12/02/2026
Hope is the thing with sails!
Greetings to everyone who has been involved in one way or another with Celtic Coasts Sail and Trade. To those who gave time, money or both, who sailed with us, bought our goods or just wished us well as we sailed from your quayside, I hope we will see you all again in the forthcoming sailing season.
As some of you will know, despite a herculean effort to prepare our ‘new’ boat Peel Castle for what would have been our 5th trading voyage to Brittany, we had to abandon the adventure after the top of our main mast broke off in a heavy swell as we were rounding Strumble Head. We returned to Fishguard harbour where close examination revealed extensive rot in the foremast as well. We were able to motor gently back to our base in Porth Penrhyn without incident, stopping for a well-earned rest in Bardsey Islands magical anchorage.
We had her lifted out of the water as soon as we could, taking the opportunity to address some of the other issues that had come to light during our short time at sea. She is now sitting outside the workshop at Waterfront Marine undergoing a thorough refit in the hands of Scott and Max. We’re also redesigning the mast and sail arrangement to give her better sailing performance.
We fully expect her to be back in the water and ready for action by May and, without being over optimistic, in time to attend the Fishguard Folk Festival.
-Mystery II progress report.
Thanks to our friends Constanze and Lou from Douarnenez in Brittany, Mystery is now fully planked with deck beams installed, waiting for her deck and interior fit out. We have finally bitten the bullet of applying for an NHL grant to finish her off and are employing someone with the necessary skill to make the application as strong as possible.
It’s extraordinary what we have managed to achieve so far on a shoestring which gives me hope that we might get her in the water next year and attend the 2027 Maritime Festival in Brest.
Sometimes I have reason to consider carefully the rationale behind what we’re trying to achieve with CCST; why we are pouring all these resources into an old wooden boat and I always remind myself that it is people and community that we are investing in.
A wooden boat is an extraordinary combination of craft and art, ingenuity, skill and material, involving many people and trades.
From the forester through sawmiller and shipwright through to the sailmakers, ironworkers, engineers and sailors. Getting to know and work with these people, from all over Britain and Brittany, has been an experience so rewarding that it more than compensates for the stress and strains of trying to keep the show on the road!
I know with absolute certainty that we can achieve our vision, having boats carrying small cargoes and crews of young people sailing between the harbours of west Wales and beyond.
Between us we have all the resources necessary.
We can breathe a bit of life back into the coastal communities that were once so busy and maybe even revive the practical tradition of moving goods from place to place by the sea roads so that others can do the same.
I also know with the same certainty that I can’t do this on my own. So, if anyone reading this wants to be involved in a practical way in this journey please get in touch at:
[email protected]
