NWCC 2018 Yearbook

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North Wales

Cruising Club

Yearbook
2018

Advertising Coordinator: Mike Ousbey

Thanks to the club members who
contributed photographs and interesting

articles about their exploits at sea

NORTH WALES CRUISING CLUB Ltd

Lower High Street, Conwy, LL32 8AL

Tel 01492 593481 www.nwcc.info

Established 1928

Registered in England and Wales No 3186074

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About Us

was founded in 1928 for yachtsmen and boat owners who
enjoy sailing to the beautiful anchorages and marinas of Anglesey and the Irish Sea.

Events are arranged on a regular basis, including weekend trips to the Menai Straits and
around Anglesey as well as longer trips which take advantage of the expansive sailing area to
the Isle of Man, Ireland and the west coast of Scotland.

The club has its own launch for ferrying
members and crew to and from boats,
across the harbour and to the Marinas at
Conwy and Deganwy.

We welcome visitors to the clubhouse
which is conveniently located near the
Town Quay, inside the Conwy Town walls
and just behind the “Liverpool Arms”
public house.

The clubhouse is open to members for access to showers and washing facilities and to
visitors during bar opening hours.

Visitors can gain access during opening hours by ringing the bell and the Steward will give
instructions through the intercom. A key-card may be hired by visitors staying longer than a
day for £5.00 returnable at the end of the stay, in order to gain access to showers etc.

On the ground floor is a comfortable lounge bar, gentlemen’s toilets with shower, a washing
machine and tumble drier. On the first floor is the chart room which is used for our training
programme, social events; a pleasant ladies’ powder room with shower and power for
hairdryers etc is also on this floor.

Children are welcome in the clubhouse at all times. However, children under 14 years of age
are not permitted to purchase drinks from the bar. Parents are requested to be responsible
at all times for their children’s behaviour whilst in the bar area. When there is no committee
member in the club, then the Steward may ask for any child misbehaving to be removed
from the premises.

Dogs are also welcome before 1800 but only if on a lead.

The club has a great social scene and events include a monthly music night as posted,
part of the extensive programme of

traditional and modern social evenings.

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Commodore’s Welcome
to the 2018 Yearbook

Hello Everyone!

It’s that time of year again, preparing for another Sailing Season
and hoping for ideal winds and plenty of sunshine.

The Sailing Captain - Steve Gorst - has put together another really exciting Sailing
Programme with a Spring Cruise to Liverpool to see the Tall Ships and a Summer Cruise
further afield to Brittany! The finale of the Sailing Programme culminates in a Trafalgar Day
re-enactment on 13 October followed by a Dinner in the Clubhouse.

Bart’s Bash (Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation) is on Saturday 15 September
another exciting day, all in aid of the charity. In 2017 our Club was the third in the UK for
fundraising and our Vice Commodore - Austin Goudge - was the second highest individual
fundraiser in the world; Well Done!

The monthly Newsletter has been a great success and is a positive means of commu-
nication for all members. It not only provides information, it is also a medium for suggestions
you may have to suit the needs of the membership. Grateful thanks to Austin Goudge our
Vice-Commodore for compiling this every month.

We continue to be musically entertained by Club Member “Merseyside Mike” and
friends on the last Thursday of every month and by John Broadhead another Club Member,
and friends on function nights. Come along and join in the fun!

With a break from tradition the 2017 Dinner Dance took place at Conwy Golf Club and
judging by the positive feedback on the whole evening it appeared that everyone thoroughly
enjoyed themselves and the change of venue was commendable. On that basis, the
Committee has decided to hold the 2018 Dinner Dance at the Conwy Golf Club on Saturday
17 November where we will be celebrating the 90th Birthday of the NWCC.

As a RYA Recognised Training Centre we have various courses that are detailed in the
Year Book and to which Club Members can subscribe and attend for expert tuition from Prin-
cipal and Chief Instructor - Mark Godwin.

Special thanks to Mike Ousbey for securing the advertising and to the businesses
whose generous sponsorship enables us to print this Year Book, and to Fred Alder also for
undertaking the mammoth task of compiling our Year Book and doing such a marvellous job
with dedication and good humour.

In conclusion, it takes a lot of hard work and time, maintaining the Club as a going
concern and I thank all the Management Committee for their continued hard work and
support and Club Members for continually supporting the Club. Thanks are expressed also to
our resident Stewardess – Elaine - for looking after everyone.

To those reading our Year Book who are not Members, come and visit us in Conwy;
I’m sure you’ll feel right at home here. We provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere, where
you’ll feel inspired and invigorated every time you walk in.

Pat Sale Commodore

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Table of Contents Club Officers and

Commodore’s Report 5 Committee Members
Officers & Committee 6
Club Opening Times 8 PRESIDENT : Terry Worthington
Social Programme 8 VICE PRESIDENTS: John Capper, Peter
10 Wrigley, Harry Thompson, Steve Gorst,
Club Training Programme Tony Mead, Alan Courtney
Launch Service 11-13
Club Membership & Subscriptions 14-16 CLUB OFFICERS:
NWCC 2018 Sailing Programme 17-19 Commodore: Pat Sale
Caernarfon Harbour Trust 20-21 Vice Commodore: Austin Goudge
A Tale of a Weever Fish 22-23 Rear Commodore: Bob Angell
Wayfinding with skills of the Ancients 24 Secretary: Alan Courtney
Members’ Boats Treasurer: Gordon Byrom
Conwy Harbour and Pilotage 25-26 COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Conwy to Scotland Non-Stop 27-30 Harbour Advisory Representative:
31-34 Terry Worthington & Steve Gorst
Motor Cruiser Representative:
Flags: Usage and Etiquette 35-37 Bruce Kennedy
A Voyage to Remember 38-39 Sailing Captain: Steve Gorst
Jellyfish Soup 40-41 Launch Secretary: Alan Courtney &
Conwy Tides Summer 2018 42-50 Bob Angell
Conwy River Festival 48 Membership Secretary:
51 Harry Thompson
Useful Contact Details Minute Secretary: Pat Sale
RYA Principal : John O’Donnell
Acknowledgements RYA Chief Instructor: Mark Godwin
The Club would like to thank all those Website Manager & Newsletter:
businesses who have placed advertisements Austin Goudge
Year Book Advertising: Mike Ousbey
in this yearbook. SOCIAL COMMITTEE: Pat Sale,
Without their generous support the Carrie Thompson, Harry Thompson
publication would not have been possible. & Alan Courtney
CLUB STEWARD: Elaine Smithson

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Interested in Boats?

If you are, and would like to become part of the yachting
community consider joining the

North Wales Cruising Club

based in Conwy, for sailing in company, crewing and
training opportunities plus great social events
Membership starts from only £30 a year
For information visit www.nwcc.info
and for a membership form or chat
email: [email protected]

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Social Programme March to December 2018

St David’s Day An informal 3 Course Dinner with a Saturday
Dinner Welsh atmosphere to celebrate our 3 March

National Day

Fitting Out Party The start of our Sailing Season with a Saturday
Hot Buffet 31 March

Bart’s Bash Fund Raising Fun with a Hot Buffet Saturday
15 September

AGM & The start of our Winter Season with a Saturday
6 October
Laying up Party Hot Buffet

Trafalgar Dinner Season finale frivolities and a Saturday
3 Course Dinner 13 October

RNLI Meet the Get Together with the people Saturday
Crew looking out for us 10 November

Dinner Dance - The Annual Formal Social Evening Saturday
90th Anniversary this year at Conwy Golf Club 17 November

Christmas Fair Meet Santa and enjoy the Saturday
festivities 8 December

New Year’s Eve Welcome in the New Year Monday
with friends 31 December

The Club also has a monthly Music Night – last Thursday of every month -
Check the Club website www.nwcc.info for regular updates

CLUB BAR OPENING TIMES FOR 2018/ 2019

Lunchtime Evening

Monday & Tuesday Closed all day

Wednesday Closed Summertime 2000 – 2300

Thursday 1200 – 1400 2000 – 2300

Friday 1200 – 1400 2000 – 2300

Saturday 1200 – 1600* 2000 – 2300

Sunday 1200 – 1600* Closed

*Bar will stay open Saturday & Sunday afternoons if in use by members with sufficient demand

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TRAINING AT NWCC

We are a RYA Recognised Training Centre for the following Classroom Courses:
RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship (weekend) – For anyone new to boating
(sailing, power boats, angling, diving, etc)
RYA Day Skipper Theory (5 days)
RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore Theory
(7 days)

We can also arrange RYA Short Courses
at the Club, such as:

RYA VHF
RYA First Aid
RYA Diesel Engine
RYA Radar

Interested in a Course?
If you’re interested in a course,
get in touch via the Club website http://nwcc.info/training/ the noticeboard, or
email [email protected]. We will publish dates for winter courses as usual, but we can
run courses at any time of the year, if I’m not away sailing!

ICC Assessments We have received several requests from members for Practical
Assessments for the International Certificate of Competence. As an RYA Cruising Instructor
I can conduct assessments on owners’ boats, and we hope to be able to start this during the
coming season.

Say What You Want
We’re not restricted to running RYA courses. For example, we could put together a short
refresher course for those wishing to brush up on their navigation, or a session about the
latest thinking on the use of GPS for safe navigation. Let me have your thoughts and if

there’s enough interest we’ll try
to put something together.
Alternatively, maybe you have a
special skill, knowledge, or
experience that you could share?

Mark Godwin
Principal and Chief Instructor

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CLUB LAUNCH OPERATING SCHEDULE

(Local Time LT)

SPRING – SUMMER PROGRAMME TO 1st OCTOBER 2018

MONDAY-THURSDAY 0900–1700

FRIDAY & SATURDAY 0900–2330

SUNDAY 0900–1800 2300*

*2300 On Bank Holidays only otherwise no service after 1800 on a Sunday

Possible slow service between 1530 and 1630 due to driver change-over
The timetable is also displayed in the club house window and on the notice boards

AUTUMN – WINTER PROGRAMME FROM OCTOBER TO MARCH

WEEKDAYS 1000--1400

SATURDAY 0900–1600

SUNDAY 0900–1600

THESE TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO TIDE AND ACCESS TO JETTY

Good Friday EASTER WEEKEND 2018
Easter Saturday 0900–2330
Easter Sunday 0900–2330
Easter Monday 0900–1800
0900–1800

These times are start and finish times
at the Conwy jetty and may be subject

to change due to accessibility
because of the tide

A VHF Radio is available in the Club-
house for calling the Club Launch on

Channel M
Call sign: Cruising Club Launch

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Launch Service 2018

NWCC LAUNCH / WATER TAXI SUMMER OPERATIONS

ROUTINE PASSENGER CHARGES:
From Conwy Jetty (Yachtsmen)

NWCC Members – £1.00 each way
Non-Members – £2.50 each way

(In this context the noun “yachtsmen/ -man” is not gender-specific)

From Beacons, Conwy Marina, Deganwy Marina
or Deganwy Beach (Yachtsmen)

NWCC Members: Minimum charge: £4 each way
total fare for 1, 2, 3 up to 4 Members;
Over 4 Members : £1 per Member each way for each extra Member
(Thus eg. 1 Member alone: fare £4; 3 Members together: fare £4;
five Members together: fare £5; etc.)

