Padstow to Dale

Juniper sailing round GB
Gordon and Catherine
Thu 30 Jun 2011 21:46

51:42.47N 05:09.40W ‘Here comes the sun, du dn du du, here comes the sun, I say’.  Juniper and Cambo leave Padstow together just as the church clock strikes 5.  It’s a lovely morning and we make our way up the beautiful Camel Estuary just as the sun rises behind Pentire Point.  So it’s farewell Cornwall and, indeed, goodbye England as we set sail for Wales.  It’s a long passage but the time goes very quickly as we look for Lundy on our starboard side and enjoy group after group of dolphins playing round the boat.  One of the benefits of travelling in a small boat is that we’re very close to the water and I feel I could just stretch out a hand and touch these amazing creatures.  They clearly see Juniper as a playground, they swim round and under the boat, they swim just ahead of her, leaping out of the water, and enjoying swimming in the bow wave.  Each group stays for 5-10 minutes and, at one point, a mother and baby leap together in the waves.  As we near the Welsh coast we see puffins and they are as comical in real life as they appear in pictures.  They have to flap their wings furiously to stay airborne and show none of the grace of the other seabirds, but it’s great to see them.  The Welsh coast looks beautiful and we make for Dale bay, it’s on the outskirts of Milford Haven but is rural and quiet and has a floating pontoon for visiting yachtsmen – we’re in Wales!  Photo: Pentire Point, Cornwall

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