Solva to Cardiff

Saturday 21st to Tuesday 24th July
Solva-Dale-Barafundle Bay-Mumbles-Cardiff

(route http://www.a-trip.com/tracks/view/109823)

Life aboard on the Costa del Bristol Channel is pretty good. We're going to run out of sun cream (It's the same tube we've had for the last three years!)

We sailed gently from Solva to Skomer for lunch with the puffins, who come there in their thousands to breed. They stand like proud sentries, alert outside their burrows. (And, to think that until this year, I don't think I'd ever seen a single puffin). There are thousands more afloat, in this picture.

After lunch we sailed through Jack Sound. Well, we were flushed through actually, at around 10 knots, by energetic tide. Then anchored for the night off Dale, grateful for a country walk, then welcome shower at the local yacht club.

Next night was rather rolly - anchored off Barafundle Bay (That's 'Misty' at anchor, in the distance). The sand on the beach is like warm sugar and it's fantastic to see so many people out enjoying the sunshine.

Tuesday evening racing in Cardiff Bay

Leaving the Mumbles before dawn

Tidal streams are quite strong now it's near spring tide so I get up early to get moving (crew in bed!). After a long stop at Port-Eynon (not a port any more), we reached the Mumbles, off Swansea, for next night; then on yesterday to Cardiff. After too many 4 am starts, it was good to stay in bed till 7. We're lucky to have a berth at Cardiff Bay Yacht Club, and we watched the cruisers racing yesterday evening. Now...a day of chores, and a diesel leak to stop.