Non-Members: Minimum charge: £6 each way total fare for 1, 2, 3 up to 4
Non-Members; Over 4 Non-Members: £2 per Non-Member each way for each
extra Non-Member
(Thus eg. 1 Non-Member alone: fare £6; 3 Non-Members together: fare £6;
five Non-Members together: fare £8; etc.)
————————————————————————–————————————-
WATER TAXI
Non-Yachtsmen from any location Minimum charge: £6 each way total fare for
1, 2, 3 up to 4 Non-Yachtsmen;
Over 4 Non-Yachtsmen : £2 per Non-Yachtsman each way for each extra
Non-Yachtsman
(Thus eg. 1 Non-Yachtsman alone: fare £6; 3 Non-Yachtsmen together: fare £6;
five Non-Yachtsmen together:
fare £8; etc.)

Priority:
Members of NWCC must always
be accorded preference over
Water Taxi Operations unless any
Water Taxi Hire is already
underway.

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Out of Scheduled Hours (LT)
Call Out Charges :
0800 – 2000 : £10 call-out plus

cost of job
2000 – 0800 : £20 call-out plus

cost of job

Note: Please give the operator as
much notice as possible. Cancelled
call-outs may incur a 20%
cancellation fee

Other Services Charges:

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OTHER WORK IS DONE AT THE BOAT OWNERS RISK

Work On Private Boats :

Very reasonable 1 day and ½ day rates. Please discuss requirements with the boatmen.

Strop fit or remove: £15

Strop move to different mooring : £20

Towing (Boat Moves) :

£20 for up to 20 feet LOA plus £5 per 5 feet above 20 feet LOA

Boat Safety Checks/Routine Inspections:

Weekly Basic: £8 – Checks include, mooring lines/strops, waterline level,

fendering, sail covers, sprayhoods, dodgers, boom tents, lock security, damage

inspection and removal of any flotsam from strops/mooring lines.

Weekly Full: £12 – Includes all the above plus internal inspection of boat,

checking water level, bilge pumps, fuel level (to verify none taken), engine check

and run if required.

Contacts:

Launch:
VHF Channel M
Phone 07544 514426

Mark 07943 620359

Keith 07751 888614

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Club Membership & Subscriptions

The North Wales Cruising Club was founded in 1928 for yachtsmen who enjoyed the
pleasures of sailing to the beautiful anchorages and marinas of Anglesey and the Irish Sea, as
opposed to racing, and is one of the most active Clubs in the North Wales region. Our fleet
consists of around 130 vessels, from small to large, and includes both yachts and motor
cruisers. Sailing events are arranged on a regular basis, including weekend trips to the Menai
Straits and around Anglesey, and longer ones which take advantage of the extensive sailing
area to the Isle of Man, Ireland and the west coast of Scotland.
We welcome visitors to our premises, conveniently located near the town quay, inside the
Conwy Town walls and just behind the “Liverpool Arms” public house. The Club premises are
open to members from 0900—2300 (7 days per week for access to showers etc) and to
visitors during bar opening hours (see below). Visitors can gain access during opening hours
by ringing the bell and the Steward will then give instructions through the intercom. A key-
card may be hired by visitors staying longer than a day for £5.00 returnable at the end of the
stay, in order to gain access to showers etc. The ground floor has a comfortable lounge bar,
gents toilets with shower and also a washing machine and tumble drier. On the first floor
there is the chart room, with television and video player, and a pleasant ladies powder room
with a shower and power for hairdryers etc.
Club Burgees can be purchased from the Club during bar hours. If you would like to become a
member of the Club then please contact the Club for an application form. Return completed
forms to:

Membership Application
North Wales Cruising Club Ltd

Lower High Street
CONWY
LL32 8AL

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES

VOTING MEMBERS

Full Member
Full Membership of the Club shall be confined to persons owning at least a fourth share in a seaworthy
boat and to Officers of the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy and Pilots.

Family Member
Membership in this category shall be restricted to the spouse or partner of a Full Member or Overseas
Member.

Crew Member
For people who do not own a share in a boat but crew for other people. To be eligible for Crew Member-
ship, the owner of the boat on which the applicant crews must be a Full Member of the Club.

Overseas Member
Overseas membership only applies to persons having their vessels berthed outside UK waters.
Wife/Partner may join as an Associate (Non-Boating) member.
Overseas members can purchase and use any NWCC merchandise.

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NON VOTING MEMBERS
Cadet Member
Children of Full/Family Member under the age of 21 and in full time education
Associate (Non-Boating) Member
For those who are not Boat Owners, Family or Crew but wish to use the Club facilities and join in the
shore side / social events only. Non-Boating Members are not entitled to concessionary rates on the
Club launch.
ELECTION OF MEMBERS
Save the original members of the Club upon incorporation, no person shall be admitted as a member of
the Club unless proposed in accordance with the regulations and applications for membership approved
by the Committee
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions are due and payable on April 1st in each year, whatever may have been the date of elec-
tion, and will cover the period to the following 31st March. Subscription rates reduce by (approximately)
50% on 1st October and 75% on 1st January for new members joining the Club.
GENERAL
(a) Guests
No member may introduce more than FOUR guests at any one time. No guest may be introduced for
more than SIX days in any one year. Unaccompanied Cadet members shall not be permitted to introduce
guests into the Club without first obtaining permission from an officer or member of the committee.
(b) Children
Children are welcome in the clubhouse at all times. However, children under 14 years of age shall not be
permitted in the bar lounge after 20:00, when they are requested to use the Chart Room on the first
floor.
(c) Dogs No dogs shall be admitted on the Club Premises unless on a lead, and not at all after 18:00.

Harry Thompson

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NWCC CLUB SUBSCRIPTION RATES - 2018/2019

MEMBERSHIP CLASS 2018/2019 2018/2019 2019
Apr-Mar Oct-Mar Jan-Mar
Full 12 Months 6 Months 3 Months
Family
Cadet £98.00 £49.00 £24.50
Crew
Overseas £78.00 £39.00 £19.50
Associate Non-Boating
£5.00 £2.50 £1.50

£78.00 £39.00 £19.50

£48.00 £24.00 £12.00

£30.00 £15.00 £7.50

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NWCC 2018 SAILING PROGRAMME
The Year of the Tall Ships - Liverpool 25th - 28th May 2018

Note: Tide times are for Conwy unless otherwise specified

Dates - 2018 Itinerary
15th April
Round Puffin Island—Seal Spotting
HW Conwy 1400
Leave moorings at 1000; Sail around Puffin Is. Return to
moorings for 1400. A chance to test out our boats before
the Round Anglesey Cruise . Prize for the best seal Photo

5th May to 7th May Round Anglesey Shakedown Cruise - Clockwise
Presidents Cup
5th May HW Conwy 1500 Competitive elements to be decided.
Swellies HW 1310
6th May HW Caernarfon Day 1 - Leave Conwy asap, and transit the Swellies
1450;South Stack slack 0920, with the flood to arrive in Caernarfon around 1600
1430 and 2140 Day 2 - leave Caernarfon 1410
7th May E-going stream Arrive Holyhead 2040 - sunset
along N coast of Anglesey Day 3- Leave Holyhead 0940
starts 1030; HW Conwy Arrive in Conwy 1640
1650

19th May Quay Marinas Series Race 1– Bill Knight Trophy

HW Conwy 1430

This year we are hosting the Quay Marinas Series
It will be a joint series of races open to CYC members and
hosted by NWCC
The Bill Knight Trophy will be awarded to the first club boat
Race start 1230 and a 2-hour pursuit race around the bay.
Race to start at the nearest convenient buoys in the bay
for the wind direction on the day

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Dates - 2018 NWCC 2018 SAILING PROGRAMME (CONTINUED)

Note: Tide times are for Conwy unless otherwise specified

Itinerary

26th May to Spring Cruise-Liverpool Tall Ships
2nd June This year the Tall Ships are
26th May Conwy visiting Liverpool arriving 25th May
HW 0940 and leaving 28th. This is a
Liverpool HW trip that you should make
2210 every effort to make.

Mid -June There‘ll be a full programme
for 4 weeks
of events in town, and we‘ll be joined
16th June
HW 1330 by the Nobby Owners Association

Summer Cruise (North)

A chance to revisit the cruising grounds of Scotland, there are already

3 or 4 boats signed up for this one, contact Mike Ousbey for details

Quay Marina Series Race 2 - Midsummer Cup
Race start 1230 followed by a BBQ on the pontoon

1st July Sunday Llandudno Open Race

HW 1340 Hosted by CYC. BJ Clark Trophy awarded to the top NWCC competitor

14th July Conwy River Festival
HW 1230 Two weekends of racing and festivities; See page 51 for details

21st July— Captains Summer Cruise
20th August Southwards as far as I can get. At least the Scillies and further if
20th HW Conwy possible, all welcome but there may be night passages as I will push
0510 & 1800 on during calm periods of weather in order to reach new cruising
21st grounds. All the above will depend on wind directions
HW Conwy 1910 The current plan is to take part in the LaLa and then leave to the
21st Scillies leaving early in the morning from either Caernarfon or Porth
HW Caernarfon Dinllaen and going straight to the Scillies with one overnight period.
1810 Rest up in the Scillies for a day or two and then a day trip to Ushant:
22nd HW Conwy 16 hours. There will no doubt be other cruises going on to suit all
2020; styles and dates so we will try to keep you posted and you can choose
HW Caernarfon which suits you best. - see Summer Cruise North above during June
1910

NWCC Cup Winners 2017

Round Anglesey Cruise : President’s Cup winner: Mahalo crewed by Austin and Mary

Spring Pursuit Race : Bill Knight Trophy winners: Mike and Sally on Pinch of Thyme

The winner of The Big One Cup and of the Commodore’s Cup was Free Will

The Captain’s Cruise : Midsummer Cup winners were Les and Marg on Happy Daze.

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NWCC 2018 SAILING PROGRAMME (CONTINUED)

Note: Tide times are for Conwy unless otherwise specified

20th—22nd July LaLa Rally
20th HW Conwy 0505 & 1742 A cruise to Caernarfon and the traditional BBQ ashore
21st Conwy HW 1848; 21st
Caernarfon HW 0410 & 1700

9th September Sunday Race in the Bay with CYC - hosted by CYC
HW 1120 Cup for the best NWCC competitor

15th September Barts Bash - Graham Bourne Trophy

HW 1530 Last year we did tremendously well and were the third in the
UK for fundraising; this year we hope at least to match, and

possibly surpass it.

Austin Goudge was the second highest individual fundraiser in
the world!

29th September Equinox Race - Scimitar Cup Quay Marinas Race 3
HW 1410 Starts 1315 followed by an overnight cruise to Menai Bridge

or Beaumaris. We will also be awarding the Big One Cup for
the first club boat home.

13th October HW 1410 Trafalgar Rally The season finale featuring the usual
frivolities and an evening dinner in the club.

Final Briefings will be in the Club on the Friday evening before the event at 2100
unless otherwise notified The programme will be subject to minor changes throughout the
season as circumstances dictate. There is an open invitation for members of CYC and NWCC

to participate in each other’s programmes.

