Porthmadog
The CHALLENGE part of the HMSC was well tested at Porthmadog (or Porthmadoc). We had to leave Barmouth on a high tide (in order to get over the bar) and then sail 2 hours north, enter the very tricky entrance to Porthmadog estuary, meet the HM, and exit the estuary - all before the tide went down.
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The Harbour Master Malcolm Humphries very kindly helped us by coming out to meet us mid-stream and I was able to jump down into his boat to interview him. Malcolm has worked in the harbour for 20 years and been HM for 4 years. In that time he has seen a decline in the number of yachts based in the harbour, a trend I have found all over North Wales..
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Maybe the tricky entrance has something to do with it. Not only do you have to follow the buoyed channel very carefully for 3 miles (see pilotage sketch) but the sand banks move! Malcolm has to move the buoys (shaped like tiny ships - so locals can tell which way the tide is going!) every month! Channels often start with the red and white striped "safe water" mark - also known as Fairway buoys - the one in the photo is Aberdovey which we sailed past on the way to Porthmadog (thank you Mike Cooke for correcting me!!).
The port has a long industrial history, exporting slate by sailing vessel all over the world. On their return they carried ballast, which they then dumped in the centre of the harbour making an island that you can see in Photo 7. The white house is called the Powder House, where the sailing boats had to leave their on-board gun powder while they were in port. Apparently they carried it to use to "blast" obstructions in their path.
The Powder House is marked on charts as a conspicuous white house - someone bought it and painted it pale blue - fortunately it has reverted to being white!
We missed out landing in this delightful harbour which is home to the Festiniog Railway and Portmeirion ... we need to return.
Thanks to Malcolm we did get back to deep water before the tide went out! .
.
The Harbour Master Malcolm Humphries very kindly helped us by coming out to meet us mid-stream and I was able to jump down into his boat to interview him. Malcolm has worked in the harbour for 20 years and been HM for 4 years. In that time he has seen a decline in the number of yachts based in the harbour, a trend I have found all over North Wales..
.
Maybe the tricky entrance has something to do with it. Not only do you have to follow the buoyed channel very carefully for 3 miles (see pilotage sketch) but the sand banks move! Malcolm has to move the buoys (shaped like tiny ships - so locals can tell which way the tide is going!) every month! Channels often start with the red and white striped "safe water" mark - also known as Fairway buoys - the one in the photo is Aberdovey which we sailed past on the way to Porthmadog (thank you Mike Cooke for correcting me!!).
The port has a long industrial history, exporting slate by sailing vessel all over the world. On their return they carried ballast, which they then dumped in the centre of the harbour making an island that you can see in Photo 7. The white house is called the Powder House, where the sailing boats had to leave their on-board gun powder while they were in port. Apparently they carried it to use to "blast" obstructions in their path.
The Powder House is marked on charts as a conspicuous white house - someone bought it and painted it pale blue - fortunately it has reverted to being white!
We missed out landing in this delightful harbour which is home to the Festiniog Railway and Portmeirion ... we need to return.
Thanks to Malcolm we did get back to deep water before the tide went out! .