Please Note: It has not been possible to undertake a comprehensive survey of the bar at the time this notice was issued. For this reason the information contained herein should be used with due caution. It would appear that the low water channels are in approximately the same place as in 2001, but the low water channel of the Towy runs close to the tip of the Salmon Scar. Last year's Waypoint 3 position (this year called Waypont C) has been modified accordingly.

WARNING: at the time of issue there was no topmark on the Llansteffan Barrel Post. This will be replaced once weather conditions allow. Sea users are warned to keep well away from the Barrel Post as its top is awash at HWS.
 

The Carmarthen Bar Navigation Committee (a consortium of the River Towy Yacht Club, St Clears Boat Club and the Towy Boat Club) is the navigation authority for the Bar. It undertakes periodic surveys of the Bar and where possible it marks the most dangerous features. All buoys are seasonally maintained (approx. May to end September).

        Salmon Scar South Cardinal buoy

Not yet laid.

Llansteffan Port Hand Perch

51º 45.472N / 004º 23.299W S of Llansteffan Castle (permanent) TOPMARK MISSING - see note above,

Ferryside Starboard Hand Perch

51º 45.915N / 004º 22.590W W of Ferryside (permanent)

Description: Carmarthen Bar has two military exercise areas: one on its western side and the other to the east. To the west is Pendine Experimental Establishment and on the east and south Pembrey RAF bombing range. The exercise areas overlap and are usually active during weekdays. Occasionally some activity takes place overnight. The authorities  - 'Pendine Range' and 'Pembrey Range' - should be advised by RT or telephone before any passage is attempted across these range areas. Prior warning is advised. Range Safety vessels patrol the approaches from seaward (mainly from the west). The extent of the sea areas covered by the ranges is published by Pendine on a weekly basis and RT announcements are also made each morning.

Main Dangers. The area SW of the Pendine Drop tower marking the landward part of the High Explosives area (which contains a wrecked barge used for target practice) should also be avoided. The Craigwhinnie Bank (which runs W and NW to N from Towyn Point) has very little water over it. Mariners are reminded to avoid the area close-in W and S of Towyn Point, because this area has dangerous World War II beach defences, a low tower only visible at low tide and the wreck of the Teviotdale. The Craigwhinnie wreck (covered 3 hrs each side of HW) is well marked between the N Cardinal and the the yellow conical DZ9 marker buoy.

Navigation over the Bar into the River Tywi: The yellow DZ buoys DZ8 and DZ9, and yellow DZ pontoons delimiting the military dangers of Pendine and Pembrey are the main marks to be identified if you have no GPS. Ginst DZ Pontoon (yellow, red top sign) 51 deg 44.62N / 4 deg. 24.90W Towyn DZ resited 2001 at 51 deg. 43.469N 004 deg. 23.468W

The following GPS waypoints (NB. datum OS GB 36), are offered for general guidance when crossing the bar. You are reminded that sandbanks can form and change between tides. Crossings must only be undertaken in settled weather and you should constantly monitor your depth sounder and keep a visual lookout for breaking water.

Gwendraeth Rivers. When on station a S cardinal buoy marks the extensive stony bank running S and SW from St Ishmael's Church. Navigation into the Gwendraeth should only be made with extreme caution. Currently the low water channel of the Gwendraeth runs from the S extremity of Salmon Scar WNW into the Towy. An extensive sand bank W of Tywyn Point makes an approach from the W inadvisable. The Paul wreck on the S shore is almost totally besanded. In 2000 there was a blue drum buoy off the Pastoun Scar, which, from its siting, should be kept to port.

Taf River. The main channel runs close to Wharley Point. No precise information is available for navigation within the river towards Laugharne, which is shallow, so passage should only be attempted on a rising tide in calm weather, unless you have local knowledge.

Note for New Users of the Bar. Information in the West Coast of England and Wales Pilot is updated on a 3 yearly cycle. However because of continuing changes to depths and the ever-moving sand banks, any information in the pilot, on the Admiralty chart, or what is contained here, can quickly become out of date. So be warned! The Bar should only be attempted in settled conditions unless you have experience and local knowledge. It becomes very difficult when the wind freshens from the south.  Blind rollers often set up in anything from an upper F3 southerly, when the Bar becomes dangerous. Off-shore or easterly winds are generally not a problem. Passage over the Bar can usually be made from 2 hours before HW to 1 hour after. When the ebb starts running and the wind is southerly, breakers can appear. Even in calm weather breakers can show over shallow sand banks. Inside the Bar the three rivers dry out at low water, and navigation is relatively straightforward. The scenery is magnificent and unspoilt. There is ample space to anchor and dry out, BUT FIRST TAKE ADVICE, because there are steep edges to the channels in some places. Facilities can usually be arranged at the boat clubs off Ferryside (River Towy Yacht Club) or one mile further up on the opposite side, at the Towy Boat Club (jetty, pontoon with water) - contact the clubs direct.

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