Wednesday 20th May: Watermouth - Briton Ferry, Neath River (27 n.mi.)

Rose at 0300 and was on the water at 0510, with dawn rising in the east. Paddled out of a silent harbour at Watermouth and immediately into 150 metres of swirling, boily, eddy line that marks the ebb tidal stream. Set course 026 magnetic, chose a suitable cloud (near the horizon, but a high altitude formation, to minimise its angular speed relative to me), and paddled. A red sun broke through the early morning clouds, and the cliffs of North Devon glowed mistily-featureless and pink on my starboard quarter. There was a force 3-4 SSW right on the stern, sea state less than 1 metre, and the paddling was relatively effortless - perfect conditions. Every few minutes, I would check the heading and choose a new cloud.
After a couple of hours, the sea state built a bit and the boat started corkscrewing. In these conditions it is harder to hold an average course, so I would check the GPS every couple of hours and adjust accordingly. GPS really makes you lazy!
By 0900 I was entering Severn VTS's area, but there was no point calling them up, because with an antenna height of less than a metre it would be futile. Unidentified seabirds skimmed the waves, and the thrum of distant engines filled the hull. Only one vessel appeared: a bulk carrier at anchor off Swansea.
Stopped for a bite of lunch, and when the Neath channel buoys hove into sight, I steered 025 for them. I can't pretend that this was just skill: a large element of compensating error was clearly involved! However, it's nice to confirm that vector addition does what it says on the tin.
By 1430, I had ridden the flood up the Neath River, hauled up on the slip at Monkstone Cruising and Sailing Club, under the M4 motorway bridge, and pitched camp in the boatyard.