Bank holiday from Cardiff

[Allan]

I'm bored, I have no charts or tidal flow data here at home and I want to plan my bank holiday cruise. We will arrive at the boat in Cardiff Friday night, so will leave before high tide (~8-30) Saturday morning. My boat is 22 feet and I normally passage plan at 4knots. Now I am open to suggestions, what are my options? My lady is happy to sail for a long time but not happy with night sailing. We would like to head west and we want to be back Tuesday afternoon.
Allan

 

[Jobs_a_ good_ un]

Have you been to Watchet yet Access 2.5 hours either side of high water
not many places to eat out though
Ask Graham if hes about he knows the bc really well

 

[Allan]

Yes, I had thought of Watchet, I though of maybe doing triangle with Swansea. Do you know of any nice harbours in the Swansea area?
Allan

 

[donm]

Swansea Marina is fairly easy to access and very close to the City centre. You could go to Minehead a little further down channel from Watchet but you will need to take the ground. Porlock is another alternative about 5 miles down channel from Minehead but the entrance, although easy, probably needs a little local knowledge.
Ilfracombe is probably a full tide and a bit for you from Cardiff and you can lie outside in the range or dry out inside.

 

[Jobs_a_ good_ un]

Swansea marina is great quite a long journey from Watchet
You could go out for days out from watchet the coast line down to Ilfracombe is absolutly spectacular
Ilfracombe is about 30 kn miles from watchet but you could easily go out on the morning tide and return on the evening one
The trip down to minehead and porlock is great
You can sit in a pool of water in porlock weir if you fancy it
You would have to make sure you get the tides right only go down with the tide and come back with it theres 2-3 knts currents depending on weather its springs or neaps
At Ilfracombe thers no marina only a drying harbour you could anchor inside the wall but its still a bit swelly
Regards

 

[Allan]

Thanks all, I'm getting some ideas now. As my lady lives in Barnstaple and we have walked most of north Devon coast I thought the Welsh coast may make a nice change.
Allan

 

[DAVIDO]

http://www.star-inn.net/
The Star is the only descent place to eat in Watchet IMHO otherwise great little place lots of character. You need to book though.