Next, on to Swansea – 46NM with the tide. We left Cardiff Bay an hour after high water, and the fast ebbing tide accelerating us past Barry, to Nash Point (there is a lighthouse) and on towards Porthcawl. The brave (not us) can go landwards of the Nash sandbanks to gain extra speed from the tide; but the rest of us go around them and then also outside the Scarweather Sands further west.
Swansea Harbour entrance has a reputation for being tricky, but take advice from the lockmaster at Tawe Lock (Ch.18) – he is very helpful and will guide you in.
All the Swansea locks have handy grab ropes to make tying-up easier. Once through the sea lock there is a second lock in the River Tawe into the marina (Ch.80) – and then you have to tie up at the marina visitor’s pontoon as well.
The rain started just outside Cardiff, so I sent Jo down below – there is no point in both of us getting wet! As you can see it was still raining in the lock at Swansea! The rain stopped almost as soon as we had tied up in the marina.