The programme above features the official club events for which points are awarded for the
Commodore’s Cup. There will also be a lot of ad hoc events going on organised by
Bruce Kennedy and other club members.
We will try to keep you informed of such events should you wish to join in;
Regular visits are to Menai Bridge and the beaches of Anglesey.

Steve Gorst, Sailing Captain

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YMDDIRIEDOLAETH HARBWR CAERNARFON

CAERNARFON HARBOUR TRUST

SAFETY PATROL

The Trust operates a safety patrol boat between the months of April and
September. The primary purpose of the patrol boat is to ensure that users of the
waterway are complying with the Byelaws, thereby allowing for safe use of the
waterway by all.
The patrol boat is normally based at Y Felinheli (Port Dinorwic) as this area has the
greatest traffic density and the most potential for conflict between the different
activities that take place.

The patrol boat is not just there to “police” the waterway. It is also out on the water
to offer advice and to assist those who may find themselves in difficulty.

Whilst in operation, the patrol boat maintains a listening watch on

VHF Channel 16
Call sign “ CHT Patrol ”

WHAT DOES THE TRUST DO?

The Caernarfon Harbour Trust is the Statutory Harbour Authority for the Port of
Caernarfon, which encompasses an area from Caernarfon Bay to the Menai
Suspension Bridge. The Trust is also the Local Lighthouse Authority (LLA) for the
same area and additionally for the Swellies. As the LLA it has responsibility for the
provision of 53 Aids to Navigation which include lights, buoys and beacons.

To discharge its statutory duties the Trust has powers to charge Harbour Dues on all
vessels lying within this area. The income raised from Harbour Dues currently only
funds approximately 40% of the cost of providing these Aids to Navigation and
managing safe navigation within the Port.

The Trust receives no outside assistance and the remainder must be subsidised
from other activities of the Trust. The Trust is the Competent Harbour Authority
responsible for the provision of Pilotage services for the whole of the Menai Strait.
It provides and maintains a number of moorings in the River Seiont and at Port
Dinorwic. Additionally, it serves as manager for the Victoria Dock Marina, Caernar-
fon. As a Statutory Harbour Authority the Trust has a duty to take reasonable care
that all those who choose to navigate within the area of jurisdiction may do so
without danger to their lives or property.

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YMDDIRIEDOLAETH HARBWR CAERNARFON
CAERNARFON HARBOUR TRUST

BYELAWS

The Menai Strait is home to a variety of waterborne activities. Some of these
activities can be incompatible if left unregulated, so to facilitate the safe use of the
water the Trust has therefore established Byelaws. Amongst other things the
Byelaws stipulate that vessels are to navigate with care and with due regard to
other vessels. The Byelaws also define a number of areas where the speed of
vessels is restricted to 5-knot off Port Dinorwic the 5-knot limit extends right across
the Strait due to the density of traffic and the presence of moorings, launching are-
as and children sailing in dinghies.

The latest chart for Caernarfon Bar is available at www.caernarfonharbour.org.uk
HARBOUR OFFICE, SLATE QUAY, CAERNARFON, GWYNEDD, LL55 2PB
Tel: 01286 672118
[email protected]
www.caernarfonharbour.org.uk
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A TALE OF A WEEVER FISH

I am not sure when I first learnt about Weever fish. I was probably about 13 or 14 so that’s
nearly 40 years ago and it was probably in New Quay, Ceredigion or Aberdyfi. Even then I was
a bit shocked that we in Britain had anything that could actually sting you in that way,
particularly lying in shallow water in the sand. This is the kind of thing they have in Australia
or Africa – not flippin’ Wales for goodness’ sake!

So anyway, ever since learning about the little
perishers and always being oh-so-slightly nervous
about paddling, having not come across one in 40
years I kinda thought they were almost
mythological.

lesser weever (Echiichthys vipera) From Wikipedia
Commons: Ecomare - kleine pieterman (kleine-
pieterman-3872-ogb).jpg with permission

Jump then to July 2017.
For reasons explained elsewhere Lancer (Hurley 22 – ie tiny sailboat) is anchored in
Aberffraw Bay on the southwest coast of Anglesey in about 1m of water whilst my kids went
ashore to find “lashings of ginger beer”.

My tidal height calculations had not been perfect and Lancer was doing that horrible
bumping down on the sand on her bilge keels in the swell. So, feeling brave I got into my
trunks and lowered myself into the frankly untropical water and, since I had not been stung
for 52 years by the mythical Weever, such things were not even slightly on my mind. I was
more nervous about having to pull Lancer physically into somewhat deeper water on the
anchor to be honest. Oh, that and getting back on – which is always tricky as we do not have
a boarding ladder – just a fender ladder.

So, I am in the “fresh” water, wading about with the anchor and gently pulling Lancer into
deeper water and actually feeling it was all very pleasant. Aberffraw is a lovely bay with
beautiful sands, hardly anyone around and the sea was really quite nice once you got used
to it.

I had finished moving the boat and I was wading back to it when I FELT IT – three tiny pin-
pricks on the middle of the base of my foot. My mind instantly said to me “You’ve trodden on
a Weever fish”. I now knew that time was of the essence. I only had thirty minutes to live - I
had been reading about stings from box jellyfish in some Sunday supplement a few months
earlier.

I managed to haul myself back onto Lancer; I could feel the stings just like little scratches at
this point. I was a little concerned as I had heard Weever fish stings were really quite bad.
There was no sign of the kids who presumably, having been captured by the natives of
Aberffraw village, were now being cooked in some sosban fawr!

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I tried to examine the base of my foot – not as easy as it used to be I can tell you – and I
started to wonder what I had put in the first aid kit. And then I had the idea that if I could get
a phone signal, I could use my i-phone to look up “What to do about a Weever fish sting” and
so that is precisely what I did. Thank goodness for the internet and the 4G signal on
Anglesey!
Whilst this is all going on the stings are getting gradually more painful. I read on one website
that “Royal Marines have cried from this sting, it is so painful” and, not entirely reassuringly,
“Hardly anyone dies from Weever fish stings” and then I found some useful advice.

By now my foot was seriously throbbing.
So the advice is, “Put your foot into the hottest water you can bare – it denatures the poison
protein”. Of course it fails to mention that your foot is also made of, amongst other stuff,
protein.
On Lancer, hot water is not exactly “running”. We have a spirit-burner stove, a kettle and to
boil it takes about 8 minutes; it clearly was going to be a close-run thing. Would I pass out
with pain before the kettle whistled? Would the kids get back on the boat and find a
withered cadaver eaten away by poison, a bit like Pirates of the Caribbean? It was all quite
exciting really.

You know how “a watched kettle never boils”, right? Well I can promise you that waiting for a
watched kettle to boil because you have a Weever fish sting is much longer. Nevertheless,
after however long it was it started its merry whistle and I was still alive. In fact I thought “If
this is the pain that makes Royal Marines cry, then maybe I would have been ok in the Scouts
after all”. It was more like three bad wasp stings than anything else – nasty but manageable.

So the next problem is, into what do you dip your foot? Not as easy as you might think – you
try a bucket; your foot is too big for the bottom of a bucket and a kettle of water does not
even half-fill a bucket. Fortunately the one thing I have provisioned Lancer with is lots of
useful sizes of plastic boxes including one perfectly foot-sized, and into this I poured a lot of
very hot water and plonked my foot in it.
This is when you question the whole thing – which is worse, a Weever fish sting or a badly
boiled foot? The water temperature however, quickly goes down and after about a minute of
dipping my foot and whisking it out I could just about keep my foot in the water.
And it really does work.

The relief was absolutely immediate and lovely, and I realised I was probably going to
survive. I was sitting there in my trunks with a foot in a box of warm water when the kids
returned to the boat and of course, kids being kids, they were merely bemused by my brush
with death. In fact, after this we all went swimming from the boat as the tide had come in
and we used the fantastic snorkel I had bought for the boat. Pot noodles with bread rolls
were had – no ginger beer since the single shop in Aberffraw had just closed as the kids got
to it –before a night at anchor with my foot mildly throbbing.

What adventures awaited us as we continued our passage up the south west coast of
Anglesey, around South Stack and onto Holyhead?!

James Nicholls

23

WAYFINDING WITH THE SKILLS OF THE ANCIENTS

The excellent book by Jack Lagan “The Barefoot Navigator” which has the title above as sub-
text, was published as a 2nd Edition last year and is well worth getting hold of if you are in any

way interested in prehistoric astronomy, navigation or just in awe of the natural world and
our place in it 1.

Lagan manages to combine a great life-experience in practical seamanship, navigation and
“barefoot” sailing with an open-eyed incorporation of modern scientific knowledge into a
thoroughly informative and readable story. He discusses the beliefs and achievements of the
Pacific Islanders, The Mediterranean peoples, Greeks, Egyptians and the Arab nations before
discussing the achievements of the early Chinese civilisation, the development of the
magnetic compass and its exploitation in Europe and the world.

It is a remarkable journey that brought early bronze-age people and technology through to
the modern era and involves many aspects of human-kind development. What pressures
drove the ancients in the bronze-age ~3000 to 1200 BCE to international commerce:
recognition and exploitation of Mother Nature’s gifts and forces, design of ships and sails;
establishing trade routes; understanding astronomy and exploiting it for navigation with use
of the wind and sea states, birds and marine life as navigational aids? In Europe this effort
permitted the transport of goods from ports throughout the Mediterranean and into the
Atlantic and North European coastline and rivers including the British Isles. The author
describes this journey in a most relaxed and readable style and left this reader reassured that
the full story was being told as accurately as historical data allow.

Part 2 on Practical- and as well, DIY Low-Tech navigation is quite inspirational, explaining how
actually to perform these navigational skills without a lifetime experience as pre-requisite
and to make the simple aids to navigation: Pelorus and Sun & Star compasses with his own
“Superlorus” amongst other devices. Depth Sounding, Dead Reckoning, the Traverse Board
and an introduction to the Lunar Distance methods round up the gamut of techniques
available to the Barefoot Navigator with a list of essentials to put into your grab-bag if you
find yourself a long, watery way from home with little technical back-up.

It’s good to have a modern update on these ideas from an unusually expert author to get
things into perspective; what is true, what myth and what quackery. He does emphasise not
confusing pre-history with any notion of ignorance or stupidity, just because there was in
many ancient societies little in the way of literature. We know now that there were massive
temples based on astronomical events being built in the early bronze-age in the Northern
Isles and developed civilisations in Middle East and China. All that time our ancestors were
taking to the seas on boats and travelling great distances out of sight of land and therefore
day and night for days on end. They had had time to develop their techniques by the late
bronze-age fit for the purposes at hand, and continued to do so until the modern era.

