Entering the Teifi Estuary
Due to a constantly changing situation, please refer to Information for Mariners for the latest advice.
Depending upon the state of the tide all vessels with a draft of 1.8 metres (5 feet) or less should find the estuary navigable. All users should be aware that at low water spring tides depth reduces to as little as 0.5 meters particularly over the bar at the estuary entrance.
Once access is gained to the estuary there is reasonable shelter but the river bed does not make good holding ground. Vessels should have a hull design which allows the craft to dry out on a reasonably level i.e. fairly flat bottom or twin bilge keel. The estuary is not recommended for fixed fin keelers of any draft.
Access to the estuary is gained via a channel on the east side of Poppit Sands which is restricted by a sand bar having at low water barely 0.5 metres of depth over it. Mariners should be aware that there is a relatively strong rip travelling through Cardigan Sound which can become quite turbulent. Mariners should also be aware of the ground swell over the bar often present in a southwesterly blow which can create broken surf of considerable height and speed which can tend to push a craft towards the rocks under the Cliff Hotel.
Mariners wishing to enter the estuary should stand off the Cliff Hotel headland and identify a dan buoy and a series of port and starboard markers. Please note that these are unofficial marks installed by local fishermen. It is the responsibility of each skipper as to whether this advice is followed. We recommend a personal survey of the channel at low water. Please note the ATFL accept no responsibility in the following of these markers. it is purely down to the individual. Having passed the final marker mariners should proceed south towards the isolated danger mark, know locally as the Perch Mast (illuminated at night). The Perch should be passed to starboard and care taken to avoid the sewerage outfall to port a little further in.
Once in the narrows mariners may choose to either approach the Patch Pontoon or proceed upriver towards St Dogmaels and Cardigan town.
