Conway Yacht Club - Founded 1911 
Sailing at the CYC
Racing
The Club has three active racing fleets: the Cruiser Class, Conway One Design Class and Squibs. Each Class is represented on the Sailing Committee.
Offshore Class yachts race under the Channel Handicap (C.H.S.) System or L.B.S.A. The Cruiser Class provides serious racing
for all types of cruisers under a Club Handicap System loosely based on the Portsmouth Yardstick System. (For full details
of the Club Handicap System, please see Appendix C to the 1998 Sailing Instructions). Open races and some other trophies
are competed for on a strict P.Y.S. basis. The Cruiser Class is a joint fleet with those of the North Wales Cruising Club
and Marina Berth Holders Association.
The Conway One Design is an historic yacht designed in the 1920s specifically for the Conwy Estuary. Most of the boats
are constructed of wood and are of considerable antiquity, though in recent years two fibreglass Conway O.D.s have been
built from a mould owned by the Club.
Racing takes place most weekends from April to October, and occasionally midweek on suitable tides. Please see Sailing
Programme for details of racing. Copies of the current Sailing Instructions (2002 revision) and Course Cards are available
from the Club or the Sailing Captain. Except for open events, yachts must be owned by a member of C.Y.C., N.W.C.C. or M.B.H.A.
Members of recognised yacht clubs may helm as guests for a maximum of four races per season.
Race Officers
The Club relies on the services of volunteer Race Officers on a rota basis (see Fixture List). More volunteers are needed, and help on the starting-tower is always welcome. Novices are encouraged to come forward, experienced help is available. Any Race Officer who is unable to perform his duty on the allocated date should arrange a substitute or contact the Sailing Captain as soon as possible.
Cruising
It is intended that cruising in company should take place during 2003 organised by C.Y.C. or in conjunction with N.W.C.C. as per their existing programme
Launch Service
The Club’s launch “Sior” is operated on a voluntary basis at race times. Its primary function is to serve as a guard boat during racing (Conway OD Class only), and for the purpose of transporting members to and from their boats. Launch services may be available at other times by prior arrangement with the Guard Boat Commander.
Launch Safety
No more than 12 persons are permitted on the launch at any one time. Please do not ask the Guard Boat Commander to exceed this limit. Members are advised to supply and wear personal buoyancy when on board. Small children will not be allowed on the launch unless wearing adequate buoyancy aids. Passengers should remain seated at all times and obey the instructions of the Guard Boat Commander.
Tender
The Club also owns a tender which is kept at the top of Deganwy slip. It is primarily for use by the Guard Boat Commander. If used by members, it must remain accessible and within hail of the slip at all times.
Winch
A capstan winch is located on the Deganwy slip. Keys are available from the the Steward.
Navigation in the Conwy Estuary
Conwy Approaches
The landfall mark is Conwy Fairway Buoy, spherical white with vertical red stripes. All Conwy Buoys are fitted with radar reflectors. The most inshore mark is the Perch Pole on the South side of Conwy Entrance.
| Mark | Pos.N | Pos.W | Light |
| Fairway | 053° 17.954' N | 003° 55.581' W | Fl. 10 sec |
| No. 2 | 053° 17.641' N | 003° 54.695' W | Fl. (2) R 10 sec |
| No. 1 | 053° 17.587' N | 003° 53.429' W | Fl. G 10 sec |
| No. 4 | 053° 17.728' N | 003° 52.904' W | Fl. (4) R 20 sec |
| No. 6 | 053° 17.781' N | 003° 52.271' W | Fl. (6) R 30 sec |
| No. 8 | 053° 18.003' N | 003° 52.047' W | Fl. (8) R 30 sec |
| No. 3 | 053° 18.062' N | 003° 51.744' W | Fl. (3) G 15 sec |
| No. 5 | 053° 18.069' N | 003° 51.323' W | Fl. (5) G 15 sec |
| Perch | 053° 18.060' N | 003° 50.838' W | Fl. G 15 sec |
| No. 11 | 053° 18.064' N | 003° 50.749' W | Fl. (7) G 15 sec |
| Beacon Jetty | 053° 17.665' N | 003° 50.359' W | - |
For those unfamiliar with local navigation hazards, entry to the Harbour by the buoyed channel is recommended during daylight only and between 2 hours either side of High water for craft drawing 6ft. Beware of strong tidal flow especially at springs Keep at least 50 meters clear of the Perch Light leaving it to Starboard on entry, making a 90° turn to Starboard when Conwy Bridge is “half open” behind the wooded Bodlondeb Point.
The North Deep (inshore passage) is by three green (starboard-hand) buoys, position as yet not specified. An Orange Raft is located in Summer off Black Rocks; beware and keep clear.
Vessels on passage to the Harbour should leave the raft 100 meters clear to Starboard bearing in mind the breakwater off Black Rocks.
