Why Cardiff?

Owning a yacht can be an expensive hobby. Owning a yacht on the south coast of England is a VERY expensive hobby. So the decision to move the yacht was a no-brainer! Cardiff is easier for us to get to and a whole lot cheaper plus the Yacht Club and the Bay itself will make a wonderful base for the next year or so. 

Ariel view of Cardiff Bay (Courtesy of Cardiff Bay Yacht Club)

When we bought Seascape from the broker at Birdham Marina in Chichester in August 2025 it was out of the water propped up on dry land. As soon as we could get the essential work completed (replacing the engine drive leg seal, treating a small patch of osmosis on the keel, fitting a new battery, fixing new anodes and applying a new coat of anti fouling) we got the yacht launched and set off, away from the Solent area.


Moving the yacht from Chichester to Cardiff at the beginning of October took just under two weeks. Dave was on his own* for the first week, as I was working and our old friend Chris was abroad, but he managed fine by doing long day ‘hops’ heading west. He stopped at Yarmouth (Isle of Wight), Portland (near Weymouth), Brixham, Plymouth, Falmouth and Newlyn. The weather was settled with very little wind and at the end of each day he was safely tied up in a harbour or marina, with a welcome shower, toilets and eateries nearby. Fuel, food and marina fees added up to about £100 a day - I’m keeping a close eye on our finances! 

*although he did have lots of dolphins for company

Marine Traffic Tracker

Newlyn

To round Lands End and tackle the long stretch to Cardiff up the Bristol Channel, Dave was joined by Owen & Sarah. Leaving colourful Newlyn fishing harbour at 8am they motored non-stop for 32 hours, through the night, arriving in Cardiff at 4pm the following day. More dolphins and puffins were the highlight of a calm and pretty uneventful, dare I say boring, trip. Even going through the huge barrage lock entering Cardiff Bay was a little underwhelming as they’d arrived at high tide.


I was there to take their lines as they approached the visitor pontoon at Cardiff Bay Yacht Club, Seascape’s new, and more affordable, home.

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