Day 8 - Aberystwyth to Holyhead

Holyhead, The unusual bridge connecting the town to the ferry port

None of the tide information at Aberystwyth seems to accord with reality!  At low tide neaps we should have had almost a metre under the boat, we need up with 10cm and the levels we equally erroneous on our arrival and  departure making the departure a rather nerve wracking experience. Fortunately the rat of the journey was uneventful, warm but agin lacking unwind. I'm beginning to think I may need to rename it a motor around the UK instead of a sail.

We now stay in Holyhead until Friday. Another crew member, David Storer,  joins us on Thursday afternoon. We then set sail (motor?) for the Isle of Man, just as the IOM TT is about to start.

Tomorrow we have a visit from Margaret's brother Peter, Janina his wife and son David with Sarah and Ben.

Margaret wisely gave me a stack of pound coins to cope with washing machines and the first we encounter doesn't take them!!

Day 7 - Fishguard to Aberyswyth

Our passing "dolphin", a childrens inflatable!

Left Fishguard in flat calm and it remained this way for the whole trip to Aberystwyth. Gloriously warm but not a breath of wind.

A very tricky entrance into Aberystwyth Marina; not to attempted in windy conditions or low tide. Only 1.4m below the boat as we entered the sharp bend into the marina.

An early start tomorrow (0330 dep) to get out before the tide drops and to start on the long trip (72nm) to Holyhead.

Flat calm, plenty of sun tan lotion needed.

Aberystwyth Marina

Day 6 Milford Haven to Fishguard

Leaving the Milford Haven estuary

We took 20 minutes to get out of the lock just before 7am and motored off with a couple of fishing boats down the estuary too the Pembroke coast and the islands of Stockholm and `Skomer. We passed inside Skomer with a following tide and suffered across the eddies at 10 knots. Motoring became the order of the day once more, but the weather was fine and warm and we had a good tide pushing us north. We notice how sparsely inhabited the coast is alt he way as we passed St David's Head and up to Strumble Head. The rocks and small island around the South Bishop group war spectacular and we remarked on the disturbed water we encountered in calm conditions and wondered how impossible our route would have been in stronger winds and adverse tides. The last hour provide sufficient following wind to goose-wing the sails and glide peacefully into Fishguard. We follow the Sten europe in, presumable from Rosslare.  Tomorrow we continue to Aberystwyth.

St Annes Head

South Bishops Rock Lighthouse

Sailing "goose-winged" into Fishguard

Day 5 Lundy to Milford Haven

Milford Marina

Waiting in the lock at Milford Marina

An Irish ferry passes very close on the way into Milford Haven

Not a lot of sleep last night due to some false alerts from the anchor alarm!  The day is bright and windy and we sail virtually all the way to Milford Haven.  Going past the top of the island was interesting with wildly confused seas and 30kts of wind. Several waves broke right over the top of the boat. The wind remained strong for the whole trip but settled into a following wind of the starboard quarter. We romped along between 7 and 9kts arrived at estuary leading up to Milford in good time and then battled against both wind and tide to reach the marina.

Tomorrow sees and amendment to our itinerary as the tides are all against us for entry into Aberystwyth. So we will go to Fishguard of Port Cardigan tomorrow and on to Aberystwyth on Monday.

The "spiders web" of anchor movement on the chart plotter.

4 Days in Padstow

I had a pleasing break from the rigours of the sea spent with Margaret.walking, relaxing and enjoying the restaurants. Max remains unconverted to life afloat and preferred to stay on dry land and to sleep in the car parked beside Soleis.
While I was a way Margaret, with the gallant help of Dave Moore, dealt with our bees that had decided that it was time to leave the hive and set up elsewhere, The bees swarmed in bushes in the garden from whence they had to collected and tempted into an adjacent hive. Dave and `Margaret managed this magnificently, and now count themselves as master "swarm controllers"!!

Day 4 Padstow to Lundy

Tim Stapleton has joined me and we departed Padstow in glorious sunshine and a light north easterly breeze. Once again insufficient to sail on and right on the nose. The wind gradually increased during the day but never varied in direction until we had virtually reached Lundy. By this time it was blowing at 25-30kts and were sailing with heavily reefed main and genoa. The seas became very short as we passed the southern headland of Lundy on our way to Jenny's cove half way up the western coast. THe wind was far too strong to consider an anchorage on the eastern side. Jenny's cove offered us shelter under cliffs towering 200ft above us and inhabited by hundreds of guillemots. It was the first time I have been able sit in the cockpit until 9pm in only a short sleeved shirt.

Day 3 - Newlyn to Padstow

Soleis in Padstow.

Departed at 4am to make the most of the tides around Landsend. However despite our best efforts the tides bore no resemblance to those shore in the forecasts and we ended up with 2kts on the nose and a northerly wind for a significant portion of the journey between Landsend and Padstow.  So again it was to be motoring as the order of the day. As we approached Padstow the wind freshened and backed enabling us to sail at last. We arrived in plenty of time to wait for the Padstow harbour gates to open so enjoyed some glorious sailing with blue skies and a pleasant breeze. We tied up against the wall inside the harbour with sufficient warps to allow for a 1.5m rise and fall of tide. John Lofts leaves me in Padstow  and Margaret has joined me while I wait for Tim Stapleton on Friday.

Longships light, sights along the way and Soleis enjoying the sun in Padstow.

Longships Lighthouse

Day 2 - Falmouth to Newlyn.

We departed at 0830 in an overcast with flat calm and motored all the way until we anchored to the west of St Michael's Mount for lunch. By this time the wind was picking up to a northerly breeze of 10 to 13 kts and after an enjoyable repast in pleasing sunshine we sailed towards Newlyn. Just as we arrived a gaggle of gigs came out of the harbour in preparation for a days racing. The harbour was full of fishing boats of all sizes which meant there were only a few pontoons for leisure craft.

Day 1 - Plymouth to Falmouth.

As we come out of the lock at Sutton Harbour, much to our surprise,we are greeted by Andy and Fiona Bristow in Atlantis with our German visitors.  Atlantis accompanied us a bid a cheery farewell as we left the Sound enrolee to Falmouth.

While pleasant the day lacked wind and we motored all the way to Falmouth. Except for our glorious send-off the journey was uninspired. After all a sailing boat is supposed to sail!

The plans are in place!

From now on it's the weather that will mainly determine whether the plans resemble any coherence with the facts.  The approximate dates are:

Plymouth - Padstow  : 19 May - 24 May
Padstow - South Wales - Holyhead  : 25 May - 2 June
Holyhead - Ireland -  Isle of Man - Troon : 3 - 10 June
Troon - Crinan Canal - Western Isles : 11 - 30 June
One of the following:
Plan A - Stornaway - Orkney : 1- 8 July, Orkney - Inverness end of Caledonian Canal : 9 - 14 July, Caledonian Canal 15 - 21 July,
Plan B - Continue in Western Isles until 8 July; Caledonian Canal 9-14 July, Inverness - Orkney : 15 - 21 July and then return via Caledonian Canal or
Plan C Orkney - Stornaway 21- 28 July
End of July start return trip from Troon.