Next up: 57NM to Milford Haven. As it was a neap tide, we left Swansea just half an hour after low water and we were fine. It started to rain a couple of hours into the trip.
As you can see from the sketch chart, just off Tenby we had to curve around the military firing zone (which is active most weekdays) before heading in.
It is probably worth factoring this in immediately after rounding the Gower; I think making a more southerly course across Carmarthen Bay would save distance later.
Access to Milford Haven is at all states of the tide – but take care in the approach channel at low water springs. The sea lock (Ch.14 ‘Pier Head’) itself has nice new floating pontoons on each side.
We noticed that the advertised waiting pontoon was missing. It had not been put outside the harbour by the time we arrived on 13 June – but we did not need it. We got there around high water, and the lock was on free flow.
We found the missing waiting pontoon – it is up at the end of the marina!
It was great to stay in Milford Marina. It is a friendly place, has good facilities, is right in the town, and there is a big supermarket one street back.