Cymraeg

Cymru a'r Môr

Sian and the Sea

  • Picture of Siân
  • Sian

Although I was brought up on Merseyside, the twin threads of Wales and the sea ran throughout my childhood. All of our family holidays would involve boats and the sea, somewhere on the Welsh coastline - most often Cemmaes, on Anglesey.

From the earliest days, my father would take my brothers and me sailing. We started with a seven foot dinghy, and have progressed to a 24-foot 'MacWester', with enough room for four to sleep - if you're all friends! Her name is Glaslyn, and she's berthed in Caernarfon.

However when I go sailing these days I'm more likely to travel on Madam Wen, a 36-footer which belongs to friends from Anglesey. This can sleep up to six people, and I remember a lovely week we had on her the summer before last, sailing up from Cardiff to Y Felinheli. Travelling up the coast, we could see the form of the rocks and the landscape changing, and the whole experience proved that there's no place better than Wales in the sunshine.

  • Glaslyn
  • The Glaslyn

This autumn I sailed in Madam Wen and there were dozens of dolphins sailing along with the boat, diving underneath and playing about doing flips - it was a fantastic experience.

For the last couple of years I've owned a kayak. I love the sensation of literally sitting in the water and being able to come really close to marine life. I remember paddling around Ynys Seiriol in the kayak, with the seals playing all around me. I was worried that they would try to get too friendly!