Windy with broken cloud. We set off down the river. Tried to sail, but the wind seems very variable in the upper Cleddau, so we motored downstream, towards the bridge.
I wanted to buy a detailed chart of the river, so we headed towards the pontoon outside Kelpies:
Louise took us in. I was concerned about the depth, but we had 6m under us about 20 mins before low tide on a big spring tide (6.9m), so plenty of depth.
The pontoon is in the bottom left of this photo, near the South Western extremity of the moored boats which belong to Pembroke Haven yacht club. The Cleddau bridge is also visible, plus the entrance to Neyland yacht haven in the North West of the photo.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=51.704002,-4.935651&spn=0.012527,0.027509&t=h&z=15
Kelpies is next to the yacht club - that was closed, so we will have to call in again for a visit. Time was against us as we were due in St Davids to meet friends for a diving weekend at 18:00, so we headed back under the bridge and up the river:
A big tide, and the entrance to Neyland yacht Haven and the Dale sailing fuel pontoon looked very low indeed:
No beer at the Jolly sailor either. This lovely pub with good food is accessible to us (1.4m keel) when there is water at the foot of the old wooden pier in the left of this photo. Not today then.
The Jolly sailor and old pier can be seen in the Google map above, to the east of the Cleddau bridge on the North side of the river.
It was a nice day so we got the mainsail out and shut the engine off. A fair bit of sail adjustment and gybing, so we decided not to use the Genoa as well. Sailing up river in a restricted channel being complicated enough without it.
As we got up near Rudders boatyard:
Our topping lift became caught in the port side spreader. Louise frantically gybed back and fore whilst I untangled it, losing my hat over the side in the wind. A young family in an Avon Rib saw the disaster, picked up the hat and brilliantly manouevred alongside as Louise held course. First time I've ever got a hat back that way.
We passed Lawrenny yacht haven on the East side of the river. There is a walk up along the river from there where can be found wimberries and marsh samphire, for those in the know.
http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/ancient/wild-food-entry.php?term=Marsh%20Samphire
http://www.hgca.com/minisite_manager.output/3392/3392/Farmhouse%20Breakfast%20Week/2009/Cinnamon%20Toast%20with%20Wimberries.mspx?minisiteId=12
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=51.717511,-4.88029&spn=0.012523,0.027509&t=h&z=15
Sailing up the river is great fun, and it really makes me feel a link to the mariners of the past as they carried lime, culm and grains up and down the Cleddau, without being able to switch on the inboard if they got it wrong. Boats that Louise and I are now diving on as 100 year old shipwrecks, elsewhere in Pembrokeshire.
Back to our mooring at the beautiful Llangwm. Louise got in the tender, intent on cleaning off the last of the Cardiff scum from Ishtar:
Before anyone makes any rude remarks, Tigger is from Barry.
Half an hour later, and back ashore. Only a short trip, four hours or so, but well enjoyed by all, including the ageing Tom, and Tigger.:
Diving on Saturday, and a quick spin up the river by car on Sunday, where we spied this lovely vessel, in the strong winds and driving rain:
