Moorings on the River Tawe

The River Tawe runs 48 kilometres through south Wales and meets the sea in Swansea Bay at Swansea. A barrage built across its mouth in 1992 created a stretch of non-tidal fresh water above it, and a lock in the barrage lets boats pass between the river and the sea.

Boats approach up a dredged and well marked channel, with depths of four metres or more, between the two breakwater piers towards the commercial docks, then turn to port for the barrage lock. Holding buoys outside the barrage are for boats waiting to lock in, though they are not suitable at the lowest tides. The lock works long hours, with longer opening in summer, and takes around 25 yachts at a time, but it cannot work at dead low water on spring tides. It listens on VHF channel 18.

Moorings on the River Tawe centre on Swansea Marina, which opened in 1982 in the former South Dock beside the river mouth, with more berths built on the river behind the barrage once it was finished. The marina takes visiting boats as well as berth holders, and has a boatyard with a 25 tonne travel lift for building and servicing boats, with chandlers close by.