Day 13: The Last Mile. Penarth Marina to the Senedd.

This is the final blog post of a 13 day voyage on-board the yacht Capercaillie, made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Neptune Coastline Campaign in Wales.  

To follow our adventures as we visited the Trust's Neptune coast in Wales, go to our first blog post and follow the links through the days.

Capercaillie is dwarfed amongst the playthings of the conspicuously wealthy, at Penarth Marina

Last night’s late arrival caused us to put off the final step of our round-Wales coastal marathon, the short trip across the Cardiff Bay lagoon to the pontoons in front of our government building, the Senedd.  

We set off through the Penarth Marina lock and soon the familiar landmarks of Cardiff’s political and cosmopolitan tourist centre moved into view: the copper carapace of the Millennium Centre, the red brick Pierhead Building, the white painted Norwegian Church and, of course, the Senedd.  

“I think we may have a problem.” John was scanning the quays with his binoculars on our approach.

It turned out that the visitors’ pontoons had been taken over by performance racing catamarans and official race vessels.  We found a space and cheekily squeezed in amongst a few hundred thousand pounds worth of carbon fibre super-yacht.  Predictably, we were immediately approached by a man in a dayglow jacket and walkie-talkie who pointed to an official-looking notice and stated that the whole area was cordoned off for the duration of the racing event. 

But we had an event to complete too, I argued, and a brief stand-off ensued.  This was a public pier and we’d also been planning our event for over six months, I argued.  Nevertheless, a contest between two slightly disheveled tee-shirted blokes with a 30 year old yacht and a uniform-clad security officer backed by a multimillion-pound sponsored yachting event, there could only be one winner.

We moored cheekily amongst the super yachts before being moved on by security

With our inscrutable adversary watching impatiently over us, John and I cut one of the Sails Around Wales banners off, threw my bags onto the quay and gave each other a manly farewell hug.  I thrust the rolled-up banner under my arm, turned to the officer, who seemed to be at the point of calling for reinforcements, and I asked him to evict me from the pontoons.

On the Senedd steps, Tom, a friendly young man who explained that he’d just completed a survival training course and was heading for a big breakfast, agreed to photograph me holding the banner. Feeling slightly disappointed that John was not able to join me for this last step of our journey around Wales, I smiled for the camera as, over Tom’s shoulder, I spotted Capercaille and its skipper, heading off to prepare for their return journey.  

I thanked Tom, picked up my bags and headed off to find a taxi back to life on terra-firma.

Journey's end.  Sails Around Wales reaches the Senedd

Go to Day 1 to follow the whole voyage

Day 1: Castle, pier and hidden gem: Bangor to Ynys Seiriol

I'm writing this to the sound of thousands of seabirds calling from the nearby cliffs of Ynys Seiriol (Puffin Island), and every now and then the doleful moans of the seals drift over from the rocks.

We've anchored in the lee of the island and whilst Bob and Gavin chat up topside, John is cooking supper and I've a few minutes to reflect on the day.

After family farewells and a hectic hour ferrying provisions to Capercaille, we cast off from the mooring, unfurled the Genoa to 'cut a fine jib' for Richard the cameraman, who was positioned at the end of the pier.

John Whitley (Skipper), me, Bob Smith and Gavin Foulks

As soon as we were under sail, John cut the engine and we picked up speed, heading for our first sail-past property, Penrhyn Castle. Excited conversation lulled and stopped, leaving just the satisfying slap of waves and flap of canvas.  After a while, a smile spread across John's face and he muttered, "I can't believe that we've actually started."  It's been a busy few weeks for us all.

Heading onto Capercaille with the last of the provisions

Gavin waves as we motor past Bangor pier

But we'd only gone about half a mile when we suddenly lurched to a halt.  Our course to get a view of the castle was taking us over the sandbanks of Traeth Lafan and we realised that with barely a mile behind us, we'd actually run aground.  John reassured us that we'd just 'kissed the sand' and that we were on a rising tide.  Sure enough, a few minutes later we were buoyant again and phoning Sarah at Penrhyn Castle to get a photo of us.