You may have read the first edition of Lagan’s book but I strongly recommend this 2nd Edition

to anyone. John Alder

1 The Barefoot Navigator Jack Lagan; Adlard Coles; 2nd edition (7 Sept. 2017) 240 pp, ISBN-
HB 978-1472-94477-1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Barefoot-Navigator-Jack-Lagan/

dp/1472944771/

24

MEMBERS BOATS MEMBERS BOATS (continued)

Boat Names Surname Boat Names Surname
Jammalin
Alkazoro Alan Simcock Gareth & Vicky Bowen
Aloe Vera Terry & Vera McMenamin
Amanzi Bruce & Vix Kennedy Janderander Anthony Howell
Amethyst Tony Brooks
Anna Peter Booth Janderander James Williams
Anyway Frank & Geke Cook
Jasala Glyn Fairbrother

Joie de Vivre Carl Gardiner

Kate Bob &Denise Greenaway

Ashanti Paul & Gareth Henshall Lancer James Nicholls
Tuson
Bandersnatch Baz & Sue Lazy C Colin & Cyn Young

Barada II John Barada Jackson Leanda Kevin Rivett
BChewsy Bob Chew Lindos Bernie Darwin
Calva Tony Edmonds Madresfield Geoff & Jay Abbott
Calva Rod Gilmore Mahalo of
Calva Hugh Davis Conwy Austin & Mary Goudge
Mañana John Hyde
Caorann (OS) Robert Atack Marlin Peter & Judy Hughes.
Maclean Maya Mike Kennedy
Caroeste Steve
Carousel of Mike & Annie Harrison
Hamble Dukes
Timmis
Celtic Breeze Al & Bev Angell Moonshine Louise & Tom Jowett
Mackenzie.
Cloud Nine Ken & Anne Morgan le
Fay
Comrades Bob John & Maureen Alder

Criselda Stuart Morning Mist Ken & Mary Robinson

Destiny Jones Night Song Llew Williams

Deva Colin & Debra Davies Nutcracker
(OS) Graham & Dany Frankland

Figment Stuart Hartley Paxi Martin & Jean Jones
FoxC III Mel & Chris Foxwell
Pelican Star Tony Barlow
Broadhead
Free Ken & Beryl Dobson Penny
Free Will Steve Gorst Diamond John

Goldcrest Kevin & Fiona Coleman Phoenix 2 Pat Brown
Pinch of Mike & Sally Ousbey
Good Mood 6 Rob & Kate Boughton Thyme

Happy Daze Leslie & Margaret Hall Pisces Patrick & Hilary Kinahan

Promises John Nicol

Harlequin Mark & Lesley Godwin Promises Phil Wilkes
Hegri Richard Lawn
Red Dragon. Rob. Bolam.
Worthington
Helgi Wen Alan Courtney Restawhile Terry & Dot Shakespeare
High Spirits Tony, Cindy & Wilkes
Amber Rhapsody Phil Martin
Rosemarie Gary Hill
of Cuan Forbes

Rosie Ed & Lucy

OS = Overseas Scilla Matt

25

MEMBERS BOATS (continued)

Boat Names Surname

Sea Fever Davey Owens

Seclusion John & Chris O'Donnell

Seiriol Vernon & Lynn Turnbull

Seryn y Mor Colin & Linda Lee

Shiron David & Susan Stocks

Short Tony Kay

Silvery Sea Ian & Susan Ross

Sirius Roger & Anne Hobson

Skybird Bryan & Sue Hughes

Split Decision Steve & Yvonne Wade

Staygold Stewart Ing.

Tessa Barrie & Sue Wilson

Thurela John & Jane Lowick

Tiffane Ted. Crossley

Timeout Ron Williams
Trout Tony & Pat Banks

Tucan Colin & Val Moss

Una Vida
Solamente (OS) Brian & Maureen Farmer

Viva Mike Allen

White Spirit Tim Morton

Windrift Brian Howes

Zephyr II Steve Thornley

Ziki Niel & Elaine Johnson

26

Harbwr Conwy Harbour

Harbour Master
M. Forbes
Deputy Harbour Master
B.Tuson
Deputy Maritime Officer
A. Hughes
Assistant Harbour and Maritime Officer
G. Johnston

Superbly situated in an area of
outstanding natural beauty, Conwy
Harbour lies within Conwy Bay at the
mouth of the River Conwy. The Harbour
is currently providing mooring and
berthing facilities for approximately 1100
yachts, making it one of the largest yacht
harbours in Wales.

The provision of moorings and berths is CYNGOR BWRDEISTREF SIROL
shared between the :
Harbour Authority with 250 mixed deep Conwy
water and drying swinging moorings &
pontoon berths, COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
Conwy Marina with 500 deep water
berths and Conwy provides easy access to the
Deganwy Quays Marina with 200 deep cruising waters of the Irish Sea and
water berths. Menai Straits and is located on both
the A55 North Wales Expressway and
mainline London/Holyhead Rail Link

CONTACTS

The Harbour Office,
The Quay, Conwy, LL32 8BB
Tel: 01492 596253
Conwy Quays Marina,
Conwy Morfa, LL32 8EP
Tel 01492 593000
Deganwy Quays Marina,
Deganwy, LL31 9DJ
Tel: 01492 576888

27

Sailing Directions into Conwy

Charts: Admiralty 5609.14; 5609.15; Imray C61; OS 115
Conwy Harbour offers good shelter from all directions excepting in strong winds from North to North-West
when there can be some swell in the river. Conwy Quays Marina is located on the South side of the Harbour
near the entrance.. Deganwy Marina is on the North side of the Harbour ½ mile upstream of the entrance.
Despite rumours to the contrary, it is fairly easy to enter the river:
Approaching Conwy from seaward, the landfall mark is the Fairway Buoy, spherical white with vertical red
stripes. From the Fairway, steer 095°T to the centre of the channel between C1 and C2 then follow the
channel towards the Perch light. The channel buoys are paired except for C2A , C4 and C16.
All channel buoys are fitted with radar reflectors and lights. Pass the Perch, leaving it 30m to starboard and
continue past C11 buoy until the bridge is “half-open” before turning into the harbour and heading towards the
Beacons Jetty; Continue to follow the buoyed channel.
The main channel runs down the starboard side of the river and passes between the two sections of the
pontoon, as far as the town quay.
Please note the following:
Until familiar with the channel, access is recommended only in daylight and between HW -3 and HW+2.
If Conwy Sands are covered, there is enough water in the channel for boats drawing 1.8 m (6 ft) to enter.
Beware the strong tidal stream in the narrows at Deganwy.
Within the Harbour beware of unlit mooring buoys which may be semi-submerged in the tide.

Matthew Forbes

BUOYAGE AND LIGHTS IN CONWY HARBOUR

Information taken with permission from Conwy Borough Council web-site 6 February 2018
This site should be checked for further updates http://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Leisure-sport-and-health/

Coast-and-Countryside/Seaside/Conwy-Harbour-Approach-Channel.aspx

BUOY / LIGHT TYPE COLOUR LIGHT POSITION
NAME / NUMBER CHARACTER

BEACON JETTY JETTY FL G 5 SEC 53-17-655N
003-50-359W

PERCH LIGHT STEEL TOWER L.FL G 15 SEC 53-18-058N
003-50-837W

PEN OUTFALL STBD HAND YELLOW FL Y 5 SEC 53-17-460N
003-54-946W

DEGANWY MARINA PORT HAND RED FL. R (2+1) 10 SEC 53-17-32N
OUTER 003-49-85W

DEGANWY MARINA PORT HAND RED QR (2) 6 SEC 53-17-37N
MIDDLE 003-49-80W

DEGANWY MARINA PORT HAND RED VQR 53-17-38N
INNER 003-49-74W

Deganwy Marina breakwater groyne is marked by 3 yellow buoys - Keep Clear
FOR BUOYAGE AND LIGHTS IN THE APPROACH CHANNEL SEE NEXT PAGE

28

BUOYAGE AND LIGHTS IN CONWY HARBOUR APPROACH CHANNEL

[CONTINUED…]

BUOY TYPE COLOUR LIGHT POSITION
NAME/ CHARACTER
NUMBER

FAIRWAY SPHERICAL RED/WHITE L FL(W) 10 SEC 53-17-948N
003-55-584W

C2 PORT HAND RED FL R 10 SEC 53-17-940N
003-54-520W

C1 STBD HAND GREEN FLG 10 SEC 53-17-835N
003-54-580W

C2A PORT HAND RED FL(2) R10 SEC 53-17-682N
003-53-491W

C4 PORT HAND RED FL(4) R 20 SEC 53-17-704N
003-52-975W

C3 STBD HAND GREEN FL(6) G 15 SEC 53-17-725N
003-52-240W

C6 PORT HAND RED FL(6) R 15 SEC 53-17-780N
003-52-272W

C8 PORT HAND RED L.FL R 8 SEC 53-17-940N
003-52-200W

C5 STBD HAND GREEN L.FL G 8 SEC 53-17-950N
003-52-110W

C10 PORT HAND RED FL(3) R 15 SEC 53-18-085N
003-51-780W

C7 STBD HAND GREEN FL(3) G15 SEC 53-18-062N
003-51-756W

C9 STBD HAND GREEN FL(5) G 20 SEC 53-18-066N
003-51-335W

C12 PORT HAND RED FL(5) R 20 SEC 53-18-090N
003-51-265W

C11 STBD HAND GREEN Q.G 1 SEC 53-18-064N
003-50-760W

C14 PORT HAND RED L.FL R 15 SEC 53-18-090N
003-50-685W

C16 PORT HAND RED FLR 6 SEC 53-17-875N
003-50-481W

CAUTION - BUOY POSITIONS SHOULD NOT (R) NOT BE USED AS WAYPOINTS
TO DO SO PLACES YOU AT RISK OF COLLIDING WITH THE BUOY IN POOR VISIBILITY
NOTE: Revised Conwy Approach Channel Diagrams are available free of charge at the Harbour Office, Conwy

29

Information taken with permission from Conwy Borough Council web-site 6 February 2018
This site should be checked for further updates http://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Leisure-sport-and-health/

Coast-and-Countryside/Seaside/Conwy-Harbour-Approach-Channel.aspx

30

Conwy to Scotland Non-Stop

Several boats went to Scotland this summer: Mahalo, Deva, Pinch of Thyme, Pisces, Happy
Daze, Split Decision and Maya. This report is based on my own experience on Free Will.

“Lets go to Scotland this year dear. If we leave Conwy in the afternoon we could be there for
the following afternoon and spend a full fortnight up there.” What followed was several
months of negotiation and hard persuasion that this was indeed feasible for the two of us.

The negotiations were concluded successfully and when the day of departure came a brisk
South Westerly was forecasted, which was ideal for blowing us all the way to the Clyde; as I

promised. If all went well we would be there in 25 hours.
Some of the other club boats with more holiday time/retired
had left the week before and the plan was to meet up in
Campbeltown and carry on cruising the Clyde from there. By
coincidence we left Conwy in the company of some boats
from the Bay of Colwyn Club who were going to Douglas.

The crossing to the Isle of Man went smoothly and we kept
in contact with Mike and Tony on the VHF as we sailed but
eventually our courses diverged as we had set a course to
the West of the Calf of Man while the other boats continued to Douglas and we gradually lost
contact.

Watches! This was the big question and this is how we did it. Being midsummer the night
would be short and as I had the better night vision I planned to do the hours of darkness
which would only be about 4 hours. At 10 pm I went down for a nap and Lorraine kept watch
till 12 when it was going dark. After my nap I then took over for the night. As we rounded
the outside of the Calf we were joined by the Disney cruise
ship, Disney Magic, all lit up as it travelled from Liverpool to
Glasgow. After watching the ship for a while Lorraine retired
to bed herself and we continued on our way. Lorraine had
been worried about waking up in the night and not being
able to see me so as agreed in the negotiations I set up my
seat in the hatchway. This gave me access to the autohelm
steering and I could also monitor our progress on my phone
with the Navionics app. It was actually a straight run up the
North Channel so no steering was planned unless a ship got
in the way.

31

The night passed without incident and I kept the engine running slowly to keep the batteries
charged and the cabin warm. As dawn broke Lorraine was sleeping and I wasn’t tired so I left
her dozing peacefully till she awoke at 6 o clock. After dressing and washing she made a
tasty breakfast and fresh coffee before relieving me of my long watch. Our early breakfast,
we had more than one, consisted of instant porridge which we found really handy, quick to
make and nutritious. Coffee was my favourite Taylors Rich Italian Ground. No compromise
on Free Will and just what you need before going to bed…..
The wind was still from the South West and we were keeping up 5.5 to 6 knots through the
water and starting to pick up the current of the North Channel so we were up to 8 knots plus
over the ground. If we had a larger crew we would have been flying the spinnaker! Maybe
this year…
Lorraine now took over the watch and I had a sleep till 10. She told me later that it was very
satisfying that I trusted her enough to sleep. The watch went without incident, no ships
interfered with our progress and we carried on relentlessly.

Boredom.! Some members of the club who have power-boats have asked me how do sailors

cope with boredom on a long passage. Well really the way I deal with it is not to concentrate

so much on how far I have to go and just accept I am going to get

there at the calculated time, which in our case was 4 o ‘clock. In

the meantime I carry on with living life as normal but in a boat.

We read, listen to the radio and chat. Cook the occasional meal

and do boaty things as well. The boaty things are marking our

progress on the chart every hour, trimming the sails, keeping a

look out and watching out for any wildlife in the form of whales or

dolphins. We didn’t see any wildlife this time but we were far

from bored. When we have the grandchildren on board we also have an Xbox but that’s

another story. As 4 pm approached so did Campbelltown right on schedule.

Usually approaches to harbours look much more complicated on charts than they are in real

life and Campbeltown was no exception. I guess coming from Conwy makes everything look

easy afterwards. By 4 pm we were tied up and chatting

with our neighbours who were suitably impressed with

our voyage. One of them was even in the Moody Owners

handbook so we spooked him by calling him by his name.

Despite the length of the passage we were well rested

and didn’t feel a need to crash straight into bed. In fact

after a shower and ablutions we researched the local

restaurants and booked ourselves in for a meal at the

local Indian restaurant. Followed by a dram or two in

town.

32

The other members of the fleet had had to cancel their
departure from Bangor as one of the party wasn’t well so
we had a day to fill in before they joined us which we spent
cycling around the local area. In order to bring our bikes we
had purchased bike travel bags for full size bikes which were
waterproof. All we had to do was take off the front wheel
and the handlebars and then we could carry the bikes on
top of the stern cabin.
This was the major adventure of the holiday and the rest of
the holiday was spent with
short cruises around the local area. We spent a couple of
days anchored up in the spectacular Kyles of Bute where we
filled up on our wildlife fix. Then onto the splendid Victo-
rian town of Rothesay where we cycled to the Gothic Mount
Stuart House.

I had a swim in Loch Ranza, the weather couldn’t have been
better with temperatures well above 20°C. We spent a few
days in Loch Tarbert which was a good base with a nice fish
restaurant and walks up to the fort on the overlooking hill.

We made our way up to the Crinan Canal, by taxi with the
bikes in the boot, and cycled the length of it and back. The
weather was unbelievably still holding and we had a fantastic
day there meeting up with a couple of Conwy boats. Richard
was there with Celtic Star and we met Robin and his boat Lois
for the first time.
Finally it was time to turn for home. On the way back we
sailed to Brodick on the Isle of Arran with the Spinnaker up
all the way from Loch Tarbert where we had a wonderful evening in the sunshine.

The following day we were off to Girvan via Lamlash. There
was no wind at all so I had a shower on the way to take
advantage of the hot water the engine was generating.
Much to Lorraine's amusement I came back up and sat with
her in my dressing gown. Girvan was a nice town with
good modern facilities which was just as well because the
wind was due to pick up the following day.
We spent 2 more days in Girvan before making a break for
Portpatrick in less than ideal conditions. However the old

33

Moody 33 didn’t let us down and plodded on against a 20 knot

headwind and the current. We suspect that had it been wind

over tide the waves would have been huge and would have

stopped us but as it was wind with tide the sea was a bit

smoother and we could maintain over 5 knots through the

water even against the wind.

Portpatrick was virtually empty apart from a Port Penrhyn

Nobby trying to get home the same as us. We thought we

were going to be stuck there for a few days but the following

afternoon a small weather window suddenly appeared so

we took it and set off for Peel. The poor owner of the Nobby

had nipped into town so must have had a shock to see us

gone on his return!

In Peel we met up with more club boats again, Deva, Happy

Daze and Pinch of Thyme and Robin and his boat Lois who

we had met in the Crinan Canal. Peel was a delight as

always and we again made good use of the bikes cycling up

the old railway line to a nice gastro pub. Lorraine had to get

back to work unfortunately so she had to get the ferry back

to Liverpool.

The wind was still strong and it took a few days in Peel before it settled down again, but

finally it did. I was now sailing on my own and by the Law of Sod it was now that the fuel

filter decided to block, just as I was approaching the Calf Sound but luckily not in it. Rather

than mess around with the filter at this point I decided to sail around the outside of the Calf

and change it on the other side. I have since cleaned the fuel tank out so hopefully I won’t

get another surprise like that. It NEVER happened to me with Myfanwy. Despite the setback

with the engine I had a glorious sail back in fresh westerlies and I only put the engine back on

once I’d reached The Beacons.

All in all it was a thoroughly successful cruise for me and the other boats. Although we didn't

converge that much we all had a great time exploring in our own styles. The weather rivalled

anything in the med but I believe it’s not like that all the time. There was also no evidence of

the much talked about midgies so I have a few containers of

midgie cream going spare now. Most importantly I proved to

Lorraine that long trips are feasible and not overly tiring.

I have now uttered the words “Lets go to France this year

dear, we could be there in a few days. We could call in at the

Scillies.”

Negotiations are ongoing but it’s looking promising.

Happy Sailing, Steve Gorst

34

Flags: Usage and Etiquette

This short guide to flags, their usage and etiquette is written as an aid to members, who
are encouraged to do their utmost to conform to the historic traditions associated with
the subject; it will help them to avoid offending anyone by the inappropriate or incorrect
use of flags on their boat. This guide is not definitive so, should you need further advice,
please do contact Tony Mead direct.
The flags that may be flown by yachts include: the National Maritime Ensign, The Club
Burgee, The Club Flag-Officers Flags, House Flags, Courtesy Flags when abroad and Flags
connected to either signalling or racing.
The Ensign

British Yachts fly the National Maritime Flag (The Red Ensign)
as their Ensign unless their Club is privileged to wear a special
Ensign. Our Club does not currently hold the privilege; we
therefore use the Red Ensign.
Ensigns should be flown in a prominent position, normally at
a staff on the stern. They may be flown when under sail by
Gaff Rigged Yachts at the peak of the sail on the after mast, by Yawls and Ketches at the
mizzen masthead and by others at a position two thirds of the way up the leach of the aft
sail. /continued
————————————————————————————————————--

Marine Surveys

Pre-Purchase Insurance and
Damage Surveys on Sailing Boats and

Motor Cruisers up to 24 metres

John Crompton

Member I.I.M.S.—Yachtmaster

www.smallboatsurveys.com
Mobile: 07738 356299 Office: 01253 731099

[email protected]
35

The Ensign should be worn when entering or leaving harbour and must be worn when
entering or leaving a foreign port. It is normally worn in harbour when the crew are on board
but need not be worn at sea except when meeting another vessel or coming close to the
land. Yachts that are racing do not wear Ensigns.
In harbour, the Ensign should be hoisted at 0800 in Summer and at
0900 between 1 November and 14 February. It should be lowered at
2100 or sunset whichever is the earlier or when the crew go ashore if
before that time. Ensigns should not be left flying overnight in
harbour.

The Burgee

The NWCC has its own burgee which all members are encouraged to

use on their yachts. It signifies membership of the Club of which we

should all be proud. Yachts should only fly one Club Burgee at a time

irrespective of the number of Clubs for which they hold member-

ship. Club Burgees should be flown from a staff at the masthead

or alternatively, if this is not possible, from the starboard spreader

in home waters and from the port spreader abroad. The Burgee should be flown at the same

times as the Ensign in harbour although in recent years it has become common practice to

leave the Burgee flying at night if the owner is either on board or ashore in the vicinity. This

practice is acceptable. At sea the burgee is normally flown in sight of land or other

vessels. Members’ Club Burgees should be flown in any yacht chartered by them in prefer-

ence to that of the charter company or owner.

Flag-Officers Flags
These flags are flown by day and night while the owner is on board or
in effective control of the vessel. Flag-Officers flags normally incorpo-
rate the Club Burgee. In this case it is not necessary to fly a Club
Burgee in addition; Past Commodores’ flags conform to these rules.
Courtesy Flags

It is customary in foreign ports to fly a miniature version of the
National Maritime Ensign as a courtesy flag at the starboard spread-
ers. Only one courtesy flag should normally be flown. Courtesy flags
should only be flown above (superior to) any other flags on the same
halyard.

Local Flags
Local Flags should not be flown in lieu of courtesy flags but can be
flown at the port spreader in addition to them. Within the British Isles,
courtesy flags are not strictly necessary. Scotland, Northern Ireland,
Wales, Isle Of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm may
however be flown at the starboard spreader, out of politeness.

36

House Flags
Some owners and organisations have private flags; these
may be flown in harbour at the port spreader. Such flags
should only be flown at the same time as Ensigns and
Burgees.
Salutes
It is customary for yachts to salute both warships of all nations and flag officers of their own
Club.
Salutes are made by dipping the ensign only; Salutes are acknowledged by the other vessel
also dipping her Ensign in response and re-hoisting it. The saluting yacht should then re-hoist
her Ensign.

Tony Mead

37

A VOYAGE TO REMEMBER

A beautiful midday in early July 2013, a spring tide hastened me towards Victoria Dock to
pick up my crew for passage to the Isles of Scilly. True, passage through the Swellies was late
due to high pressure holding the water level down at Conwy, but that was no big deal.
Getting lines and fenders ready for the dock I realised it was quiet, too quiet; the engine had
stopped. It started again, only to stop with a mighty thump on engaging gear. A hail to a
passing yacht was answered, but it hadn’t power to tow Aloe Vera. With the bank perilously
close a speedboat answered my call, took my line and towed me into the Dock. There were
some anxious moments going from the strong cross-current into the narrow entrance, and
approaching the pontoon. No matter; willing hands slowed us down and made fast while the
speedboat shot off before I could even thank its driver.

