Oxwich Bay

We are now anchored in Oxwich Bay, on the Gower, having arrived just before 2100 last night. We left Cardiff at the 1430 lock through the barrage to get the best of the ebb tide.

Leaving Cardiff Yacht Club.
As we left the barrage the Tall Ships Youth Trust brig, Stavros S Niarchos was leaving Cardiff Docks
bound for Dartmouth so we were in company with her for a while. The last voyage we did on her was from the Azores to Portsmouth in 2008 and Debbie did a voyage around the Canaries in 2012.

Stavros
The trip Westwards was uneventful, the wind, forecast to be SW, stayed stubbornly in the West so, mindful of wanting to get to Oxwich Bay before dark we kept the engine on. Off Port Talbot the wind did back a little and we were able to bear off a little which allowed us to motor sail the last couple of hours, anchoring in the West end of the bay next to the fishing boat moorings just as the light was fading. Dinner at anchor with a glass of wine was most welcome, finishing with a healthy slice of Linda's cake, but we are nearly at the end of it. We may have to send out for a fresh supply!
Today we have used the dinghy for the first time on this trip, rowing to the beach, then walking up the headland past the very old St. Illtyd church (6th century with 14th century additions) then through the woods and onto the sand dunes in the bay and back along the beach to a welcome cup of tea at the beach cafe. Oxwich is as beautiful as everyone had told us it would be.

St. Illtyd's church.

Lacerta at anchor.

First use of the dinghy.
We aim to have an early start (0500) tomorrow to catch the ebb Westwards to Milford Haven. The forecast is for the wind to go North East, force 3 or 4 which will make a nice change from the Westerlies and should allow us to sail pretty directly to Milford Haven, depending on what is happening on the coastal firing ranges East of the entrance.

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