.JPG)
Update from Padstow 26th July
Thanks to everyone for their comments that have been added to the web diary – it’s nice to know that you are checking for updates, although internet access has not been as easy since we left Holyhead.
Thurs 19th
Left Holyhead at 2pm and anchored in Aberdaron bay ( near Bardsey Island, N Wales) at about 8:30pm to wait for the tide and make a better arrival time at Dale.
Fri 20th
A 3 am start to make the most of the tides down to Dale (near Milford Haven) and another long day ‘til we arrived at 5 pm. Not much wind – and what there was was in the wrong direction so we had a lot of motoring again.
The pontoon ‘s about a mile from the shore so the evening is spent aboard.
Sat 21st
Another early start (5am) from Dale to Padstow but we had a good sail for most of the way and arrived at about 8pm then had to wait for the tide to be high enough for the Harbourmaster to open the gate to the inner harbour. Loads of boats were waiting to go in so the H/Master had a bit of juggling to do to fit us all in.
The sail down was spent trying to guess how many dolphins were playing around the boat. There must have been between 20 to 40 of them – absolutely brilliant – jumping & twisting & turning around us.
Sunday was spent in Padstow catching up with laundry and sleep and trying to best guess the weather for the leg to the Scillies.
Mon 23rd
We thought we’d take our chance with a small weather window that had wind from the north to make the Scillies – but it was not to be…… When we got outside the estuary the weather was worse than we had anticipated so the decision was made to turn back and wait for better weather. We stayed on a buoy outside the harbour for the night rather than be locked in just in case the weather eased enough to allow us to make the Scillies – but we came back into the inner harbour at lunch time on the Tuesday (24th).
Wed 25th
Wadebridge had the pleasure of our company - it’s about 9 miles by bus. It was heavy drizzle when we left Padstow but the day brightened enough to let us walk back from Wadebridge along part of the Camel Trail. Not a camel in sight… but where we are is called the Camel Estuary – I wonder if that’s it?!?!
Thurs 26th
Another day in Padstow – another pasty for lunch – another guess at the weather ( looks like it will be Saturday or Sunday at the earliest) – we may just stay here for the ice-cream and clotted cream fudge. It’s a hard old life.
Thurs 19th
Left Holyhead at 2pm and anchored in Aberdaron bay ( near Bardsey Island, N Wales) at about 8:30pm to wait for the tide and make a better arrival time at Dale.
Fri 20th
A 3 am start to make the most of the tides down to Dale (near Milford Haven) and another long day ‘til we arrived at 5 pm. Not much wind – and what there was was in the wrong direction so we had a lot of motoring again.
The pontoon ‘s about a mile from the shore so the evening is spent aboard.
Sat 21st
Another early start (5am) from Dale to Padstow but we had a good sail for most of the way and arrived at about 8pm then had to wait for the tide to be high enough for the Harbourmaster to open the gate to the inner harbour. Loads of boats were waiting to go in so the H/Master had a bit of juggling to do to fit us all in.
The sail down was spent trying to guess how many dolphins were playing around the boat. There must have been between 20 to 40 of them – absolutely brilliant – jumping & twisting & turning around us.
Sunday was spent in Padstow catching up with laundry and sleep and trying to best guess the weather for the leg to the Scillies.
Mon 23rd
We thought we’d take our chance with a small weather window that had wind from the north to make the Scillies – but it was not to be…… When we got outside the estuary the weather was worse than we had anticipated so the decision was made to turn back and wait for better weather. We stayed on a buoy outside the harbour for the night rather than be locked in just in case the weather eased enough to allow us to make the Scillies – but we came back into the inner harbour at lunch time on the Tuesday (24th).
Wed 25th
Wadebridge had the pleasure of our company - it’s about 9 miles by bus. It was heavy drizzle when we left Padstow but the day brightened enough to let us walk back from Wadebridge along part of the Camel Trail. Not a camel in sight… but where we are is called the Camel Estuary – I wonder if that’s it?!?!
Thurs 26th
Another day in Padstow – another pasty for lunch – another guess at the weather ( looks like it will be Saturday or Sunday at the earliest) – we may just stay here for the ice-cream and clotted cream fudge. It’s a hard old life.
Update from Holyhead, 19 July
It’s now a week since we left Evantu in Tobermory. Thanks for everything.
Mon 16th
We left Carrickfergus in thick fog with the radar on. It didn’t lift for 4 hrs but eventually the sun shone. We motor-sailed all the way to Ardglass. David and Jeanette on Grey Dove from Dunstaffnage were next door. They’d just been dis-masted so now must wait in Ardglass for a couple of weeks. Good luck with your repairs.
Tues 17th
Just one night at Ardglass (£17!) and then onwards over to North Wales. The wind direction was a bit tight on the nose so we had to motor sail for most of the way. Arrived at Holyhead after 10pm.
