We left Swansea in the first lock available and felt our way out of the harbour as it was only an hour after low water. The depth showed 1.9m briefly!
A light westerly wind did not help the boat speed very much, and we motored all day.
Arrived Padstow Bay at 2105 and waited until 2200 and darkness before heading up the river. This strategy paid off as Alan opened the gate as soon as we arrived, and we tied up for the night on the wall.
24 May 2026
Sunday.
The ship in Padstow harbour turned out to be a replica of Columbus’s Santa Maria.
Today we were allowed to move Molia from the wall to the central pontoon. Having wedged Molia between two other yachts, and secured the stern, Jo inflated the tender and rowed out to the mooring buoy to secure our bow.
The new location made our stay in Padstow especially comfortable.
25 May 2026
Monday.
26 May 2026
Tuesday. Another very hot day! We went round the Santa Maria, which was well presented, and gave us a great view of the harbour.
The Waverley visited Padstow at high water, so we went to the outer wall to watch her leave. And the cormorant was back – this time doing his characteristic wing drying pose.
28 May 2026
Thursday. The Santa Maria left Padstow early this morning – it only just fits through the harbour entrance!
The weather was cooler today, so we walked to Wadebridge for lunch (and got the bus back). The sun was out later in the afternoon
Molia