Bristol Channel has much to offer
Jane Cumberlidge makes the passage from Penzance to Milford Haven (Rites of Passage, YM, April 2019) sound an easy trip. She is right to mention the daunting reputation of the Bristol Channel. Her choice to make the passage in 35-mile hops near neaps cannot be relied upon. St Ives is untenable in any wind with north in it. Friendly Padstow is very limited by tide, but you could try the anchorage to the east behind The Mouls in Port Quin Bay. Lundy has fierce races to the north and south, which can require long detours after a quiet night in the lee of the island. Leaving Lundy with a fair tide for Milford Haven will almost certainly mean several miles of strong foul tide as you approach Linney Head. Here the Castlemartin Range is active 44 weeks of the year. To have to hike up to 12 miles out to sea in a foul tide at the end of a six-hour passage may not be welcomed by a tired crew, so check their website (www.gov.uk/ government/publications/castlemartin-firingnotice--2). But when you do eventually drop your hook, Dale is lovely; a couple of hours up the river will take you deep into the Pembrokeshire National Park.
David Ward
Jane Cumberlidge responds:
It certainly wasn’t my intention to give an oversimplified picture of this crossing. Equally, though, I did not want to give too discouraging a view of the undertaking. In the right conditions and taken with care, the Bristol Channel has much to offer more adventurous yacht crews, which was the idea I wanted to put across.
Admittedly we were lucky with our weather and chose a period of soggy neap tides, but we had fall-back plans ready if things didn’t work out. Ultimately, our gaff cutter, Stormalong, can keep the sea in nasty conditions. I agree I should have put in a note about the firing range and included the website in the feature.
As you say, pottering around in Milford Haven is an absolute delight and there are many attractions which are completely unknown to most cruising folk.
This glorious natural harbour is undoubtedly one of Britain’s best-kept cruising secrets and should be on every keen sailor’s list.