On Neap tides this passage is not recommended for vessels with draft exceeding 5 feet unless within half an hour of HW or if there is less than 7.0m at HW Conwy.
The Harbour
The Harbour Limits extend from a transit line through Penmaen Bach point and the Perch light to seaward of Deganwy Narrows to Cymryd Point, half mile up river, beyond the bridge.
The harbour speed limit is 10mph (8.6kts).
Vessels should pass Port to Port in the buoyed channel.
Conwy Tidal Data
| Springs | Neaps | |
| H.W.Time | 40 minutes before Liverpool |
20 minutes before Liverpool |
| Range | MHWS-MLWS 8.4m (27.5ft) |
MHWN-MLWN 4.5m (14.7ft) |
| Duration | 5hrs 45min. | |
| Charts | Admiralty 1977, 1978 Imray C61 O.S.115 |
|
Mooring
The Harbour generally provides good shelter, except for strong winds from the North - North West. All applications for moorings should be addressed to the Harbour Master, Conwy 01492-596253. Visitors should contact him for a vacant mooring on :- VHF Ch.14 (09:00-17:00 Monday -Friday only and Saturday/Sunday during the season.)
Other Navigational Marks
| Mark | Coordinates |
| Trwyn-Du | Fl 5.5s 19m 15M W round castellated Tr., B bands Vis101°-023° Bell (1) 30s, sounded continuously |
| Radio Mast | FR, 2M SW |
| Mountfield | 53° 16.2’N 05° 1’W Fl WG 2s 8m 6M; vis G 221°-226°, W226°-341°. |
| Beaumaris Pier | FWG |
| Moelfre Point | 53° 21.4’N 04° 13.8’W Q(3) 9s 15m 6M |
| Point Lynas | 53° 25’N 04° 17.3’W 0c 10s 39m 20M; W Castellated Tr; vis 109°-315°; (H24); Fog Det. Lt. vis 212°-214°; Horn 45s; RC |
VHF Stations
| Station | Call Channel |
Working Channel |
| Holyhead Coastguard 1880 & 2182 MF |
Ch16 | Ch16 |
| Weather Bulletins 08:03 & 20:03 GMT |
Warning on Ch16 |
Broadcast on Ch26 |
| Traffic Lists 01:03, 05:03 and every odd H +03 (09:03-23:03) |
Selective Calling SSFC system Ch16 |
Ch26 |
| Conwy Harbour Master 09:00-17:00 Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00 Sat/Sun during season |
Ch14 | Ch14 |
| Lynas Pilot | Ch16 | Ch09 |
| Coastguard | Ch16 | Ch67 |
| C.Y.C. Launch “Sior” | Ch37(M) | Ch37(M) |
| C.Y.C. Starting Tower | Ch37(M) | Ch37(M) |
| Conwy Marina | Ch80 | Ch80 |
| Deganwy Quay | Ch80 | Ch80 |
Conway One Design Fleet
| No. | Name | Hull | Owner |
1 |
Seiriol | Varnish | A.Grace & *A.E.Davies |
2 |
Minnie | Ivory | G.& J.Booth |
4 |
Kandahar | Yellow | B.Lee & D.Gallichan |
5 |
Cymba | Red | COD Association |
6 |
Kathleen | Maroon | J.White |
7 |
Bluebird | Blue | P.Roberts |
8 |
Gwalch | Black | F.Fray |
9 |
Kingfisher | Blue | C.J. & A.Williams |
10 |
Margaret II | Dark Blue | P.Kraus & C.M.Davies |
11 |
Acushla | Light Blue | P.J.Roberts & C.L.Rowlands |
12 |
Mistral | Varnish | S.& R.Stuart |
14 |
Mayfly | Varnish | A.S.Hughes |
15 |
Mercury | Green | P.Macko & A.Jones |
16 |
Maryland | Varnish | C.J. & A.Williams |
17 |
**Phoenix | White | M.Meldrum & P.J.Macdonald |
18 |
**Swn-y-Don | Blue | J.R.E.Stagg |
*Denotes Class Captain
**Denotes G.R.P.
Useful Numbers
| Name | Number | |
| Marinecall Area 10 | Wales | 0891-505360 |
| Marinecall Area 11 | North West | 0891-505361 |
| Weatherline | Anglesey & N.Wales Coast | 0898-8091 |
| Rhyl Coastguard | 01745-53284 | |
| H.M.Coastguard | General Enquiries M.R.S.C Penmon |
01407-3911 01407-2051 9678-244 |
| H.M.Customs & Excise | 01407-2331 | |
| Conwy Harbourmaster | 01492-596253 | |
| Llandudno General Hospital | 01492-860066 | |
| Ysbyty Gwynedd | 01248-370007 | |
| Conway Yacht Club | 01492-583690 | |
| Conwy Marina | 01492-593000 | |
| Deganwy Quay Marina | 01492-581836 | |