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Posts Tagged ‘Sailing’

An experienced yachtsman sailing across the Irish Sea will know about Skerries Lighthouse off the North West Anglesey coast in the UK. When they approach Holyhead Bay either from Dublin in the west or the north, this lighthouse on an isolated rock off the island coast will soon come into view. Today the Trinity House lighthouse on Skerries Rock is fully automatic and its 23 metres in height means the white flashing light can be seen by sailors up to 22 miles away.

And Skerries rock is also home to one of the largest tern colonies in the world, which are monitored by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) who occasionally send a team out to the rock. But just go back over 200 years in history and there was barely any navigational help on this treacherous Anglesey coast. Then in 1713 Irishman William Trench took out a 99 year lease on the rock from local landowner William Robinson, and events soon took on a new dynamic.

A big challenge lay ahead but undaunted William Trench set about building the very first lighthouse on Skerries rock, and in 1716 his efforts were rewarded when the lights on. For sure it was not as powerful as current lamps, but the 35 feet high tower had an open grate and a flame produced by burning coal. The enterprising Mr Trench exploited this valuable service by charging passing ships a fee based on tonnage, except for the British Navy.

William Trench was succeeding in getting annual income of as much as $2,200 from the lighthouse levies, a very high sum for the period. As the years went by these fees increased significantly, hitting $23,000 in 1828. Ownership of the lighthouse changed a few times over this time and in 1841, Trinity House Corporation secured the freehold for a huge sum of $990,000.

It is very challenging trying to sail through the Langdon Ridge, the gap between Carmel Head on Anglesey and Skerries, even for experienced sailors and in fine conditions. So tricky are the tides and closeness of the rocks that some yachtsmen choose not to go through Langdon, especially at night. Your boat can be pulled along with the flood tide from Holyhead, and before you know it you are up level with Cemlyn Nature Reserve and Wylfa Power Station. These waters are ideal for new tidal turbines and there have already been scoping studies to look at viability as a new source of green energy.

Sailing around Anglesey can be great fun. And you can enjoy marine wildlife - cormorants, puffins, dolphins and puffins -either from the sea or the coastal path. When you pass Skerries Lighthouse just try to imagine the struggles of William Trench all those years ago, and how now these Anglesey Lighthouses protect ships and yachts. Kayak enthusiasts sometimes kayak to Skerries from Church Bay, and they have to measure the wind and tide to avoid missing their destination in these tidal waters.

Looking back over 250 years to the time of William Trench, Skerries Lighthouse has had a colourful history. With the end of sail and the coming of steam, the lighthouse keepers would have seen famous ships like the Royal Charter and Great Eastern, as well as numerous wrecks. There is a big tern colony on the rock and occasionally yachts and kayaks visit this isolated Anglesey Lighthouse.

A question often asked by visitors is which Anglesey beach would a local person recommend to make their stay on the island one to remember. There are in fact many outstanding beaches on this island in the Irish Sea off North Wales, boasting over 125 miles of exquisite coastline. And significantly many of them regularly win European Blue Flag and Resort Seaside Awards as well as Green Coast Beaches for water quality.

The most popular beaches of Anglesey are not necessarily the easiest to reach, yet the struggle to get there is well worth the effort. Take Llanddona beach on the east coast, a soft sandy expanse which sweeps in a north easterly arc and surrounded by high lush green hills and trees, yet the road is a narrow one and a challenge for the driver. A large quantity of silver coins was recently discovered on this beach, and more may be hidden, while there is a tale of the Witches of Llanddona which has fascinated people over the years.

Llanddwyn is an Anglesey beach situated on the south east corner of the island, approached through Newborough Forest, an impressive collection of conifers where some red squirrels still survive. When you reach the beach the vast expanse is breathtaking, whether you arrive here on a blustery winter day or in the heat of the mid summer sun. A nearby rocky island is home to an old white lighthouse and derelict church, where Demi Moore filmed scenes from her paranormal Half Light movie.

When visiting one of the beaches on Anglesey you may notice bright orange life rings attached to the ground, and these could mean the difference between life and death if someone is in serious difficulty in the water. Visitors should respect this important rescue equipment, and especially when you consider that in 2008 alone 38 people drowned off the island coast. If you see a life ring damaged you need to contact the local council immediately.

