I don’t think that Newport is very well known as a sailing destination, but (in my humble / biased) opinion, I would argue that it is one of the most beautiful places to mess about on the water in the whole of Wales.
I have windsurfed and kitesurfed here for years, but have recently started getting into sailing. I thought it may be helpful to share some thoughts on anyone thinking about boatism in this stunning corner of the globe.
Please note that these are the personal thoughts of a sailing newbie and you should naturally always do your research when sailing in a new environment.
Newport Bay
The bay is fairly huge, with endless space to enjoy yourself. It is also pretty safe. The headlands provide good shelter, although this does come at the cost of gusty winds unless from the West to North-West. In the summer months, there is almost always company on the water and a great sense of camaraderie, so it is a great place to build your confidence on the water.
It really is beautiful and we have enjoyed some incredible moments on the water – a particular memory was a peaceful early morning last year mackerel fishing with the company of seals and dolphins. A real privilege, but not an uncommon one as there are plenty of dolphins around and definitely no shortage of seals.
It can get rough, especially after a period of NW winds, but Dinas Head typically shelters the bay from the predominant wind and swell, so you will normally see lots of boats enjoying a sail around the high tide.
Launching A Boat
You used to be able to park on the beach at the North end and it was not uncommon to see people launching boats directly on the beach. Since the on-beach car park was closed and bollards put in place, you can no longer drive on to the beach, so you should launch a boat at the southern end, by the boat club.
There is an official launch ‘ramp’ (not really a ramp – just a nice shelving, enclosed beach) just by the boat club:
There is plenty of space to manoeuvre a car / trailer and it feels very relaxed. I have never seen it being busy, but you should move your car as soon as possible and not leave trailers on the ‘ramp’.
You can also use the Parrog beach in front of the boat club to launch / retrieve a boat. Being a relative newbie to boatism, I was slightly worried about retrieving our boat, mainly due to the thought of having to reverse a trailer in front of other humans, so adopted the idiot’s approach which was to walk our trailer into the water in the shallow / calm waters at high tide and drift the boat on, before going to grab a coffee whilst the tide drained away! All very easy and confidence inspiring.
Here is a photo of this process in action, where you can see the space you have to launch and the very easy nature of the beach:
The Tide
There is one thing you absolutely need to understand before you launch anything here, and that is the tide.
Newport is a tidal estuary, and it behaves like one. At low water, the river channel becomes very shallow – barely ankle deep in a big tide. The golden rule is straightforward: plan your boating for either side of high tide. Aim to be on the water for the two to three hours before high water and the two to three hours after, and you’ll have plenty of depth and manageable conditions. Try to motor out on the last of the ebb and you may find yourself making an unplanned acquaintance with the seabed…
It is always a good idea to walk the channel at low water before your first outing as it could potentially save a lot of embarrassment. There are rocks on one side and a sandbar on the other, so it is reassuring to have a mental picture of where to be in the river, although there are plenty of buoys to help and it really isn’t as scary as I am probably making it sound.
The Boat Club
Newport Boat Club has been sitting at the Parrog since 1976, so is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. We were there to see it launch a new flag to mark the occasion 🙂 It is exactly the kind of club you hope to find: properly welcoming, not at all stuffy, and run by people who are genuinely passionate about getting out on the water. You do need to be a member to enjoy all the facilities, but it is not expensive and offers various options according to how many people you want to include.
The range of activities on offer is impressive for a club of this size. Dinghy sailing is the headline act, with organised racing in the run-up to the August Bank Holiday regatta that brings a decent fleet out onto the bay.
The rowing section is very active – you will often see the Celtic longboats out in the bay, and earlier this year four of the club’s members completed the World’s Toughest Row across the Atlantic. If that doesn’t tell you something about the spirit of the place, I’m not sure what will.
Three safety RIBs are out on the water during racing – the club takes safety seriously without being po-faced about it. There are great facilities including dinghy storage, a boat wash-down, showers, Wi-Fi, a live weather station and webcam – very handy to check the conditions on the water, or just to get your Newport fix if you are missing the views…
The social side of the club is also fun, with regular events during the busier months. On a clear evening, watching the sun go down over the bay with a drink in hand is one of those Newport experiences that you don’t really forget.
Here is an example from last year:
It really is a glorious way to end another day in paradise.
Moorings
Whilst there are options to rent kayaks, there is nowhere (that I am aware of) hiring boats (sail or power), so you will need to bring your own boat if you want to enjoy the water.
There are moorings in the estuary, which are not managed by the boat club but by (the amazingly named) Cymdeithas Gychod Afon Nyfer ac Harbwr Trefdraeth, or Newport Mooring Association if you are not feeling like a tongue twister. They are a non-profit association, and any surplus they generate gets reinvested back into the moorings rather than disappearing into anyone’s pocket, which is the right approach. You can find out more at https://www.cganaht.co.uk.
Moorings run along both banks of the Nevern, from the iron bridge on the eastern side all the way west to the Parrog area – a generous stretch of a genuinely picturesque estuary. The association also built a tidal landing stage attached to one of the sea walls, which has made life considerably easier for boat owners dealing with the tidal range. It’s a small thing, but it makes a real difference.
The waiting list for a seasonal mooring is an apparently endless wait, speaking from personal experience (I think we *might* be up to position 83 now….) but there is the option of visitor / temporary moorings, which are typically available. I haven’t personally tried in the peak summer months, but have never had a problem at any other time of the boating year. You can apply online and it isn’t especially expensive (£30 for the first week and then £20 per week thereafter, at time of writing).
Here is a photo of our boat, safely moored on a visitor mooring, early one morning on a stunning day last year:
Does it get much better than that?
I hope this helps anyone thinking about sailing (or boating in general – there are also plenty of fishing boats and RIBs on the water) in Newport. If you have a boat and are spending time in Newport, you should consider bringing it with you as you will be very envious of everyone else out on the water if you don’t.
