Milford Haven, Wales to Padstow, Cornwall - Day 59

Milford Haven to Padstow - Monday 4th July 2011 - Day 59

At 05.00 we left the Dale Bay pontoon with a spectacular sunrise and half an hour later we were out at sea.

West Cardinal Mark

This is an west cardinal buoy marking one of the entrances into the haven, as from the photo, you can see they are large structures and should be treat with respect.  We set full sail on passing and left the engine running charging the batteries.  The sea was flat with a small south westerly swell with almost a cloudless sky and warm sunshine.  Alright for sun bathing but not for sailing and jib was furled by 09.00.  10 miles out from the haven we were passing oil tankers at anchor on the Turbot bank inwhich there were five in number.  By 12.00 the main was dropped and we were motor-boating with the wind coming from ahead.

With the big expanse of the Bristol Channel and with not much shipping, we were keeping two hour watches and how to be entertained.
The sea life is the answer, these fellows kept us enthralled most of the way across.  They are stripped dolphins either running as a pair or pods with the whole family.  You can see them leaping out of the water as they come racing in from 1/2 mile away either coming from the beam or quarter.  Quickly turn as they reach the boat and head for the bow where they spent a little time dodging back and forward across the bow.  These are mostly the bigger ones while the younguns wait there turn.

 
In this photo the reflection is the bow of the boat.
We were motoring along at about five knots and from the bows, if I had leaned over while they came up for air, I am sure I could of touched the fin but we did make eye to eye contact.  These wonderful playful creatures are also big feeders and I witnessed at one stage just behind the boat, they had circled a small shoals of fish and were feeding, while slowly circling and coming out of the water, squealling (talking) to each other.  The first time I have heard these amazing sounds in the wild.

This photo shows one of them racing up to the boat.  These were not the only sea life out here, we also caught the glimpse of the fin and arched back of a minke whale.  Sea birds were in abundance, gannets, puffins, guillemots, petrels and gulls. 





When within range, called Padstow Harbour Master on the mobile, requesting berthing permission who informed the gates would be closed at 22.30.  It was going to be tight, and we cracked on at best we could.  The light was fading fast as we passed Newland Island, the entrance into Padstow Bay. Called the Harbour Master on the VHF while passing Greenaway Buoy and had twenty minutes left, so it was full power up the river.  This became hairy as we raced along in the buoyed channel.  It was my first time here but with forward planning had read all the instructions on how to enter the port. It does not tell you how to spot the red and green markers against the shore line or other moored boats' lights.  Picked my way through them at speed and shot through the outer pier entrance to see the Harbour Master on the quay waving us into the inner harbour, allocated a place on the quay and shut the gate behind us with one minute over time.   Thank you Bob, very much appreciated, we had travelled 74 miles in 18 hours and another milestone, I had completed 1000 miles on this voyage.