If you travel to the west of Anglesey at Church Bay there is an interesting Green flag beach, where the coastal path runs along high cliffs which surround this narrow cove popular with swimmers. Often you will see some kayaks gathering at the beach ready to begin a coastal exploration, or perhaps go further to the Skerries Rock lighthouse. On your way to Church Bay you will drive along a narrow country lane, decked with flowers, and on arrival you cant miss the Lobster Pot restaurant.

In the south west is Holy Island where you find the Port of Holyhead and two Blue Flag beaches at Porth Dafarch and Trearddur Bay. To celebrate the Millennium, a Celtic cross was erected in the marram grass at Trearddur. These two beach locations also have dog free zones operating between May and September, which is a facility asked for by a number of people.

If you want a heads-up for your Anglesey beach holiday then remember not to go out to sea in a large inflatable dinghy, particularly if the wind is blowing out to sea. Your best not to eat a heavy meal before swimming, and dont be afraid to ask the beach warden for advice on anything you are not sure about. Looking after your pets means not leaving them in parked cars in hot weather, and make sure you have plenty of cold non-alcoholic drinks to prevent dehydration.

While some travel to the island for relaxing walks along the coastal path, others engage in high energy water sports like surfing, kayaking, swimming or coasteering, or just to relax on the sandy stretches and watch the lovely sunsets in the west. Whatever your reason, you can be sure that your Anglesey beach experience will be a memorable one for years to come.

There are times when a person wants to go boating, and they want to have a fun experience, and that means they are going to need some sort of boat. The best thing that you can do is purchase a good inflatable raft. Sea Eagle make some great inflatable rafts which can be used for many different applications. Some of these are fly fishing, rafting, floating off into oblivion, or whatever it is that you happen to want. These rafts usually hold three people, and they are extremely durable. There are several different types of inflatable rafts from Sea Eagle, and below we have listed a few of them for you to read about.

The first boat we are going to look at is one known as the Sea Eagle 6 or SE6. This boat can take up to 650 lbs, and will hold up to two people with light gear. It can use a small motor and only weights a whopping twenty five pounds, making it perfect for camping trips.

Then theres the Sea Eagle 8. This boat is extremely popular, though it should not be confused with the r(8). This boat is made for a single person and can be used for either fishing, boating, or random floating if you just want to get away for a while. After all, what better place to get away than the middle of a lake where there is no cell phone reception?

The Sea Eagle r(8) has a set of oars, rowing seat, foot pump, FHS fisherman seat, repair kit, and a set of instructions for those who will actually read them. This raft is built with a two compartment floor which can be inflated, and there is a safety chamber of the main chamber. This really is a great piece of equipment, and it can hold three adults or roughly nine hundred and fifty pounds. Deflated the raft measures 24×21x8, and inflated it can take a 3 horsepower gas engine. This really is a great boat as far as inflatable rafts go, and if you are into some heavy duty lake-faring adventures, then you should definitely look into this one as it w ill not disappoint.

The next in line is the Sea Eagle 9. This is a lot like the previously mentioned raft because everyone loves it for river floating or fly fishing. The biggest difference is that this raft can be used for white water rafting if you so desire. It can hold up to 1200 lbs which translates into a total of five adults, and is made of Polykrylar. You can punp the raft in as little as fifteen minutes and even attach a motor to it that can sail at up to four hp.

There are number of different accessories that you can purchase for this raft which include a sun canopy, windshield, floor boards, and a number of other things. What is added on is entirely up to you.

The next on the list of Sea Eagles boat inflatables is the “Sea Eagle(r) 14-ft Sailcat Deluxe inflatable raft package.” This package features a Sailcat boat, oars, a nylon storage bag, two cushions, a carry bag, instructions, repair kit,3 aluminum cross benches and of course the sail rig. The sail rig contains the aluminum mast, the mast step, tiller/rudder system and lateen rig. What is also unique about this 4 person set up is that the frame folds. The deflated dimensions of this boat inflatable are 60″ x 14″ x 12″, the inflated measurements are 9′6″ x 4′, and the exterior size is 14′ x 5′. The sail area covers 45 sg ftQ4-ft, the tube diameter is 16″, weighs 97 pounds and is rated for winds 0-25 mph.

If an inflatable boat is what you seek, then you may feel free to stop seeking, because the sea eagle as everything that you could possibly want. Whether you want to fish, soar across the white waters, or aimlessly float down the river, there is some boat somewhere that will have everything that you need.