Montreal rock revisited

Musing on the name Montreal rock, and the fact that two nearby buoys, the Dakotian and Behar buoys were named after shipwrecks, I wondered whether the rock took its name from a ship that sank after hitting it. I found little information on the brief search I did, but I contacted a friend, the author Tom Bennett, who has written many books on Shipwrecks in Wales, and also the excellent

Sea Guide to Pembrokeshire

Tom pointed out that, during the early development of Milford Haven, it was proposed that the port may be used on the London-Montreal steamer service. Indeed, in the late 1920s and 1930s, a steamer called the Calgaric, of the White star line, was stationed at Milford in a sea ready state, and later used on the London to Montreal route. Tom postulates that maybe the liner anchored near the rock, which took its name when local people referred to the 'Montreal Steamer'.

It could be accurate, or there could be another reason entirely for the enigmatic Montreal Rock. Amazing what can come to light when one looks at a buoy and starts to ask questions though........

Short midweek trip

Louise finished work at 10am, after a night shift and we drove to Llangwm.

Started the engine and motored off downstream with the ebb, doing an easy 5 knots, past tankers, ferries, and a huge cruise ship anchored in the haven, the Deutschland:

We fancied a night at anchor, but settled for the pontoon at Dale - seemed nice and easy. Met a couple with a Mirage 27, from Cardiff Bay Yacht club.

An early morning start, just after a heavy thunderstorm and we sailed the short hop over to Castlebeach and dropped the anchor. Louise pumped the dinghy and we rowed ashore.

There are lovely walks to St Anne's head and to Dale. Both gave stunning views of the bay, and of Ishtar at anchor:

Back aboard and another short sail across to Longoar bay, near Sandy Haven. Ashore again:

Back up the river towards Llangwm. We'd hoped to call at the Jolly Sailor at Neyland for lunch, timed the depth just right, but there was another boat there, tied up in the middle of the hammerhead and we could not moor, so we headed for Llangwm. An hour later we tied Ishtar up. Short and sweet.