It seems to have been like that for weeks. We didn't expect to sail then, but there was plenty of work to be done on Ishtar, so we spent a couple of days aboard.
Sunday night was windy and wet, but as I called in to the Mackeral stage at Milford to pick Louise up on Monday, it was looking much better. Low water though, so we had to be careful. I'd not seen the foul ground to the East end of the pontoon before, but won't forget it:
[caption id="attachment_224" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Foul ground near Mackeral stage, Milford"]
[/caption]I'd noticed a crack in the 'rudder head' on Ishtar (The bit that connects the tiller to the rudder shaft). Couldn't buy a new one, but a firm in Pembroke could make us one if we took the boat there. We tried, but there was a fishing boat tied up on the pontoon outside Pembroke Haven yacht club, so we'd have to come back. Nice sail down to Dale for the evening.
Red and green peppers in a sweet chili sauce with basmati rice. Sunset, average. Only two other boats on the pontoon. One fella from Lawrenny who'd been out of the Haven. He'd decided that discretion was the better part of valour, after taking a beating in the winds.
The forecast on Tuesday morning was even worse. Force 5-7, possibly 8 later. We headed for Pembroke to see if we could get our repair sorted. The squalls and heavy showers gave Milford haven a brooding appearance:
[caption id="attachment_219" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Tug and Texaco"]
[/caption]The wind brought the sailing boats out though. Didn't see these guys raise a sail as they set off down river:
[caption id="attachment_225" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Wooden sailing ship near Milford"]
[/caption]But these folk were enjoying the sunshine a bit later:
[caption id="attachment_221" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Gaff.......?"]
[/caption]We met the engineer at Pembroke - he could make the part, about two weeks. Louise and Tigger wanted to pose
[caption id="attachment_223" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Windswept and interesting. But which is which?"]
[/caption]Great game of 'chicken' getting under the Cleddau bridge. Swirling currents, too with the big tides.
[caption id="attachment_220" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Cleddau bridge. Rush hour."]
[/caption]Both sails up and the engine, but still only just making three knots against the current. Swans can do about 2.5, I guess.
[caption id="attachment_226" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="2.5 knots S.O.G. (Swans over ground)"]
[/caption]Oh yeah, changed the hinges on the cockpit locker. Can't resist a bit of 316 in the sunshine:
[caption id="attachment_222" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Ain't they perty?"]
[/caption]The afternoon sunshine was perfect for late August, but the increasing pitch of the wind and chop on the river told a different tale. Talking of different tails:
[caption id="attachment_227" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Tigger's Tunnel. Llangwm"]
[/caption]Tiggers like boats, but you can't beat the real thing.