The boatyard slipway could be lined up for the next day or I could dry out against the river
wall if I could get a tow there; a delay of 24 hours seemed inevitable. Back at the boat I
found my crew John wondering where I had got to. Over tea and a sandwich I explained the
problem and the likely delay. John, a good swimmer, decided to go in just by the notice
forbidding such exploits. He called for a knife, sawed away and quickly passed up a piece of
rope.

Luckily, the rest was soon disentangled and on the pontoon.
There were no new vibrations from the propeller shaft so we
were back on schedule. We went to the supermarket for
supplies and 20 L of diesel, and back to attempt a nap, fruitlessly
in the baking heat.

At 2215 we left, catching the tide the instant the ebb started at
the Narrows. Cross-currents and the long line of flashing buoys
needed care to avoid the banks and a wreck but soon Aloe Vera was in open water. In a
beautiful calm and empty sea we made good progress, with two tides in our favour and one
against; inside the Smalls, round the Bishop and into the lovely Skomer South Haven at about
1730 next day. At anchor with us were three other yachts.

After an enjoyable meal on the cockpit table we agreed a leisurely start on the morrow and
retired early – I hadn’t slept, probably too emotional after the events of the previous day.
The cockpit table remained set up ready for breakfast. What could possibly go wrong?

At about 2215 my crew disturbed me, rudely telling me I had to wake up. I beat my head-
ache to get out and see what had happened. A 44ft yacht had drifted across the tiny bay and
set its skeg on a rock shelf at high water. It had no power
of any sort. As the water was down about 6 inches,
towing her off wasn’t an option. Fortunately she lay
against the main body of the rock as though against a
wall. After talking to the crew (yes, they were as close as
that!) and their friends in another boat, I called the coast-
guard. Soon after, there was quite a rumble as the boat’s
skeg and rudder collapsed under the boat’s weight,

Skomer South Haven: The Rock against which the big yacht leaned while grounded

38

the ebb being well underway now. Even then the crew stayed aboard till I suggested it was
advisable to get off. Before midnight, Angle lifeboat arrived, filling the tiny bay with itself, its
noise and light. After checking everything in their rib, the crew told us we had to clear the
bay in case the grounded boat fell over; great news when all I wanted was sleep!

The cockpit table and all gear went on one of the berths and we weighed anchor. It was
reluctant, and instead of powering it out I went to help John. This triggered a massive
exertion headache; however we had to get clear. I steered past the lifeboat, then realised
the only thing I could see was the red light at the rocky entrance. Fortunately John still had
his night sight and he took over. Our modern instrumentation saved us, so entirely on chart
plotter we skirted Skokholm Island – whether to east or west I don’t know – and headed
south-south west. As complete strangers to the area any other course of action would have
been unwise.

John valiantly let me off watch to lie down on top of all the gear, oblivious to all bar my
blinding headache and the box-ticking half-hourly VHF update between the Coastguard and
our earlier anchorage buddies. We learned later that the stranded boat had been towed off
on the next tide. Unfortunately the name of the casualty triggered memories of a particular-
ly daft 1960’s pop song which kept coming back to me for weeks afterwards!

At about 0530 I managed to make tea for us and take some aspirin before setting the main.
It was as much as I could do, and generated enormous body heat inside my sailing gear.
With the boat now making good progress on the port tack the engine was stopped.
I committed my tea and aspirin to the deep and lay helpless again, too weak even to take my
gear off and cool down. Eventually, having slowly managed to get clobber off and cool
down, my condition eased. By 0830 I was up making tea before John went below for his well
-earned rest, with a look of rebuke as I just couldn’t face getting any food.

Spirits recovered, it was a beautiful day even if the wind had died. We noticed that the new
wind instrument showed no direction. A particularly aggressive Skomer herring gull we
hadn’t fed had taken revenge during our brief sleep by pecking the vane down to its hub.
Porpoise came then went, evidently feeding away on the horizon judging by the ring of
disturbed water, and the crowd of gulls above wanting free supper. Night came and by 0100
we were looking for somewhere to drop the hook in New Grimsby Sound. It was crowded so
we carefully elbowed our way in, dropped the hook and slept like logs.

Next day was gorgeous, just right for a trip ashore to Bryher. We walked across the island (a
full mile) to earn a pint then back just before afternoon closing for an alfresco beer near our
dinghy. We were well entertained by a couple of ancient mariners, one grumbling about a
friend too tight to buy new sails, the
other rather deaf and asking for a
repeat performance every time!

Our adventure seemed well worthwhile
by now!

TerryMcMenamin

Aloe Vera, New Grimsby Sound

39

JELLYFISH SOUP

One particularly lazy sunny day in between passages in the Hebrides, it was my lot to guard
the yacht which comprised smoking my pipe and staring into the water of the sea loch next
to the pontoon. In the crystal clear water a jellyfish was serenely squidging its way in a dead
straight line just below the surface, seemingly without a care in the world.
But then it came at right-angles upon the vertical and wide hull of a trawler and I was gripped
with the excitement of wondering what it would do! Would it go left, right or turn around
and go backwards? I had never seen a jellyfish turn around or even change direction! Well to
my amazement it just kept on squidging and slowly sank until it reached the keel then
squidged on past and rose back to the surface, disappearing under the next pontoon.

How did it know what to do! What would happen when it got to a dock wall?

Like many people it seems, I believed the jellyfish to be a brainless creature with no vision
and pretty much at the bottom of whatever evolutionary chain you care to choose. Well, it’s
not often I’m right and I was wrong again! It seems the creature is highly developed and does
have some sort of vision. Taking the example of the Box jellyfish: they have 24 eyes of
four different types, and two of them -- the upper and lower lens eyes -- can form images and
resemble the eyes of vertebrates like humans, say scientists at University of Copenhagen.
https://www.livescience.com/13929-box-jellyfish-eyes-navigation-brain.html

I haven’t found out whether all jellyfish have that visual sense but something told the one I
was watching what to
do!
One of the other
amazing things I did
not know was where
jellyfish came from! I
was used to the idea
that they appear quite
suddenly in the early
summer and grow into
big things by the
autumn, but was
never sure whether
the little white jobbies
that are in such huge
abundance that the
sea looks like jellyfish
soup, were the ones
that grew into the
great big brown things that lurch around in the autumn. Image reproduced with permission
from Smithsonian Ocean Portal. Well, Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jellyfish holds
a mountain of information on them and the Smithsonian Institution of Natural History
https://naturalhistory.si.edu/ holds many answers behind its Ocean Portal, and one is the life
cycle of the jellyfish: http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-photos/jellyfish-lifecycle-and-reproduction

40

The picture above explains nicely

how the life cycle works and it

seems that the little blighters

come from the sea floor when

the conditions are right and then

return there at the end of the

season and transform into next

year’s generation. As with many

things in the sea, this occurs all

at the same time thus forming

the bloom, or “jellyfish soup”

that we see each year.

A glowing bloom of Moon Jellies

(Aurelia species) off Denmark.

Photo by Casper Tybjerg; Image

reproduced with permission from

Smithsonian Ocean Portal

The other thing jellyfish are

known for is their sting; the

mechanism it uses for that is

another amazing example of Mother Nature’s ingenuity!

Effectively the sting releases venom which comprises amongst other neurotoxins Porin which

punches a hole in the red blood cell wall releasing potassium into the bloodstream; that can

send one into shock and in extreme cases cardiac arrest. So these things are not to be treat-

ed lightly! http://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-jellyfish-venom

Another amazing fact is that at least one of the species may have the capacity for immortality

A scientist at Kyoto University has concluded that “there are three species of jellyfish that are

immortal, and says their immortality may hold the key to immortality for human beings, as he

says that genetically they are not that much different from humans...”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jellyfish Well that’s me put in my place, genetically similar

to a jellyfish! But can you eat them? Can you make Jellyfish soup?

Well it seems so and in some parts of Asia and the Far-East they are considered a delicacy,

[yes, but so are chicken’s feet and having eaten those I do not consider this to be a recom-

mendation!] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jellyfish_as_food

The Nordic Food-Lab Blog http://nordicfoodlab.org/blog/2015/8/11/jellyfish has

some mouth watering recipes for jellyfish gourmets, one with turnip & radish….The authors

however rather damn the dish with faint praise: “Fresh jellyfish tastes amazing – like eating

the blue-green oceanic gel…” and conclude: “Though none of us died [sic] after eating the

moon jellyfish on the boat, there is still a great need for more scientific knowledge on the

edibility and safety of the edible jellyfish around Nordic region”. I think I might wait

for that knowledge to

be available before I

try to make jellyfish

soup on board!

John Alder

41

TIDAL HEIGHTS AT CONWY FOR SUMMER 2018

The NWCC is grateful to Centre for Applied Marine Sciences, Pryfysgol Bangor University
for permission to reproduce the tidal data for Conwy for use in this yearbook
The website http://www.seacams.ac.uk/ contains information
on the project and interesting reports of its work and findings

The SEACAMS data have been adjusted for Conwy and the tidal heights are given in metres
above lowest astronomical tide chart datum. Tidal heights will be affected by flood water

coming down the river, strong winds especially from the
North West and South East and extreme variations in atmospheric pressure.

The SEACAMS website warns
“The predictions for Conwy should be used with care, particularly at low tide ”
The greater heights represent High Water Slack and the lower ones, Low Water Slack.
Times in UT; one hour to be added between 25 March and 27 October for BST /…..

42

CONWY HIGH WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS LOW WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS
Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/
MARCH
UT m UT m UT m UT m
1 Thursday
2 Friday 1015 7.91 2241 7.75 0506 1.27 1733 0.80
3 Saturday
4 Sunday 1100 8.14 2325 7.89 0552 0.99 1818 0.60
5 Monday
6 Tuesday 1144 8.22 0635 0.88 1859 0.61
7 Wednesday
8 Thursday 0007 7.89 1225 8.12 0715 0.94 1938 0.79
9 Friday
10 Saturday 0048 7.74 1306 7.88 0753 1.14 2015 1.10
11 Sunday
12 Monday 0128 7.49 1347 7.53 0829 1.43 2050 1.48
13 Tuesday
14 Wednesday 0208 7.16 1428 7.12 0904 1.76 2125 1.88
15 Thursday
16 Friday 0251 6.79 1514 6.67 0941 2.09 2202 2.24
17 Saturday
18 Sunday 0339 6.43 1607 6.26 1023 2.39 2246 2.55
19 Monday
20 Tuesday 0438 6.13 1713 5.96 1115 2.63 2344 2.76
21 Wednesday
22 Thursday 0549 5.99 1827 5.87 1225 2.75
23 Friday
24 Saturday 0700 6.07 1934 6.02 0058 2.83 1346 2.67
25 Sunday
26 Monday 0801 6.32 2029 6.29 0218 2.67 1458 2.38
27 Tuesday
28 Wednesday 0851 6.65 2116 6.60 0322 2.34 1554 2.01
29 Thursday
30 Friday 0934 6.98 2156 6.91 0413 1.98 1639 1.66
31 Saturday
1013 7.28 2232 7.18 0456 1.67 1720 1.40
CONWY
1049 7.52 2307 7.40 0535 1.44 1757 1.23
APRIL
1123 7.71 2342 7.57 0612 1.30 1833 1.16
1 Sunday
2 Monday 1159 7.82 0647 1.26 1908 1.17
3 Tuesday
4 Wednesday 0017 7.66 1236 7.83 0722 1.28 1943 1.27
5 Thursday
6 Friday 0056 7.65 1316 7.72 0759 1.38 2020 1.44
7 Saturday
8 Sunday 0137 7.52 1400 7.46 0838 1.54 2101 1.67
9 Monday
10 Tuesday 0224 7.26 1451 7.08 0923 1.76 2148 1.95

