Route

Weather

Notes

After some debate over the weather, it was decided that the South was going to get the strong winds as predicted by the Met. Office. 

Not long after launching, we realised that the chart folios (Padstow area and Scotland) were not on the boat, and in all likelihood were now floating off down the beach...  We rang Carolyn's dad up and with the help of Paul off Meander, both folios were recovered. 

Much relieved, we again set off in a gusty F3-4 using just the foresail to motor along at up to 7 knots in smooth seas.  Nelson followed our progress:

Crossing the bar under sail in ideal sailing conditions was brilliant, and we turned up at Llanddwyn at the same time as everyone else.  We were horrified to see Osprey and Detente were already in our favourite anchoring spot, Mermaids Cove!

However, Chinook had already been in there and managed to clout a rock, so this spooked everyone.  Detente, being a fin keeler, realised that where they were was going to dry out and they would fall over.  So all except Osprey upped sticks and followed Chinook round the corner to the other side.

When we got there, the wind died down and we anchored to enjoy a pleasant afternoon at anchor before a barbeque.

It wasn't long before a big swell formed and the wind blew up, with competing wind and tide making the boats move around in a random manner.  This was too much for the littl'un on Chinook, who had to be moved ashore for a bit of recuperation.

The rolling and the moving around randomly got worse and Abraxas dragged in the poor holding.

At this point we realised there was no way we could leave the boat to go ashore.  As we had to collect Peter, I elected to go ashore as a taxi.  Peter was bringing his newly created cockpit console table, refashioned in shiny plastic and looking like a standard fit for a Legend.

We then used the Marine barbeque, hanging the hot kettle of coal over the stern of Genesis.

At around 1800, we set off with Abraxas for Caernarfon river.  Detente went to Aber Menai, while Chinook joined Safari in Fort Belan.  We all went across the bar way too early but never had less than 2.5 metres depth.  Not a problem in the still conditions but if lumpy we would have waited for more water.

As we passed Caernarfon in still conditions, an unusual rainbow formed:

We anchored off on one of the harbour buoys while more water arrived, using our mooring device thing we bought at the boat show a year or so ago.

As we headed into the river, one long and three short blasts of air horn and the gate opened.

Once in the river, we tied off and headed straight for the Anchor pub, then on to the Royal Welsh where we were warmly welcomed once again.

In the morning, it was bright and still, making it a leisurely day motoring back.

As we passed the post outside the RWVYC, we noted the level which can be used as an indicator of the level needed to cross.

There was no wind but that which we were making, but even so Abraxas put the flappy thing up.

We settled down on Genesis to a lazy motor back.  Peter re-familiarised himself with the controls:

Centre console, showing new table

"What's that?" we said as we went past Plas Newydd.  We went over to check it out.  It turned out to be a body, so we called Holyhead Coastguard who requested we remain on station to mark the spot.  We had a bit of time before Swellies slack but we were drifting at quite a rate towards the bridges.

Simon phoned me from the boathouse and I apprised him of the situation. The lifeboat turned up in due course and attended to matters, not being a very nice shout for 0930 am on a Sunday morning.

We left and went through the Swellies, making an unusual end to the weekend.

Lessons Learned

• Always look behind at the beach before casting off

• Always ascertain what you're looking at in the water.