The Shipwreck Of SV Paul

From the Kidwelly Estuary, the shipwreck of SV Paul can be seen, and reached at low tide, sitting on Pembrey coastline, this part of the beach is owned by the M.O.D (Ministry of Defence.)
This image shows the view across, on the right of the image is Camarthen Bay holiday park coastline, which takes you to Ferryside around the headland.
The image on the left, shows the headland which Llansteffan Castle sits on. Photos of Llansteffan will be posted soon.
This image captures the shipwreck with the last channel to navigate. The current was fast and strong at the point where I was stood, so I couldn't get across. I had to wade up stream if you like, where the channel was wider and slower running, so I could cross more safely without being dragged off my feet and washed away!
The high tide of the Estuary completely covers it. I didn't have long to get across, take some shots and get back. Some sandbank channels fill quicker than others and can cut you completely off.
A lady died doing exactly what we did, a local lady who knew the tide times (we checked the tide times before we went across), and drowned, only a month or so ago apparently. We were chatting to a local family who had gone out for a wander out there, but didn't cross that final channel.
That bank that the ship sits on is really high too, it was towering over us when we were inside.
I visited the site 2 weeks ago (Previous captures from my last visit 3 years ago in May 2018 are on my gallery). The shifting of sandbanks means more of the ship is on view than ever has been in decades. It was so good to be able to return back to beautiful Camarthenshire.
Information about the vessel is courtesey of Wiki.
"The SV Paul was a four-masted fore-and-aft rigged windjammer, launched in Seattle in 1919. Originally named Mount Whitney she was sold to new German owners in 1924 and renamed Margaret Sayer, finally in 1925 she was acquired by Flensburg owners and renamed 'Paul'.
In 1925 the Paul crossed the Atlantic from Cadiz to St. John, Newfoundland and loaded 2,000 tons of timber at Halifax for Dublin. On 30 October she ran into severe gales, losing many sails and her anchors; eventually grounding on the Cefn Sidan sands as without any auxiliary motive power she was unable to make an escape. On this occasion she had a crew of twelve, with a cook, the master and a teenage stewardess. Another reference cites her grounding as being on November 5, 1925.

Several tugs came up from Cardiff and failed in an attempt to refloat her. A salvage company took on 26 local men and salvaged the timber cargo. Most of the timber was made into rafts and floated over to the nearby railway line at Bertwn.
Pembrey's Cefn Sidan sands translates as 'silken back', describing the smooth flat stretch of over 7 miles of sand and the Paul is the largest remaining timber wreck to be seen on the Cefn Sidan sands of the 182 vessels are recorded as being wrecked here. The unloaded hulk has shifted position and coastline alterations mean that she now lies within the Gwendraeth estuary. The construction being massive, and the site being protected from the worst of the storms has meant that the wreck has only slowly broken up. The substantial timbers held together by innumerable wrought-iron fastenings are still apparent. Much has been stripped from the wreck over the years and bullet holes indicate its use as a target before the establishment of the holiday camp. (Camarthen Bay)" May 2021.
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