Irish Sea

Highlights

• Count ancient tower houses and castles along the beautiful Strangford Loch
• Respect the sea on a serious day’s sailing to the Isle of Man and on to Furness
• Check out the culture around Liverpool’s historic Royal Albert Docks and visit Tate Liverpool
• Explore dramatic castles of North Wales at Piel Island, Beaumaris and Caernarfon
• Piloted passage through the treacherous Swellies in the Menai Straits

Itinerary

Day 1: Board Snark from 16:00 to 18:00 at Belfast Harbour Marina in Northern Ireland. Group introductions and safety briefing, followed by evening meal on board.

Day 2: Cast off early to cruise up the River Lagan through the busy port to Belfast Loch and out into the Irish Sea. Pick up the fast south-going tide through the Sound of Donaghadee and down to the entrance of Strangford Loch to carry the last of the flood past ancient tower houses and castles up to the anchorage at Audley’s Roads, a picturesque spot in a quiet bay next to Strangford Harbour.

Day 3: Off at dawn with breakfast as we set sail across the Irish Sea, keeping an eye out for gannets diving for fish. Head to Port St. Mary on the Isle of Man, hopefully for a late lunch on board while moored up on Albert Pier. Time to relax or catch some well-earned sleep.

Day 4: Cast off after breakfast to pick up the first of the east-going tide for a serious, all-day sail across the Irish Sea threading through the huge wind farms of the south Cumbrian coast, past Furness, to the north side of Morecambe Bay and a sheltered anchorage off the tiny Piel Island near the 14th-century castle. Maybe row ashore for a pint at the ‘king of the island’s’ pub, The Ship Inn. 

Day 5: Weigh anchor after an early breakfast and set sail south across Morecambe Bay past Blackpool’s famous tower to the Mersey River and Liverpool docks. Lock into the Royal Albert Dock by the Tate Liverpool, or anchor off if lock times dictate.  Time for a quick visit to the Tate Liverpool and check out the culture in the restored dock warehouses. Dinner on board. 

Day 6: Head back down the Mersey and sail along the North Wales coast, round Great Ormes Head past Puffin Island and the entrance to the Menai Straits. Moor at Beaumaris on Anglesey in time for an early dinner on board and a walk ashore to see the immense Beaumaris medieval castle - and maybe enjoy a tipple in a local inn.

Day 7: Time for a wander before we board the Menai pilot, the local expert mariner who will guide us through the treacherous Menai Straits, through the Swellies, under the Menai Suspension Bridge and the Britannia Bridge to Caernarfon where we will berth on the pier just north of Caernarfon Castle.  Dinner on board. 

Last Day: Breakfast on board, followed by goodbyes and disembarkation at 10:00 from Caernarfon Pier, North Wales.

A typical day’s activities might include:

• An early breakfast on board.
• Cast off and sail to our next stopover with lunch and refreshments along the way.
• Learn the ropes and help sail the boat as we go.
• Relax on board, keeping an eye out for wildlife and coastal landmarks, or chill on deck, reading a book, sketching or photographing the coast as we sail by.
• Moor up or anchor in the afternoon with cultural visits where available.
• Dinner on deck or row ashore to a secluded beach for a sea swim or coastal walk and barbecue, or evening out to a harbour inn or restaurant (onshore meals not included in price).

Note: The above itinerary is provisional. It may be subject to change depending on weather and other factors. Some ports will not be available in certain wind conditions. We might get to others too late or skip a stopover for a longer day’s sail if we’re running behind.