0319 6.90 1553 6.64 1017 2.01 2246 2.23

0428 6.57 1712 6.34 1124 2.21 2359 2.43

0552 6.46 1838 6.36 1247 2.25

0712 6.67 1951 6.66 0127 2.41 1415 2.01

0817 7.05 2049 7.05 0250 2.10 1527 1.58

0911 7.46 2139 7.42 0354 1.67 1624 1.16

0959 7.79 2224 7.68 0447 1.30 1712 0.87

1042 7.99 2305 7.82 0532 1.06 1755 0.76

HIGH WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS LOW WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS
Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/

UT m UT m UT m UT m

1123 8.05 2344 7.84 0613 0.99 1834 0.82

1202 7.97 0650 1.05 1909 1.02

0022 7.75 1240 7.77 0724 1.22 1943 1.29

0059 7.56 1318 7.48 0757 1.44 2014 1.59

0137 7.30 1358 7.12 0831 1.69 2048 1.90

0218 6.97 1442 6.72 0907 1.96 2125 2.20

0304 6.61 1533 6.30 0951 2.23 2212 2.48

0400 6.27 1637 5.97 1045 2.48 2310 2.72

0511 6.04 1754 5.83 1151 2.65

0626 6.04 1905 5.94 0022 2.82 1309 2.64

43

11 APRIL 0731 6.23 2002 6.19 0142 2.73 1424 2.43
12 Thursday
13 Friday 0822 6.52 2047 6.50 0251 2.46 1523 2.12
14 Saturday
15 Sunday 0905 6.84 2127 6.83 0344 2.13 1611 1.81
16 Monday
17 Tuesday 0943 7.15 2203 7.15 0429 1.83 1652 1.56
18 Wednesday
19 Thursday 1019 7.45 2238 7.45 0509 1.59 1730 1.38
20 Friday
21 Saturday 1055 7.70 2314 7.71 0546 1.40 1806 1.27
22 Sunday
23 Monday 1132 7.88 2352 7.87 0623 1.28 1842 1.23
24 Tuesday
25 Wednesday 1212 7.93 0700 1.23 1920 1.27
26 Thursday
27 Friday 0032 7.91 1254 7.83 0740 1.26 2001 1.40
28 Saturday
29 Sunday 0116 7.78 1341 7.56 0824 1.38 2046 1.61
30 Monday
0205 7.50 1434 7.15 0914 1.56 2138 1.87
CONWY
0301 7.11 1537 6.69 1011 1.79 2238 2.14
MAY
0410 6.73 1657 6.38 1117 1.97 2349 2.32
1 Tuesday
2 Wednesday 0533 6.55 1823 6.38 1233 2.02
3 Thursday
4 Friday 0653 6.68 1935 6.63 0109 2.31 1352 1.87
5 Saturday
6 Sunday 0758 6.98 2032 6.97 0226 2.09 1502 1.58
7 Monday
8 Tuesday 0852 7.29 2120 7.27 0330 1.77 1559 1.31
9 Wednesday
10 Thursday 0938 7.54 2202 7.50 0422 1.49 1647 1.14
11 Friday
12 Saturday 1020 7.69 2241 7.64 0507 1.30 1728 1.09
13 Sunday
14 Monday 1059 7.75 2319 7.70 0547 1.23 1805 1.16
15 Tuesday
16 Wednesday HIGH WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS LOW WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS
17 Thursday Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/
18 Friday
19 Saturday UT m UT m UT m UT m
20 Sunday
21 Monday 1137 7.71 2355 7.68 0622 1.25 1839 1.29
22 Tuesday
23 Wednesday 1214 7.59 0656 1.33 1910 1.46
24 Thursday
0032 7.58 1252 7.38 0729 1.45 1943 1.64

0110 7.40 1332 7.10 0804 1.61 2019 1.85

0151 7.14 1415 6.76 0843 1.80 2100 2.09

0236 6.81 1505 6.39 0929 2.03 2147 2.34

0330 6.46 1605 6.06 1021 2.27 2242 2.57

0435 6.19 1717 5.88 1120 2.46 2346 2.72

0547 6.08 1828 5.91 1228 2.54

0652 6.17 1925 6.10 0057 2.74 1339 2.48

0745 6.39 2012 6.39 0208 2.61 1442 2.29

0830 6.67 2053 6.73 0307 2.36 1535 2.06

0910 7.00 2131 7.09 0357 2.09 1620 1.82

0949 7.33 2210 7.46 0440 1.81 1701 1.60

1029 7.63 2249 7.78 0521 1.55 1741 1.43

1110 7.84 2330 7.99 0602 1.34 1821 1.31

1153 7.92 0644 1.20 1904 1.28

0014 8.06 1238 7.84 0729 1.14 1949 1.34

0100 7.96 1327 7.59 0816 1.18 2038 1.50

0150 7.69 1421 7.21 0908 1.31 2131 1.72

0247 7.31 1524 6.80 1004 1.50 2229 1.96

0353 6.92 1638 6.48 1105 1.69 2332 2.15

0510 6.68 1759 6.41 1211 1.82

0627 6.67 1909 6.55 0042 2.24 1322 1.85

44

45

25 MAY 0732 6.81 2006 6.77 0154 2.17 1430 1.77
26 Saturday
27 Sunday 0826 6.99 2054 7.00 0259 2.00 1528 1.65
28 Monday
29 Tuesday 0912 7.16 2136 7.20 0353 1.81 1617 1.57
30 Wednesday
31 Thursday 0954 7.29 2215 7.37 0439 1.66 1659 1.53

CONWY 1034 7.37 2253 7.50 0519 1.54 1736 1.52

JUNE 1112 7.41 2330 7.57 0555 1.47 1810 1.53

1 Friday 1150 7.39 0630 1.43 1843 1.56
2 Saturday
3 Sunday HIGH WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS LOW WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS
4 Monday
5 Tuesday Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/
6 Wednesday UT m UT m UT m UT m
7 Thursday
8 Friday 0008 7.57 1229 7.29 0706 1.43 1919 1.62
9 Saturday
10 Sunday 0047 7.48 1309 7.11 0744 1.48 1957 1.73
11 Monday
12 Tuesday 0128 7.29 1352 6.85 0825 1.60 2040 1.89
13 Wednesday
14 Thursday 0212 7.02 1439 6.55 0909 1.79 2125 2.11
15 Friday
16 Saturday 0301 6.71 1533 6.25 0956 2.01 2214 2.35
17 Sunday
18 Monday 0357 6.41 1634 6.02 1048 2.24 2307 2.56
19 Tuesday
20 Wednesday 0500 6.20 1739 5.94 1143 2.42
21 Thursday
22 Friday 0604 6.16 1840 6.03 0006 2.70 1244 2.51
23 Saturday
24 Sunday 0701 6.27 1932 6.27 0111 2.72 1349 2.48
25 Monday
26 Tuesday 0752 6.50 2018 6.60 0218 2.60 1451 2.33
27 Wednesday
28 Thursday 0838 6.82 2102 7.00 0319 2.35 1545 2.10
29 Friday
30 Saturday 0923 7.17 2145 7.41 0412 2.03 1634 1.83

1007 7.50 2229 7.78 0500 1.68 1721 1.57

1052 7.75 2314 8.04 0547 1.36 1807 1.36

1138 7.87 0633 1.10 1853 1.23

0000 8.16 1226 7.84 0721 0.95 1940 1.21

0048 8.10 1316 7.66 0809 0.92 2029 1.30

0138 7.88 1409 7.34 0859 1.02 2119 1.49

0233 7.53 1507 6.97 0951 1.22 2212 1.75

0333 7.13 1613 6.63 1045 1.49 2308 2.01

0440 6.79 1725 6.42 1143 1.76

0552 6.59 1834 6.39 0009 2.23 1245 1.98

0658 6.54 1933 6.48 0115 2.34 1350 2.09

0755 6.60 2023 6.64 0221 2.32 1451 2.10

0844 6.71 2108 6.85 0320 2.20 1544 2.04

0928 6.86 2149 7.07 0410 2.02 1629 1.93

1009 7.01 2228 7.29 0452 1.82 1708 1.81

1049 7.15 2307 7.46 0531 1.63 1745 1.67

1128 7.24 2346 7.56 0609 1.46 1822 1.56

1208 7.25 0646 1.35 1900 1.51

CONWY HIGH WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS LOW WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS

JULY Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/
UT m UT m UT m UT m
1 Sunday
0026 7.56 1248 7.17 0725 1.32 1939 1.53

46

CONWY HIGH WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS LOW WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS

JULY Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/
UT m UT m UT m UT m
1 Sunday
2 Monday 0026 7.56 1248 7.17 0725 1.32 1939 1.53
3 Tuesday
4 Wednesday 0106 7.46 1329 7.01 0806 1.38 2020 1.65
5 Thursday
6 Friday 0147 7.25 1411 6.77 0847 1.54 2101 1.85
7 Saturday
8 Sunday 0230 6.98 1457 6.50 0929 1.77 2144 2.10
9 Monday
10 Tuesday 0317 6.67 1547 6.25 1013 2.04 2228 2.36
11 Wednesday
12 Thursday 0410 6.40 1644 6.08 1058 2.29 2316 2.58
13 Friday
14 Saturday 0510 6.23 1747 6.04 1148 2.48
15 Sunday
16 Monday 0614 6.21 1848 6.19 0011 2.71 1247 2.58
17 Tuesday
18 Wednesday 0714 6.36 1944 6.49 0120 2.72 1400 2.54
19 Thursday
20 Friday 0809 6.64 2036 6.90 0240 2.53 1513 2.32
21 Saturday
22 Sunday 0901 7.00 2126 7.34 0348 2.16 1613 1.99
23 Monday
24 Tuesday 0951 7.36 2214 7.76 0445 1.71 1707 1.63
25 Wednesday
26 Thursday 1039 7.67 2301 8.08 0536 1.27 1756 1.31
27 Friday
28 Saturday 1127 7.86 2349 8.25 0624 0.92 1843 1.09
29 Sunday
30 Monday 1215 7.91 0711 0.71 1930 1.01
31 Tuesday
0036 8.24 1304 7.78 0757 0.66 2016 1.07
CONWY
0125 8.06 1353 7.52 0844 0.79 2102 1.28
AUGUST
0215 7.72 1445 7.15 0931 1.07 2150 1.59
1 Wednesday
2 Thursday 0308 7.28 1541 6.76 1019 1.44 2239 1.94
3 Friday
4 Saturday 0405 6.83 1642 6.42 1109 1.84 2331 2.28
5 Sunday
6 Monday 0509 6.46 1748 6.21 1202 2.20
7 Tuesday
8 Wednesday 0616 6.25 1852 6.18 0029 2.53 1303 2.45
9 Thursday
10 Friday 0718 6.21 1948 6.30 0136 2.62 1408 2.53

