On a placid day last month I took a look at Aberystwyth Harbour
In rather different conditions this Wednesday, the biggest tide of January, I took the opportunity to return at night for 2 hours up to High armed with a telescopic beachcaster and fresh lug.
Forecast incoming rain had yet to arrive and although there was little wind there were impressive rollers crashing against the breakwater.
I’d read before that the rail-less western breakwater could be treacherous and opted for the more sheltered shorter eastern one at the end of New Promenade.
The sea defences were doing a good job of keeping the inner harbour remarkably still in contrast to the fierce activity sea-ward.
Initially tried by the flashing navigation light on the end but as the tide built I moved to a quieter spot,
with a double paternoster of a size 6 shrimp rig tipped with an inch of fresh lug and a size 1 with a full lug.
Half an hour before High I could see white spume splashing an estimated 60 feet above the western breakwater and in places 40 feet against the boulder protected promenade rails.
With no bites and getting a touch unnerved I exercised discretion and headed for a cosy bar near to Royal Pier (The first built for pleasure pier in Wales).
Thursday morning’s TV reported it being the anniversary of a storm taking out 20 Aberystwyth seafront properties and removing 200 feet of the pier -I can believe it!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/mystory/pages/great_storm.shtml
http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/piers/aberystwyth%20pier.htm
Tell me again about the flood defences for the proposed Rhyl Ocean Plaza development!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/aberystwyth/pages/rough_seas_photos.shtml?1
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