Porth Wen however was never able to offer such sanctuary. At low tide the sea falls away to reveal a bed of sharp rock. Ships could be fatally damaged here, so a permanent use of the sea was never truly obtainable. Not many of the ships sought to stay there longer than they could. Indeed, given a good North Westerly or North Easterly storm no captain worth his salt would seek to be anywhere near Porth Wen. The harbour walls could not shelter the ships from stormy swells and a battering against the quayside.