Port Dinorwic.

Arriving at Caernarfon at 16.00.  26 miles in 10 hours, with a lunch stop.  Good first trip to blow off the Covid Cobwebs.

18th June – Friday

In search of an evening meal we walked around and chose the historic Black Boy Inn at random.  No booking required, queue and go.  Good pub grub followed.  In what was a larger pub on the inside than it was on the outside, we were seated randomly next to two guys on a golfing trip.  One turned out to be Steve Roberts, a work colleague we hadn’t seen for a good 15 years.  Another sliding doors moment.  Who next?

20th June – Sunday

Fathers Day lunch at the Old Court House, recommended by a local sailor.  Complete with live music from a Piano player.  First live music for a very long time.  Then a lovely walk south along the coastal path. 

21st June – Monday

Walked to the Segontium.  Ruins of a Roman Fort.  Last occupied by 1,000 troops in 400 AD.

Sadly the accompanying museum was closed, but there is a good timeline of the town upstairs in the tourist information centre, near the castle.

A large settlement built to protect Anglesey and its precious crops.

The swing bridge at the Slate Quay to enter the town harbour, as opposed to the Marina where we were moored.

Town square statue of Caernarfon's longest standing MP, 55 years, and Prime Minister David Lloyd George.  Not all residents are so reverential.

Caernarfon Castle.  We have visited inside the castle a few years ago.  It is currently undergoing extensive renovation work, so we thought we would leave it until the work is finished.

We enjoyed six days in Caernarfon. 

Sailors Info

Caernarfon Marina is a great stop over and place to spend a few days.  The town has a Morrisons and Asda supermarkets.  Everything is walkable.  There are coastal paths North and South.

Lots of good restaurants, pubs and bars.  Mr Fu’s was another good recommendation.

There is a chandlers on the harbourside near the footbridge.

The facilities are located on the South side of the marina.  They are unisex and quite new, but are sadly let down by the poor standard of cleaning.  More mop sloshing than scrubbing.

The harbourmaster was very accommodating and we really enjoyed our stay.  Free wifi and electricity included.

Next stop Milford Haven…..overnight!!!!

Conwy 2021

13th April 2020

We visited for the first time this year.  Fleur was fine.  Tiny amounts of mildew were found on items we hadn’t separated or brought into the open.  Like the sailing jackets, which were all brought home for a wash.

We put the sails back on, which had been serviced by Impact Marine in Carnforth.  They were a dream to deal with and we highly recommend them.  The new cushions I had made during the winter looked good too.  Over the next two days she was cleaned inside and out and the water pump seal was replaced.

It was just nice to be in a different location.

21st April 2020

Another 4 nights at the boat.  We brought back all the newly washed items from the last visit.

We had a grand day out in the van, driving all the way up the coast to Prestatyn.  Sooooo many caravan sites.  Rhyl, Abergele, Rhos on Sea and Colwyn Bay.

7th May 2020

Flying visit to deliver the new beds for the back cabin.  They were cluttering the house.

24th May to 4th June 2020

11 nights at the boat on a mini break.

We met up with Lynn and Jim of Full Circle and they made us a delicious homemade Tagine.  Such good company and great to meet up once again.

We had a great day out in the van travelling to Bangor and then circumnavigating Anglesey.  It is a very beautiful island and we had a beautiful weather for it. 

Another gift of a day at Bodnant Gardens. 

We had tried to time it, to see the Rhododendrons in full bloom. 

Not being gardeners we did not know that Bodnant is famous for its Laburnum Walk.  No, I didn’t know either and we nearly missed it.  But is was truly beautiful and worth seeking it out. 

The gardens are amazing and it is worth walking the full length to see it all.  The cafe service is famously slow, you have been warned.

On Sunday the 30th we went for our first ‘Just for pleasure’ sail in many years.  Out towards Puffin Island to give Fleur a shake down, and make sure everything was working.  It seemed strange to return to port at the end of the day.  We usually end up somewhere else.

And then another good day out in Llandudno before returning home.

You may now be thinking, this is not a sailing blog.  But I hope it demonstrates how frustrating the year has been.  We have been biding our time waiting for news on when we can visit Ireland.  We were happy to sail to Ireland, but not allowed. 

11th June 2020

We returned to the boat by train, determined this time that if we couldn’t go to Ireland we would start our summer trip.

Boris announced on the 14th that Ireland was still not on the green list, so we decided to set off.

Unfortunately after all this time, the weather had other ideas.  We finally left for Conwy on the 17th June.  Huzzah!

Winter 2020/21

We were hoping to visit Fleur during the winter months and take time to visit the local area in the van.

The Welsh First Minister had other ideas and locked down Wales in October.  On a Tuesday he announced his plans, so on Wednesday we scrambled to Conwy to put Fleur to bed for the winter, take down the sails and remove anything that was likely to go mouldy, or suffer during a prolonged period.  Things like leaving the cupboard doors open, leaving the curtains hanging free, moving stored items into the open, leaving the fridge open, taking home all perishables and anything edible.  Hoping we don’t forget anything.

Our neighbours Kevin and Shelley on ‘Dakota’ were kind enough to send us pictures periodically and another owner took videos.  We didn’t see her again until Mid April.

Much more importantly we haven’t seen our growing family in Ireland, which had a new addition in February.  Beautiful Amelia, joined her sister Evie, Laura and Damien.  Thank goodness for technology to help stay connected.  We miss them so much.

We filled the winter with lots of walking, with several individual friends then more as rules permitted.

I did an online embroidery course with Liz, Kay and Leslie, through Lancashire Adult Learning.  We learned so much from our tutor Shamim and importantly it gave us something to do between lessons, which was invaluable.

As usual we tried to help where we could, the repair shop continued and a new cooker meant more baking.  

But it was the chance to volunteer for the local vaccination centre, at our Health Centre, organised by the local Rotary Clubs, which makes us most proud and more importantly most humble.  Our first shift was on the 15th Jan and our last weekly shift was on the 13th of May.  The week our Health Centre decided they had delivered to the majority of the community and needed to re-start normal operations.  Jenni and Bill from Rotary deserve special mention for their organisational abilities and dogged determination to succeed.  I always say ‘No such thing as a selfless act’.  It gave us a date in the diary, and such joy, to be a small part of a great team effort.

Some of the Rotary and volunteers on the last day at the Health Centre.

The work continues at the pop-up venues.