The reputation of the Caernarfon Bar and the Swellies is often enough to deter boat owners from visiting the Menai Strait.  However, providing these waters are treated with the respect they deserve and you do your homework before visiting then the rewards are well worth the effort. 

This is an area of outstanding beauty, and apart from Caernarfon (a very useful stopover), there are other mooring opportunities within the Menai Strait,  both above and below the Swellies.  ... read more

Unless entering the Menai Strait from the North and passing the Swellies, the visiting yachtsman or motorboater will be approaching from the West and will have to negotiate Caernarfon Bar, which must be crossed to get to the town of Caernarfon and also to enter the Menai Strait from the south.

Pilotage Directions: A quick glance at the chart will show that there are sand banks extending roughly 3 miles from the coast, with a shalow channel marked by buoyage leading to the very deep and narrow entrance at Abermenai. At this bottleneck the tides can reach 5 kn, so entry should be planned at slack water or with the tide under you.

These sandbanks are constantly shifting, and the buoyage is moved around to suit. Bad seas can build up on the bar in any kind of strong onshore conditions. The situation is made worse when an outflowing tide meets an oncoming wind. Even moderate onshore winds combined with an ebbing tide can make the entrance impassable. Heavy ground swell in the Irish sea can cause severe problems at the bar even in moderate conditions too.

A first-time entry is only recommended in offshore or fair weather conditions, with little or no swell running. ... read more

Berths for visiting boats are either in the small Victoria Dock Marina, Harbour Authority mooring buoys or within the Afon Seiont.

The harbour authorities here work on VHF channel 12 or 14, with initial contact being made on channel 16. You will need to get in touch with them if you want to enter the Afon Seiont and obtain a drying berth on the north bank of the River (see photo gallery). Arrangements and prices are now covered.
... read more