0813 6.31 2038 6.53 0243 2.53 1508 2.44

0902 6.50 2124 6.82 0340 2.30 1559 2.24

0946 6.74 2206 7.12 0427 2.01 1643 1.98

1028 6.98 2247 7.38 0509 1.70 1723 1.71

1108 7.16 2326 7.57 0549 1.43 1802 1.49

1147 7.28 0627 1.24 1840 1.36

0004 7.64 1225 7.29 0705 1.16 1919 1.34

0042 7.61 1302 7.21 0744 1.20 1957 1.44

HIGH WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS LOW WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS

Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/
UT m UT m UT m UT m

0119 7.47 1340 7.04 0821 1.36 2035 1.63

0158 7.24 1420 6.82 0859 1.60 2113 1.88

0239 6.97 1503 6.57 0937 1.88 2152 2.15

0325 6.66 1554 6.33 1017 2.16 2234 2.40

0421 6.38 1656 6.17 1102 2.41 2325 2.60

0529 6.21 1807 6.18 1158 2.59

0641 6.25 1915 6.41 0034 2.69 1316 2.64

0747 6.50 2016 6.82 0208 2.56 1447 2.44

0845 6.88 2111 7.30 0330 2.14 1558 2.03

0938 7.30 2202 7.76 0431 1.60 1654 1.57

47

11 AUGUST 1028 7.67 2250 8.13 0523 1.10 1744 1.17
12 Sunday
13 Monday 1116 7.92 2337 8.33 0611 0.72 1830 0.91
14 Tuesday
15 Wednesday 1202 8.01 0656 0.52 1914 0.83
16 Thursday
17 Friday 0022 8.34 1248 7.92 0740 0.53 1957 0.92
18 Saturday
19 Sunday 0107 8.15 1333 7.67 0823 0.73 2040 1.17
20 Monday
21 Tuesday 0153 7.80 1419 7.30 0905 1.09 2122 1.53
22 Wednesday
23 Thursday 0239 7.34 1506 6.87 0947 1.54 2205 1.94
24 Friday
25 Saturday 0329 6.83 1558 6.46 1030 2.01 2250 2.32
26 Sunday
27 Monday 0425 6.36 1658 6.13 1116 2.42 2342 2.63
28 Tuesday
29 Wednesday 0530 6.03 1806 5.99 1211 2.71
30 Thursday
31 Friday 0640 5.92 1912 6.07 0047 2.78 1319 2.82
SEPTEMBER
0743 6.02 2009 6.31 0202 2.72 1431 2.70
CONWY
1 Saturday 0837 6.27 2059 6.65 0309 2.45 1531 2.41
2 Sunday
3 Monday 0924 6.58 2144 7.01 0402 2.09 1619 2.05
4 Tuesday
5 Wednesday 1007 6.89 2225 7.32 0447 1.71 1702 1.70
6 Thursday
7 Friday 1046 7.15 2303 7.55 0527 1.40 1741 1.43
8 Saturday
9 Sunday 1123 7.33 2339 7.68 0605 1.18 1819 1.27
10 Monday
11 Tuesday 1158 7.41 0642 1.09 1856 1.23
12 Wednesday
13 Thursday 0015 7.71 1233 7.41 0718 1.13 1932 1.31
14 Friday
15 Saturday 0050 7.63 1308 7.32 0754 1.28 2007 1.48
16 Sunday
17 Monday 0126 7.47 1346 7.16 0829 1.51 2043 1.70
18 Tuesday
19 Wednesday HIGH WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS LOW WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS
20 Thursday Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/
21 Friday
22 Saturday UT m UT m UT m UT m
23 Sunday
0205 7.23 1427 6.92 0905 1.78 2121 1.96

0250 6.91 1516 6.64 0944 2.06 2204 2.21

0344 6.55 1616 6.37 1030 2.34 2258 2.44

0454 6.25 1733 6.25 1130 2.56

0616 6.19 1852 6.41 0012 2.56 1253 2.64

0730 6.44 2000 6.81 0148 2.43 1428 2.43

0833 6.86 2058 7.31 0312 1.99 1542 1.96

0927 7.32 2149 7.78 0415 1.43 1638 1.47

1016 7.71 2236 8.13 0507 0.94 1728 1.07

1102 7.97 2321 8.32 0553 0.62 1812 0.83

1145 8.06 0637 0.50 1855 0.78

0004 8.30 1227 7.97 0718 0.60 1935 0.92

0046 8.10 1309 7.74 0757 0.87 2014 1.19

0128 7.75 1350 7.39 0835 1.27 2052 1.55

0210 7.30 1432 6.98 0912 1.71 2130 1.94

0254 6.80 1518 6.56 0950 2.15 2211 2.31

0345 6.32 1613 6.19 1032 2.52 2300 2.60

0447 5.95 1721 5.97 1124 2.80

0602 5.79 1835 5.98 0003 2.77 1233 2.91

0713 5.89 1940 6.21 0121 2.75 1352 2.80

0812 6.16 2034 6.55 0235 2.49 1500 2.48

0900 6.50 2119 6.91 0333 2.12 1553 2.10

0942 6.84 2159 7.23 0420 1.75 1637 1.74

48

24 SEPTEMBER 1020 7.13 2236 7.48 0502 1.44 1717 1.47
25 Tuesday
26 Wednesday 1055 7.35 2311 7.65 0540 1.24 1755 1.30
27 Thursday
28 Friday 1129 7.50 2345 7.73 0616 1.16 1831 1.25
29 Saturday
30 Sunday 1203 7.57 0652 1.19 1906 1.29

CONWY 0020 7.73 1238 7.57 0726 1.31 1942 1.40

OCTOBER 0057 7.62 1316 7.46 0802 1.49 2019 1.57
1 Monday
2 Tuesday 0138 7.41 1359 7.24 0839 1.72 2100 1.79
3 Wednesday
4 Thursday HIGH WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS LOW WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS
5 Friday
6 Saturday Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/
7 Sunday UT m UT m UT m UT m
8 Monday
9 Tuesday 0224 7.08 1448 6.94 0922 1.99 2148 2.02
10 Wednesday
11 Thursday 0319 6.67 1550 6.59 1013 2.26 2248 2.23
12 Friday
13 Saturday 0430 6.32 1708 6.39 1118 2.48
14 Sunday
15 Monday 0557 6.23 1833 6.49 0002 2.33 1240 2.54
16 Tuesday
17 Wednesday 0716 6.48 1944 6.86 0130 2.19 1409 2.31
18 Thursday
19 Friday 0820 6.90 2043 7.32 0251 1.80 1521 1.88
20 Saturday
21 Sunday 0913 7.34 2133 7.73 0354 1.32 1619 1.43
22 Monday
23 Tuesday 1000 7.69 2219 8.01 0446 0.94 1708 1.09
24 Wednesday
25 Thursday 1044 7.91 2302 8.14 0532 0.72 1752 0.92
26 Friday
27 Saturday 1125 7.98 2343 8.09 0614 0.70 1832 0.91
28 Sunday
29 Monday 1204 7.91 0653 0.86 1911 1.06
30 Tuesday
31 Wednesday 0023 7.90 1242 7.72 0730 1.14 1947 1.30

NOVEMBER 0102 7.59 1321 7.43 0804 1.49 2022 1.60

CONWY 0142 7.21 1401 7.09 0838 1.85 2058 1.90
1 Thursday
2 Friday 0224 6.78 1445 6.72 0914 2.18 2139 2.19
3 Saturday
0313 6.36 1537 6.36 0956 2.48 2228 2.45

0412 6.00 1643 6.10 1049 2.71 2329 2.61

0526 5.81 1759 6.03 1154 2.84

0640 5.88 1907 6.19 0041 2.64 1311 2.78

0742 6.12 2003 6.47 0156 2.47 1423 2.54

0831 6.43 2049 6.77 0259 2.19 1521 2.22

0912 6.75 2129 7.06 0349 1.88 1609 1.90

0949 7.04 2205 7.32 0433 1.63 1651 1.65

1024 7.31 2241 7.53 0512 1.45 1729 1.48

1059 7.53 2316 7.68 0549 1.36 1806 1.37

1135 7.68 2354 7.74 0626 1.34 1843 1.34

1213 7.75 0702 1.39 1921 1.37

0033 7.69 1253 7.70 0740 1.50 2002 1.45

0117 7.51 1339 7.51 0822 1.67 2048 1.59

0206 7.19 1430 7.20 0910 1.88 2141 1.77

0303 6.80 1532 6.84 1005 2.11 2242 1.93

HIGH WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS LOW WATER TIMES AND HEIGHTS

Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/ Time/ Height/
UT m UT m UT m UT m

0414 6.45 1649 6.60 1110 2.29 2351 2.01

0540 6.35 1813 6.63 1224 2.34

0658 6.55 1925 6.90 0109 1.93 1344 2.19

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Some Useful Contact Numbers and Calling Channels

NWCC CLUBHOUSE CHANNEL M 01492 593 481

COASTGUARD—POLICE—FIRE—PARAMEDIC—AMBULANCE: EMERGENCY CALL 999

COASTGUARD HOLYHEAD CO-ORDINATION CENTRE 01407 762 051

CUSTOMS & EXCISE HOLYHEAD 01407 760 626

CONWY HARBOUR CHANNEL 14 01492 596 253

PORT ST MARY [IoM] HM CHANNEL 12 01624 833 205

CAERNARFON VICTORIA DOCK CHANNEL 80 01286 672 346

CONWY MARINA CHANNEL 80 01492 593 000

DEGANWY MARINA CHANNEL 80 01492 576 888

HOLYHEAD MARINA CHANNEL M 01407 764 242

LIVERPOOL MARINA CHANNEL M 0151 707 6777

PORT DINORWIC MARINA CHANNEL 80 01248 671 500

PWLLHELI MARINA CHANNEL 80 01758 701 219
ROYAL ANGLESEY YC BEAUMARIS 01248 810 295

NW VENTURERS YC GALLOWS PT 01248 810 023

ROYAL IRISH YC DUN LAOGHAIRE, ROI +353 1 280 9452

ROYAL WELSH YC CAERNARFON 01286 672 599

TRAETH COCH SC TRAETH COCH 07926 357 484

NORTH WALES POLICE GENERAL ENQUIRIES DIAL 101 OR 0300 330 0101
HOSPITAL YSBYTY GWYNEDD, BANGOR 01248 384 384
PENRHOSGARNEDD LL57 2PW
HOSPITAL GLAN CLWYD, RHYL LL18 5UJ 01745 583 910
HOSPITAL 01492 860 066
DENTAL SURGERY HOSPITAL RD, LLANDUDNO LL30 1LB 01492 596 520
DENTAL SURGERY 3 YORK PLACE, CONWY LL32 8AB 01492 580 099
DOCTORS SURGERY 01492 592 424
DOCTORS SURGERY 125 STATION RD, DEGANWY LL31 9EJ 01492 550 430
23 CASTLE ST, CONWY LL32 8AY
YORK RD, DEGANWY LL32 8AT INNER BACK COVER

50