Wed 18th
A week since we said our goodbyes at Canna to Tolbos and Nimrod. We miss you, thanks for the updates. Look after that bear! Stayed put and enjoyed a jobs day. We now have a working wind-generator. Fab! Holyhead sailing club only £8 per night for the mooring, good bar meal and an excellent club launch service!
We will continue to work or way down to the Scillies when the weather isn’t too bad.
Mon 16th
We left Carrickfergus in thick fog with the radar on. It didn’t lift for 4 hrs but eventually the sun shone. We motor-sailed all the way to Ardglass. David and Jeanette on Grey Dove from Dunstaffnage were next door. They’d just been dis-masted so now must wait in Ardglass for a couple of weeks. Good luck with your repairs.
Tues 17th
Just one night at Ardglass (£17!) and then onwards over to North Wales. The wind direction was a bit tight on the nose so we had to motor sail for most of the way. Arrived at Holyhead after 10pm.
Wed 18th
A week since we said our goodbyes at Canna to Tolbos and Nimrod. We miss you, thanks for the updates. Look after that bear! Stayed put and enjoyed a jobs day. We now have a working wind-generator. Fab! Holyhead sailing club only £8 per night for the mooring, good bar meal and an excellent club launch service!
We will continue to work or way down to the Scillies when the weather isn’t too bad.
Update on Sun 15th July
Friday 6th July 2007
We arrived at the boat and loaded the last of the gear, anything left behind would need to be posted on to us or bought on the way, (but it’s not like we’re falling off the edge of the earth). After saying goodbye to the family we settled down to think about the leaving and get a good night’s sleep.
Sat 7th
Left Feochan as planned just after high tide and headed across to Loch Spelve for the first night where another 3 boats had planned to join us. The weather was a bit too wet to have a BBQ ashore so each boat cooked their meals and we had a communal meal on Tolbos.
Sun 8th
We left Spelve at 8am to head for Tobermory and had a very good sail all the way with winds between 16 & 25 knots. Had our evening meal in the restaurant upstairs at the Mishnish, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Mon 9th
Headed to Canna from Tobermory at 10:30am and got there at 5:30pm, quite a good sail over although quite lumpy in places – arrived in glorious sunshine.
Spent the next day in Canna but the weather had closed in and there was no great photos to be taken.
Wed 11th
Left at 8 in the morning to go to Gometra, just north of Iona, there was no phone signal there – not even for the Sat phone.
Thurs 12th
Had a long day from Gometra to Gigha (13 hours) through the sound of Iona and then down through the sound of Islay. Spent the next day doing a few jobs on the boat, cleaning & someone went for a run….
Sat 14th
An early start from Gigha at 5am and had originally been heading to Glenarm but we were making such good time that we ended up in Carrickfergus. We always like coming to Carrickfergus because we have met some really great people here and they always give a great welcome. (2 night for the price of one has always seemed like a good deal too). Paid a visit to the Sailing Club in the evening after having a meal ashore with Ian.
Stayed in the marina on Sunday, checked the tides for Monday and will have another early start to catch the tide.
We arrived at the boat and loaded the last of the gear, anything left behind would need to be posted on to us or bought on the way, (but it’s not like we’re falling off the edge of the earth). After saying goodbye to the family we settled down to think about the leaving and get a good night’s sleep.
Sat 7th
Left Feochan as planned just after high tide and headed across to Loch Spelve for the first night where another 3 boats had planned to join us. The weather was a bit too wet to have a BBQ ashore so each boat cooked their meals and we had a communal meal on Tolbos.
Sun 8th
We left Spelve at 8am to head for Tobermory and had a very good sail all the way with winds between 16 & 25 knots. Had our evening meal in the restaurant upstairs at the Mishnish, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Mon 9th
Headed to Canna from Tobermory at 10:30am and got there at 5:30pm, quite a good sail over although quite lumpy in places – arrived in glorious sunshine.
Spent the next day in Canna but the weather had closed in and there was no great photos to be taken.
Wed 11th
Left at 8 in the morning to go to Gometra, just north of Iona, there was no phone signal there – not even for the Sat phone.
Thurs 12th
Had a long day from Gometra to Gigha (13 hours) through the sound of Iona and then down through the sound of Islay. Spent the next day doing a few jobs on the boat, cleaning & someone went for a run….
Sat 14th
An early start from Gigha at 5am and had originally been heading to Glenarm but we were making such good time that we ended up in Carrickfergus. We always like coming to Carrickfergus because we have met some really great people here and they always give a great welcome. (2 night for the price of one has always seemed like a good deal too). Paid a visit to the Sailing Club in the evening after having a meal ashore with Ian.
Stayed in the marina on Sunday, checked the tides for Monday and will have another early start to catch the tide.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
