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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...
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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...
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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 /...
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Day 1 - 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...
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Tide, time and dolphins - Trident safely delivered
The wind rose in the night and led to an uncomfortable anchorage alongside Ynys Seiriol. I heroically delivered a live radio interview at 6:55am whilst trying to settle my stomach. After a quick...
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Day 3: Things that go bump in the night
I woke up with a jolt at 3am with a fleeting sensation of buoyancy followed by a juddering bump. We had planned to rise at 4am, but the tide had already reclaimed the acres of sands on which we had...
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Day 4: Another day in paradise
Morning light at PorthdinllaenOne of the pleasures of this trip is that we get to see familiar places from an unfamiliar aspect, and at an unfamiliar time of day. And so it was with our emergence on...
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Day 5: Snowdonia's coast - Pwllheli to Barmouth
Odd one out? Pwllheli MarinaSitting amongst the immaculate gleaming white cruisers and performance racing yachts of Pwllheli marina, John’s 31-year old Capercaille looked like a boat that had seen...
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Day 6: Estuarine spendour - Barmouth to Aberystwyth
I’m learning to feel excited rather than worried at the sound of wind whistling in rigging when I wake up. It means one thing: fast sailing. And my eager anticipation was fulfilled by an exhilarating...
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Day 7: "Ahoy me haaarties" Aberystwyth to Fishguard
Today's motley crew: David (Volunteer Ranger), Tim (Llanerchaeron Head Gardener), Gwen (Ceredigion Ranger), John and meWhen under pressure, John abandons his usual affable tact and switches to skipper...
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Day 8: A meeting with the bitches. Fishguard to Solva
A blue sky, fair breeze and full sail. A good time to get the squeezebox outFor once, the mischievous machinations of the tides were in our favour. We were aiming to repeat our smooth transit of the...
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Day 9: Shore leave: St David's to Solva
The Solva coast, best experienced on foot. (c) National Trust/Joe CornishLast night's arrival at Solva was a day early, thanks to the extended voyage on Saturday. As we had a new passenger to pick up...
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Day 10: Puffin & preditor: Solva to Tenby
A rose between two thorns? Today's crew, AmandaAmanda, our Fundraising Consultant and latest crew member, arrived bright and early at 7am, and we headed out of Solva harbour over St Bride's Bay. The...
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Day 11: Gower's hidden coast. Tenby to Swansea
Kathryn and John, before our departure from TenbyAnother day, another hard-working NT coastal colleague wishing to join Sails Around Wales and view the coast they care for. Unfortunately, Katherine,...
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Day 12: A 'rather boisterous' journey: Swansea to Cardiff
Swansea marina - arrow marks CapercaillFor today's last leg of our epic tour of the Welsh coast, there was just John and I on-board Capercaillie. Like the only other section when we didn't have any...
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Day 13: The Last Mile. Penarth Marina to the Senedd.
Capercaillie is dwarfed amongst the playthings of the conspicuously wealthy, at Penarth MarinaLast night’s late arrival caused us to put off the final step of our round-Wales coastal marathon, the...
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Tales from the Trek: Confessions of a Trident Minder
Coastal supremo and Trident Minder, Bob Smith, heading for Caernarfon this morningI caught up with coastal supremo Bob this morning. He'd just crossed the Menai Bridge, and was heading for the...
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The Welsh coast needs your help
Bob, our Trident Trek hero asks for your help....We asked Bob, our Trident minder to explain why we need your help:"For over 50 years, people from all over Wales and beyond have been helping us to save...
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Tales from the Trek #2
I joined Bob today on his 22nd day walking on the Trident Trek around the Welsh Coast. The train dropped me off at Barmouth where today's leg started. I soon met Bob and we got started on the first...
View ArticleWatch: Hymns and Arias on the Coast
Thousands of beach-goers showed their love for the coast recently by attending our Big Beach Picnics. Local teams at four of our most popular coastal places hosted these special events on the 4th of...
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