April 17th 2021
Crew Mandy, David, Karen, Chris, Nick and Graham
Objective – Get the boat to Pwllhelli
We’d been trying to get the boat up north since we bought her in October 2020 but due to covid restrictions, work commitments, short days and shitty weather we didn’t mange it until April 2021.
The first attempt was in December. Attempt 1 – Ipswich Haven to Thames estuary
The next attempt, attempt 2, was March 2021. The weather was perfect but due to covid restictions most marinas were closed. So we didn’t even bother trying as no one would let us leave the boat there if we had to abandon our trip and go back to work.
Finally on Saturday April 17th, we set off, Amanda, Graham, Dave and Karen. The Thames estuary was again not the most inviting of waters, very confused seas made the going slow, but we battled through and arrived in Ramsgate just after dark. Food, beer then bed. Up early, showered in the council run, heated floors facilities and left at 7am.
After passing Dover the wind dropped and the sea became calm. We decided to motor through the night and had a wonderful night passage with a stunning sunset over the wind farm off Eastbourne.
A few games of frogger off the isle of Wight with some passenger ferries kept us on our toes. Sunrise was with a mirror calm sea. We were planning to meet Duncan and Camilla, hull number 28, in Littlehampton but decided to take advantage of the weather and again continue through the night. Another calm sunset and more games with other boats, this time galaxians, avoiding fishing boats doing their thing in big circles. We arrived in Falmouth the next morning chuffed to bits with our progress. We spent the day shopping and eating cornish pasties. That evening we went to a pub, sat outside, and had a lovely pint of Cornish Ale, went for a meal then early to bed.
We left Falmouth the following morning at 10am,, heading for Milford Haven. After a great sail all the way to Lands end we turned the corner and the seas got up, wind on our nose. We battled for the next 30 hours in some of the worse seas I have ever been in. 3 metre waves coming from all over the place. A chap in Milford Haven told me they call the journey from the Longships light to Milford Haven the Long 100. And it was, but the boat and engine really proved themselves, no leaks, no funny noises, no banging down from a peak to trough. And the autopilot behaved admirably even though she moaned a lot. We have now named her Mona. The crew did admirably cooking in a force 8.
But we did see dolphins. I saw a sight that will stay with me forever. Every now and again a massive wave would fly towards our starboard side, higher than the pilot house. In one of these wave I saw this dolphin tanking towards me, riding in the wave, and at the last minute it peeled off to miss the boat by inches. I could have sworn he winked at me as he turned.
So we arrived in Milford Haven marina all a little exhausted and entered the lock. Dave made some specious remark about the marina that prompted Karen to say “What do you expect, a welcome pack?” Anyway the lock keeper climbed down the ladder to the lock pontoon where we were tied up, to welcoming us to the marina., (They hadn’t had many visitors so he was pleased to see some strangers) and he gives us a welcome pack!!! Ha!! We then pulled into our allotted berth and 2 local chaps from the boat next door were waiting to take our lines. Great marina, great staff and super friendly locals.
We changed crew at Milford Haven, Dave left on a 6 hour train ride home (Thanks Dave) and Karen’s husband Chris with Nick met us at the marina and Karen drove herself home. We left Milford Haven then next day around 2pm, the lock gates where on free flow so we couldn’t fill up with juice but we had enough. A quick overnight to Pwllheli marina or so we thought. From midnight to 4am the sky was clear, the moon was up and we were sailing at 7 knots in the milky light. Blasting across Cardigan bay. Best sail of the trip. Then at 4am the wind and seas got up and we battled into the weather all the way to Hells mouth, Llyn peninsula. Not quite so bad as the Bristol channel but still very uncomfortable. Arriving at Pwllheli marina at 5pm.
The almanac says the marina is 24 hour access but because of covid, the marina had only just reopened and not been used for quite some time. So on trying to get in the entrance we got stuck on a sandbank. It was low water springs. While we were sitting there a few residents of the marina came out to welcome us and told us many people had been caught out by this. Anyway after about 15 minutes we managed to motor off the sandbank and bobbed around the bay in the lovely evening sunshine with Snowdonia in the background waiting for a bit more water so we could get into our booked berth. We even had a beer whilst waiting.
So we eventually got into our berth, after hitting a mud bank one more time and flying in at 7 knots because of the incoming tide. 594 miles in 7 nights. two fifths of the distance sailed and about 400 litres of fuel used.
A great shakedown cruise, literally, and the only thing that needs looking at is the diesel tanks need cleaning out as the engine prefilters, that were changed before we left, were completely gunked up on arrival.
We are now completely confident this boat can take us across the pacific ocean.
Mir, Mandy & Me 