Sails Around Wales yacht hoves into view, with Pen y Gogarth, the Great Orme, in the background

Back in the deep water channel, we headed for Ynys Seiriol, then past the familiar lighthouse and onwards to our second NT coastal property, Fedw Fawr, on the limestone of Anglesey's east coast. Bob dropped anchor and we went ashore with the dinghy.  It seemed appropriate that this most overlooked of the Trust's coastal places was our first visit. In my experience, the harder to find the place is, the more wonderful it is once you get there.  And Fedw Fawr is one of the best examples of this principle.

Bob ready to drop anchor, with White Beach, Fedw Fawr ahead.

Bob and John with Capercaille at anchor

So with the sound of seabirds and seals drifting over from the cliffs of Ynys Seiriol, and the far off Orme glowing in the evening sun, we round off the beginning of our adventure with a hearty meal.

Go to Day 2

We're Off!

We set sail at about 12:30pm from near Bangor Pier and are now sailing off Penrhyn Castle.

Thanks to Sarah Johnson for dashing out to get this photo of us as we tack on our way towards Ynys Seiriol / Puffin Island.  I'll post photos of the launch later.

Gales change plans for launch

This was meant to be the scene tomorrow (Sunday).  Capercaille sailing past Plas Newydd, the first of over a hundred special NT places on the Welsh coast, as we were being saluted by our colleagues from the font lawn.
 
But alas it's not to be.  This photo will have to suffice for now.  With gusts approaching a full gale, John wisely decided not to attempt the passage through the Menai Strait's treacherous Swellies to an uncertain anchorage at Felinheli.  Conditions must have been bad, as I have it on good authority that John is sometimes seen going out into a choppy sea when less courageous yachtsmen are heading for port.

So tomorrow's launch will be at Siliwen, by Bangor Pier at about midday.  Why not head to the end of the pier to wave us off on our Sails Around Wales adventure? 

A Happy Coincidence

Little did we know when we set the date of 8 June for our celebratory circuit of the Welsh coast, it would by happy coincidence be World Oceans Day.  This United Nations-recognised world-wide day of ocean celebration and action is a great opportunity to do something to show your love of our seas and concern for their future.

So if you're still not sure what to do to help our seas and coast, why not show your support for our Trident Trek and Sails Around Wales.  Both events will be highlighting our achiements on the Welsh coast and raising awareness for people to help with its better protection.

The arrival of the yacht Capercaille at Flint, North Wales at 4pm will signal the start of the both events.  Coast path walker, Bob Smith and sailor-ranger John Whitley will be waved off by well-wishers before posing briefly for media photos and starting on their respective epic journeys.

If you live in the North Wales & Mersyside areas, why not make a date to see us off at the dock at Flint?

If you can't make it, don't worry, go to the Trident Trek tab to book another section, or follow this blog to find out how we go on.

"I've got a great idea....."

"...I have had an idea to mark the Trust’s coastal celebration. I thought it would be good if someone were to sail round the Welsh coast calling in wherever possible at our properties and highlighting the cause.  The only problem would be who could do such a thing?  Well, I suppose I could…"

These were the words of John Whitley, when he wrote to the Trust suggesting the idea of Sails around Wales.  

John is one of the Trust’s countryside rangers, based with George and Bob at the Glan Faenol estate, on the banks of the Menai Strait.

"I'm sure we'll have a few adventures on the way...."
John on Capercaille

John learnt to sail when he was a teenager.  He joined two family friends on a voyage to the Azores and was hooked.  A more recent feat, this time with his own yacht, was to sail around Britain.  “The voyage took me two months and I experienced the sea in all its moods – from storms to wonderful peaceful sunsets” explains John.

“The trip around the Welsh coast is much shorter, of course, but I’m sure we’ll have a few adventures on the way.  You have to be ready for anything - conditions can change so quickly and our route takes us through some treacherous waters, including the Bardsey, Ramsey and Jack Sounds.”

And to keep everyone in touch with progress on social media, I’ll be joining John for two weeks.  I’ve been told that my duties are ‘deck-hand, tea maker and blogger’” 

If conditions allow, we hope to take on-board colleagues and volunteers so they can get a new perspective on the coastlines that they care for.

Why not come over and say hello when we’re in port – or give us a wave from the coast!” 

Use the 'Where are we...' tab above after 8 June to locate us, or contact us via the email  to find out more.