Off on hols

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Morpheous

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It's that time of year when we will be heading off in WM again and see how far we get. Well that is assuming I get everything fixed tomorrow. The cunning plan is over to Penarth on Friday night, early saturday morning to head for Milford Haven. Situation review at Milford and if there is a favourable weather opportunity I would like to have a go at crossing to Ireland.

Obvioulsy all subject to weather and boat fixes (there is bring a spanner party on White Mischief on Friday morning) :-)

Like to stay a few days at Milford, from earlier posts Milford marina sounds like lots of stuff nearby - any tips on what else in the area is worth doing?
 
Hope you have a safe trip.

We are based at Milford Marina. I would say the only downside is the lock but there is plenty of room and its well organised.

Tesco's is within walking distance of the marina as well as some other shops such as Peacocks, boots, instore etc etc You can also walk to Milford town. There is a path between the 2 boatyards and then some steps leading upto the main road. You need to keep going up to reach the town or if you go right at the top of the steps and walk along the main road you will see a turn right, there is a nice walk along the front here and some seats to look over the estuary.

Depending on the weather... (dont think its that great for the weekend), you could go up the haven for a trip. There is a pontoon of the Jolly sailor at Burton where you can tie up and have a nice meal in the restaurant. There are also some buoys off the pontoon but they are all privately owned so you may need to move off if the owner returns.

Going in the opposite direction there is Dale with an all tide visitor pontoon (you will need a dinghy to get ashore) or depending on the tides they also have an inner pontoon which has direct access to the shore but it does get busy.

If you have some beach weather then there is Watwick bay which is along from Dale. It can get a bit rolly in Watwick and if it isn't rolly and its a sunny day then it will get very busy in there.

There is also a nice bay just outside of Sandy Haven (not far from Milford), called Long Oar Bay, fairly sheltered in anything apart from an E/SE.

We will probably be about most of the weekend so pop over. We are just in from the hammer head on the longest leg!

Ian
 
Thanks Ian, lots of useful info - definitely like the sound of anywhere we can tie/anchor up where there is a pub!

Still hoping to come across Saturday morning, weather may be great but wind looks lightish so hopefully won't be too bouncy. SWMBO may veto if it gets too rough :-)

Hopefully make it this weekend!

Cheers

Russell
 
Looks OK, check the Turbot bank bouy... NOAS 62303 for wave heights... its looking good this morning (just over 1 ft).
If the wind is blowing onshore you would be best advised to go well (>5mls) offshore around St Govans... it can get v nasty there.

Pubs with pontoons
The Griffin at Dale
The Ferry at Hazelbeach
Neyland Yacht club
Jolly sailor at Burton Ferry

All are recommended, but dry at LW
 
Disaster

Thanks for the tips, very helpful.

But disaster! Turns out battery charger and alternator and alternator have gone so definitely not setting off this evening as planned :-(

New battery charger is being couriered down under warranty,alternator needs a new regulator, also ordered for tomorrow. Possible we will get away tomorrow or Sunday
 
Cheers Ronan

Were at penarth now, all fine on the run over. Doesn't look like we will be able to fuel up at a suitable time to get out tomorrow so the plan is looking like heading to Milford Haven on monday morning, when the wind is looking less. Tomorrow might have been ok but SWMBO saw the forecast and has veto'd it.
 
Had a day doing nothing at penarth, well managed to get the tv working so watch the grand prix. Not sure it was worth the effort though.

Planning to lock out through the barrage at 9.00 am tomorrow morning, Neptune reckons that's the optimal time. weather looking ok, better than today, apparently 6 boats made it as far as lavernock and turned back. should be at Milford for 13:30 if we can make 22 knts all the way. Shame the next lock is about 15:00 but the we go. Might be for forced to stop at the pub if we are too early :-)
 
If I known you were still there would have said hi.

We locked out at 3 pm and made Portishead by 4pm, locked in at 4:15 pm. Nice 23 plus knots all the way. Bit choppy at some spots but that only caused us to drop the speed to 19 knots.

Russell keep the reports coming.
 
Made it Milford, currently sat in the holding the lock. what a ride! Down to 12 knots at one point which does no good for the fuel consumption and then just to cheers us up they started shooting at us from Castlemartin. Quite scary!
 
12knots -it was *really* rough! And taking it head on too, nothing else we could do. More disasters, the brand new battery charger got wet and blew up, with a bang and smoke & everything. More expense:-(

What I have to do now is workout how water is getting in
 
New battery charger installed and now splash protected (by way of a some plastic container of perfect proportions picked up in pound saver!)

Had a nice day out today, went to the Dale pontoon and had fish & chips at the Griffin. Wind was quite reshuffle, nice to be able go fast again though. Reminded me of days out years ago in Plymouth sound when we used to go to Cawsand for lunch. Family now happy they have done some fishing, plenty of dogfish caught whilst tied up at the pontoon.
 
Proper holiday day today, nothing to fix, no problems just a top days boating. Spent the afternoon anchored at Watwick bay, did some swimming, snorkelling and just messing about on the beach, then over to the Griffin for tea on the way back. Pretty scary getting on the inner pontoon, the 'deep' end was all full but a helpful canoeist demostrated with their paddle that there was much more water than it looked. It did look 6 inches deep but we managed to squeeze in.
 
Have a good holiday

Have a good holiday,hope the new bits on the boat all do their stuff and you come back with great memories and pictuires to share with us. Can recommend the Reverend James at The Jolly sailor.Its cellar cooled (no artificial beer coolers) to just the right temp, they take pride in the beer there (and the food).

031.jpg


On a spring tide you will dry on their pontoon at LW on a neap probably stay afloat.
 
WhiteMischief said:
Proper holiday day today, nothing to fix, no problems just a top days boating. Spent the afternoon anchored at Watwick bay, did some swimming, snorkelling and just messing about on the beach, then over to the Griffin for tea on the way back. Pretty scary getting on the inner pontoon, the 'deep' end was all full but a helpful canoeist demostrated with their paddle that there was much more water than it looked. It did look 6 inches deep but we managed to squeeze in.
Click to expand...

Glad that all went well even if a bit lumpy.and your down there enjoying.I went on the beachj pontoon at Dale once and had the shock of my life when a diver surfaced alongside the boat. He was towing a tiny inflatable flag alpha that had drifted under the pontoon. Utter stupididity IMHO.
 
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