Club Trip to Porth Eilian

A club trip to Porth Eilian with Bob Scott on Winfarthing as OOD.
 
Date Saturday 13th June
Sunday 14th June
Time
13/6/09
13/6/09
14/6/09 
14/6/09
Tide UTC Beaumaris:
13  0151  6.88  1420  6.30   0831  1.67  2042  2.13    14  0234  6.64  1507  6.08   0914  1.86  2126  2.33  
Crew list Carolyn and Glen
Distance Beaumaris to Porth Eilian
          20 miles, 3 hrs, 6 mph average
Porth Eilian
          19 miles, 2.5 hours, 7 mph

Route

Route to Porth Eilian
Route to Porth Eilian

 

Weather


St Davids Head to Great Ormes Head including St Georges Channel

Inshore waters forecast

24 hour forecast:

0700 Sat 13 Jun 

0700 Sun 14 Jun 

Wind

South or southwest 3 or 4.
Observed: SW3 until Puffin then WSW F4

Sea state

Slight, but moderate in far south.
Observed: Slight

Weather

Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Observed: Fine

Visibility

Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Observed: Good

Outlook:

0700 Sun 14 Jun 

0700 Mon 15 Jun 

Wind

South or southwest 3 or 4.
 Observed: SW 3/4

Sea state

Slight, but moderate in south.
 Observed: Slight

Weather

Mainly fair, fog patches at first.
 Observed: Very fair

Visibility

Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
 Observed: Good

Windguru

Isobars

Notes

We had got the weather forecast earlier on Saturday and expected clear blue skies and a following wind (from WindGuru).  However, things were a bit overcast at first.  Eventually the skies cleared and we set off in sunshine.  The RAYC were out with their little boats going round the buoys:

RAYC

We had a nice wind behind us and we rigged up the Gybe preventer to enable us to gull wing with two reefs in the main.  Lots of boats passed us tacking up the wind.  We passed a new member who was on his way to his first trip - having joined hours beforehand!

Sophia Jane

We caught up with the early leavers and soon got to Porth Eilian, just behind Snowbird, Chinook and Caretta.  You can see a video of Hwyl Dda by clicking here.

Hooly Doodads 

We managed to shoe horn 9 club boats into the small bay and proceeded to have a barbeque and bonfire on the beach:

Porth Eilian 

Colin came ashore from Shearwater, welcomed with an oar tunnel:

Colin 

Our seats and table were put to good use:

Seat Trials 

We retired just before dark and continued on Genesis.

The next morning we set off in sunshine and a light / gusty F3/4.  We put two reefs in and set off.  We soon noticed Snowbird gradually gaining on us.  Something had to be done... We found we were able to take the reefs out while sailing.  With our full sail out we soon were doing over 7 knots and caught up with Windfarthing.  I also took the opportunity to re-configure the auto pilot, noting it had been set to be a semi displacement motor boat. 

Winfarthing were sailing well as we came past them on the way to Puffin: 

Winfarthing 

Lessons Learned

  • It is possible to take a reef out when sailing

  • An engine on the back of the dinghy can bring a lot of water into the dinghy

  • Auto-pilots need setting up