WELSH beer will be on tap in a Watchet pub bearing a 'local' label this weekend after a successful - if somewhat eventful - nautical challenge. Star Inn landlord Ross Nuttycombe teamed up with local real ale enthusiast Mick Cleveland to pull off a coup that allows the pub to display a special 'LocAle' sticker on three beers brewed in the Vale of Glamorgan. CAMRA - the Campaign for Real Ale - recognises pubs who try to cut their beer miles and support breweries on their doorstep - or at least within a 30-mile radius. And although the Star may be more than 100 miles away by road from the Welsh breweries, the distance by boat is just 14 miles. So Ross and Mick jumped aboard the Watchet-based Orkney day angler Freddie with its skipper Martin Brake on Tuesday to take three nine-gallon firkins of Somerset ales across the water to Penarth. In return for the golden nectar of Cotleigh Brewery's Old Contemptible, Exmoor's Silver Stallion and Wills Neck from the Quantock Brewery, they received three Welsh ales - Thunderbird from the Kite Brewery, Otley's 01 and Dakota Red from the Vale of Glamorgan Brewery. "We had a really good trip over after leaving Watchet just after 8am and got there in about two hours," said Mick. The trio were greeted by licensee of the Golden Lion pub in Penarth, who had provided the Welsh ales, along with CAMRA's pub officer for the Vale of Glamorgan Paul Harper and his counterpart for Bridgend Mick Cheal. After a few hours of hospitality at the Golden Lion, followed by a tour of Penarth's high spots and a trip on the ferry to Cardiff, it was time for the return trip to Watchet. "We left about 6pm but the weather was completely changed from the morning," said Mick. "The wind was horrendous and the swell started - we were being absolutely battered. "After an hour we had travelled less than five miles and Martin the skipper said we would have to turn round - we knew we had no chance of making it home." It took the threesome more than two and a half hours to get back to Penarth, by which time their new-found beer friends had arranged a hotel for the night. The following morning they left Penarth again and were back on home ground before 9am. "The weather was totally different on Wednesday morning," said Mick. "But apart from that one little hiccup we had a fabulous time and we pulled off a unique achievement." The Welsh beer was being allowed to settle but is expected to be ready for its first tasting this weekend. "We can't wait," said Mick. And everyone enjoyed the experience so much that we're hoping it might become a regular thing."