A new online community set up in Pembrokeshire is floating the boat of people worldwide who have a loved one working away at sea.

The official launch party of Sea Wives will be held at The Galloping Major, New Hedges today, Friday, April 24 from 6pm.

Sisters-in-law Jo and Louise Hammond have launched www.seawives.com ‘as an opportunity for people to get together that understand the weird but wonderful life of being involved in the seafaring world’.

Jo and Louise describe themselves as ‘fully-fledged, qualified sea wives of seven and 10 years respectively’.

“Being the partner of a person that works away ast sea has its highs and lows, and it is sometimes difficult for others to understand our peculiar way of life,” said Louise.

“Seawives aims to bring all these people together as ‘we are all in the same boat!’ “

The free website www.seawives.com launched on March 31, with members from as far afield as South Africa, Australia, Canada and Europe joining in the first 48 hours.

It will be offering a forum with advice and tips, chat, friendship and discussion and a magazine with entertaining, inspirational and informative articles, including contributions from one of Britain’s top female adventurers, Tori James.

Seawives will be supporting Seafarers UK and The Mission to Seafarersand is encouraging local schools and businesses to join in Get Stripey for Sailors Day on May 15 in aid of Seafarers UK.