Return to the Cleddau

[Steve509926]

Just under 3 years ago we visited Pembrokeshire and the Cleddau for the first time with Redneck. We enjoyed the area so much we said we would return and explore the places the tide and sea state wouldn't allow us to do last time .

Slightly different weather from the first visit, rain, wind and maxed out at 12°C for the first 3 days. However, the weather gods have spoken (Met office) and the sun is out tomorrow and more importantly the wind will drop a little.

Trailer set up, Redneck inflated, OB on the transom, fuel in the tank, all ready for launching tomorrow - so please, please Mr Weatherman don't have cocked up the forecast again!

OB crawler board pics are for tinker.

[Jung at Heart]

The OB crawler board is ingenious Steve, I shall be copying that for sure.

We are fortunate enough to have a place to stay in freshwater East and plan to take a SIB with us on the next visit so your experience of the Cleddau river is helpful, thanks for posting.

[Steve509926]

I copied the crawler board idea from Chipko, it works really well.

We stayed in Freshwater East last time we came, but never launched there.

This is the post I did then with a couple videos.

https://www.rib.net/forum/f50/rednec...oke-87079.html

[tinker]

Makes it so much easier to have a system like that. I have converted sack truck for the sib and made one for the outboard, the 25hp was still a struggle but the 15hp is easie these trollies are a god send.

[Jung at Heart]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

I copied the crawler board idea from Chipko,

We stayed in Freshwater East last time we came, but never launched there.

This is the post I did then with a couple videos.

https://www.rib.net/forum/f50/rednec...oke-87079.html

Thanks for the link, I hope you got the weather you hoped for today and had a good run out.

Thanks also to Chipko for coming up with the idea for the crawler board, potentially it enables me to use a larger outboard as I've had all sorts of issues lifting weight and boating on the sea after fracturing my back a few years ago, every bit of help moving an outboard is welcome.

[Steve509926]

Great day today, weather was good and the water was very good. Launched at Cleddau Reach and it is definitely still my favourite slipway to launch from. If it was in Devon the place would be packed, as it was there was probably only 15 boats launching from there and the Cleddau itself was very quiet.
Managed to achieve one of my aims today. We got up the Carew River as far as the castle, a bit shallow in places but we managed it with no problems. On the way back stopped off for Sunday lunch at the Lawrenny Arms. It's a tough life but someone's got to do it.
Hopefully launch from Dale tomorrow.

[Fenlander]

Thanks for highlighting this area Steve. I've been looking at the charts and there is a surprising depth a long way up that estuary and river. Are you launching at the place named Black Tar?

[Brinormeg]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Great day today, weather was good and the water was very good. Launched at Cleddau Reach and it is definitely still my favourite slipway to launch from. If it was in Devon the place would be packed, as it was there was probably only 15 boats launching from there and the Cleddau itself was very quiet.
Managed to achieve one of my aims today. We got up the Carew River as far as the castle, a bit shallow in places but we managed it with no problems. On the way back stopped off for Sunday lunch at the Lawrenny Arms. It's a tough life but someone's got to do it.
Hopefully launch from Dale tomorrow.

That’s good the weather gods have been kind to you Steve….hope it keeps up for the rest of your trip

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Thanks for highlighting this area Steve. I've been looking at the charts and there is a surprising depth a long way up that estuary and river. Are you launching at the place named Black Tar?

Hi David, I think it's a wonderful area to bring a SIB, big, sheltered and lots of places to go too. High tides are a must to get up to the upper reaches. I knew we could just make it upto Carew today, I'd been told there is a big sand bank just as you turn towards the castle, which there is - 0.3m at one stage! Plan to go to Dale tomorrow as that looks like the best day to go around Skokholm and Skomer. Tuesdays high tide looks as though we may make it upto Black Pool Mill and Thursdays high tide is odds on for a couple of pints at the Cresselly Arms.
We launched today at the Cleddau Reach Carpark as we will Tuesday and Thursday. If you zoom in to Google maps satellite view you can see the length and variety of slips.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Brinormeg

That’s good the weather gods have been kind to you Steve….hope it keeps up for the rest of your trip

Hi Brin, it changed dangerously so! Very cool breeze disguised the strength of the sun. I'm now sporting a very red face!
Looks like the weather is set for the next few days so I'll have to make the most of it.

[Steve509926]

Lovely day today, great weather. Had a good walk in the morning around Marloes, fantastic wide open scenery. Came across Martin's Heaven (see pic) which I think would make a great launch spot for a lightweight blow and go sibber. Need to carry everything down to the waters edge and it is a bit steep, but it makes for an easy trip to Skomer.
Launched from Dale in the afternoon, what a lovely spot. Good parking, great slip and a pontoon. We had hoped to go around Skokholm and Skomer but as soon as we got around St Anns Head it was really blowing and the swell was pretty big so we had a change of plan and headed around Angle to have a bit of an explore. Hopefully I've caught the day on video which I'll edit when I get home.

[tinker]

Wow that looks stunning. Love to snorkel that area, looks a great spot on navionics/ Google maps.

I went around skomer on a 4.8 ribcraft , a few years ago, the swell was rather large and there was some standing waves / a race around the back end of it ( if my memory serves me correctly).

Last year launched from Dale and only got as far as St Anne's head, was a bit choppy for the aerotec and the crew. Beautiful area though, pub and Dale looked good for food but had a dog in tow so couldn't participate.

[Steve509926]

Hi tinker, it is most definitely a beautiful area, even if you do get to see Milford Haven every now and then!
I use this sight for details about any tide races, provides some useful information:

https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/sail...de-races-75304

[Fenlander]

Martins Haven looks interesting. I reckon you could easily drive down to the top of the shingle beach, chuck the stuff out, return the car to the largish car park at the top of the road then walk back down to "blow & go".

Yep nice spot. Toilets/wash facility too which is always useful.

[tinker]

Interesting on the races, exactly where I discovered the standing waves, Jack's sound.

Just loaded the campervan up with my loading trolley....

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Martins Haven looks interesting. I reckon you could easily drive down to the top of the shingle beach, chuck the stuff out, return the car to the largish car park at the top of the road then walk back down to "blow & go".

Yep nice spot. Toilets/wash facility too which is always useful.

You can definitely drive down to where the toilets are, better still reverse down. The carry down to the water is over large pebbles and is very steep but doable. The car park at the top is NT or £7 a day.

A full hiking day today. Found another blow & go place at "Stackpole Quay", great place to launch and explore the caves and sea arches.. Further walk from the car park but again doable with a light sib and small OB.

Makes me want a small (sub 30kg) sib and a light OB, would have been ideal today.

I also met a bloke who chastised me for pronouncing "Cleddau" incorrectly. He recognised me from the last Pembrokeshire video I did on YouTube - fame at last

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by tinker

Interesting on the races, exactly where I discovered the standing waves, Jack's sound.

Just loaded the campervan up with my loading trolley....

When we walked past on the cliffs the other day it was at slack water, hardly a trace of any races.

Ideal trolley for the back of the camper tinker.

[Steve509926]

Guess where I've managed to boat too?

[tinker]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Guess where I've managed to boat too?

The pub?

[Fenlander]

A carry-over at the stepping stones and you could have moored at the castle ruins!