Getting settled in Penarth

Well, that didn't take too long. when we arrived early on Sunday, we were given a berth astern of an old trip boat from Poole, the ex Dorset Belle. She has been repainted in a very fetching red, renamed as "Dame Shirley" and offers party trips. The advertised name "HMS69" maybe gives you a hint of the kind of party trip they are aiming for.....

We recall her like this doing trips from Poole quay in a less garish colour scheme:

There are many traces of red paint on the walls of the marina entrance lock. Seems like the 2 pod propulsion system challenges the local skipper a bit. We reckon that the real challenge would have been bringing her round from Poole by sea! Brave stuff....

Astern of our mooring was an old Norfolk Broads trip boat from Wroxham, Princess Royal, looking a bit sad compared to her glory days on the broads but the shape and style was unmistakeable:

The captain remembers her as a smarter craft, built around 1955, with a skipper that had to wear a suitable hat, white shirt and tie too....

The owner / operator of  this boat joined us for a chat and a look around our Nordhavn - which he quite liked. We then moved to our "winter berth" and were approached by a couple who have a yacht nearby. Question - why do the first 2 lots of locals we make contact with have scouse accents then?? OK, Cardiff offers way better boating than Liverpool but....

We have the feeling that everything here is going to take longer than normal as people just want to chat. Spent about an hour en route for a walk learning all about the economics of running a charter fishing boat from one of the local skippers who had also fallen in lust with our Nordhavn. A trend is building here - apparently we are the first such visitor and are causing trouble - people cycling past stop and call across the dock with questions about the boat too. We are an unpaid marketing display right now. Despite this, it feels like "home" although the hill up into the town doesn't get any flatter....

The marina manager Stuart made up for the hill though. We went to pay our winter berthing fee and sat in his office chatting. He made us tea and we learned lots about the marina. local environment, berth holders etc etc. He also gave us a really good deal. So, happy people! Patrick too - he is gazing down the marina, with a  view of the Tupperware navy boat parked ahead of us: