Two autumn sails

October. The week before the clocks go back. On Thursday I popped down to the club with a vague idea of sailing for an hour or so. Allan and Vince from CYC were there and fancied it too. We locked out at 13:30 with no particular intention.







Pretty soon we were heading South East past the Cardiff grounds, all smiling. It was sunny, dry, and Ishtar was bowling along nicely under the breeze. This was better than expected.





I've always loved late afternoon skies in the autumn. Today's were no exception





And storms over Devon



On and on we sailed. None of us wanted to turn back, even when it became clear that it would soon be dark. It was such good sailing, and good fun. Eventually, the turning tide started to work against us and we turned tail and headed back East, passing Barry and Sully once more.



Darkness fell and we put the lights on. We sailed on, up past Penarth, a tug swept by in the black. We entered the Wrach channel. Called the barrage and they kindly offered to open the lock for us 15 minutes early. In we went.





We tied up and switched the engine off just after 20:30. All agreed that we must do this again.



The following morning, Louise was keen to get out. We'd bought a second hand cruising chute on the web, so I took it, knowing that the winds would be too strong.

Louise wanted to try and sail around Flatholm. We locked out and she chose a great line, squeezing past the Southern edge of Cardiff grounds. Another yacht had follwed us, from the lock, heading the same way.



A couple of tacks, and we were rounding Flatholm. As we passed the Southern tip, the wind dropped off until we were crawling along at 2 knots.



Allan called on the radio. He'd just locked out on Chausey, and would meet us west of Flatholm.

I'd forgotten about our 'new' cruising chute, but remembered and dashed below to fetch it. I didn't really know what I was doing, but up it went, and looked great!

Louise helmed, as we headed down towards Allan and Chausey in the Southwest.

Tigger and I, meanwhile, were working hard running the boat.



Allan appeared out of the gloom and shot past us, taking pictures. It was lovely sailing, again, but we decided to turn back before dark this time.





As Chausey approached, Tigger became nervous. Was Lilly aboard? Their last meeting had left Tigger shaking with fear. He is not the world's most courageous dog. Luckily, this time Lilly was elsewhere, so Tigger barked at Allan, bravely.

It was not long after low, but Louise took us in through the Wrach channel.

With gales forecast and the clocks going back this weekend, it may be a while before we get out again. We did pass 1500 miles for the year though, which we are very pleased with.

Portishead

Weather still good, so why not?

Louise wanted to sail to Portishead for Friday night, back Saturday. Sheila and Vince would bring Alana, and Allan would bring Chausey, and meet Edwina at Portishead. The girls decided that they would sail together, and Vince and I would take Ishtar.

Bit of a panic to start. Louise was late getting to the club, having just done a night shift and cooked a curry, but we still made the 14:00 lock out from Cardiff.



It had been flat calm all week, with sailing hardly possible, but we raised the sails hust past the Outer Wrach buoy with a NE force 4. We were soon bowling along, 7 knots sog, and heeled at 30 degrees.



 We stayed to the North of the shipping channel, skirting the Southern edge of the Middle Grounds. I backed off the wind a little, and we crossed to the Southern side of the channel. I think we should have stayed high, as we struggled to point high enough after that, but Vince helmed well, and we rounded the breakwater at 17:00, about 10 minutes before the next lock. Allan had made the previous lock, and the girls were about 5 minutes behind us.

Louise brought Alana in, and Sheila sorted the lines. Perfect.





We had beer aboard Alana, and curry aboard Ishtar, prepared by Louise. Edwina had joined us, and we all enjoyed the evening.





On the way to the pub, we met with Mark, from Gemini Girl. We'd sailed with Mark in May 2009, aboard his boat Cafe Seerose in the Ionian. He was taking a break back in Bristol before returning to the Canaries to take Cafe seerose across the Atlantic. It was great to catch up with Mark.





The alarm went off at 07:00. Louise made coffee and started up the eberspacher heater. We were soon up and about on a clear, cold morning. We took Tigger for a walk and readied the boat. Louise and Sheila wanted to sail Ishtar back, so I loaded my stuff onto Alana. I also loaded Ishtar's spinnaker. The winds were light, and Vince was keen to give it a try.

We locked out at 09:30. Tigger had joined the ladies.



 Allan and Edwina got the crusing chute out aboard Chausey, and Louise and Sheila trimmed teh sails beautifully on Ishtar. The tide was running out and we hurtled downstream, in the light winds.





Vince and I tried to raise the spinnaker. Behind the genoa at first - that turned out to be a bad idea as it got tangled in the genoa when we wound that in. Then tried it without the pole, which didn't work. Finally tried it with the pole and up she went.





It felt great, and we got up to 9.3 knots. The wind held for an hour, then faded and died. We brought the spinnaker in just past Flatholm and reset the genoa. Louise and Sheila passed us, as did Allan and Edwina. The wind picked up again and we started to move faster in towards Cardiff.

We joined with the other boats just before the locks and headed in at 17:15.

Allan and Edwina prepared Chausey for the lock also.

The locks were 'interesting' and not everyone was prepared to wait their turn in the queue.

And a takeaway chinese aboard Chausey to finish. A thoroughly great weekend.

It's ladies day on Ishtar

[Louise] I had said for a while that I would like to go out sailing with some of the ladies from the club so I finally made arrangements with Sheila, from Alana, to go for a sail on Wednesday afternoon.

With very little sleep after a night shift, it was a bit of an effort to drag myself off to the club but with the sun shining, off I went.  After showing Sheila around our boat we set off from the pontoon with a vague plan of going out and trying to sail towards the Cardiff North buoy.  I wanted to try going through the locks alone so with Sheila at the ready in case of a disaster we left the pontoon.

Vince followed along in Alana and I managed the locks without a problem.  Once out into the channel we optimistically raised the mainsail and even got the genoa out but we only just got an movement, there was not a breath of wind.



 The fishing rods came out and Alana rafted up alongside us.  With Van Morrison in the background and the sun surprisingly warm for October, a very pleasant afternoon was had by all.



 I asked Sheila if she fancied taking Ishtar back into the locks and she was up for the challenge.  She really noticed the difference in handling and it makes you realise how familiar you get with your own boat, the pitch of the engine, the revs, how much throttle to give etc.

A little mishap leaving the locks meant Ishtar ended up drifting to starboard, but I think that was a lesson for both of us, I assumed that Sheila would do things one way and she was used to doing things with Vince on her boat another way.  Sometimes there are just different ways.   Anyway undeterred we are sailing to Portishead on Friday, girls on Alana, boys on Ishtar

Flatholm and back, with spinnaker

The nights are drawing in, and everywhere you go there are signs of winter. Dale yacht club are having a 'laying up party' this weekend to mark the end of the summer, and the compound at Cardiff yacht club is fully booked.

Pointless sailing on this late in the season then.

So off we went, leaving our pontoon berth at 09:00 for the 09:30 lock, half an hour after low.



Met some friends from Cardiff Bay yacht club in the lock. The cod were about, evidently, and they had four rods ready. The water level dropped and we were out.Leaving Cardiff locks



I was determined to try and fly our 'cruising chute' for the first time in these light winds. We'd taken it off the boat as too complex when we bought Ishtar, but now felt confident enough to give it a try. Louise helmed, taking us down past the Ranie buoy and out past Lavernock spit, whilst I set up the blocks, and tried to work out the rigging.

The wind picked up, Southerly now, so I put the spinnaker away, unhoisted, and set the genoa and main. Sailed SW, thinking we could run back up towards Barry using the spinnaker.

The time had come, so I rigged it again. I was really nervous, expecting all sorts of horrors. Oh, to hell with it, pull the Halyard and give it a go.

And she flew.

I quickly realised that it was a tri radial, and that rigging it as a cruising chute was wrong. Managed to keep it up though, despite changing wind direction, and actually sailed. I could not help grinning from ear to ear.

OK, now could i douse it? I didn't really know what I was doing, but just dropped it a bit at a time, stuffing it into the bag. Seemed to go fine. I'm a big believer in trying to keep things fun, when learning new skills. This certainly was fun.

Louise sailed us across to Flatholm. We had bought a new anchor, a Delta. New  to us anyhow.

We dropped the hook in 7m off the beach at Flatholm. I've never really mastered going astern with Ishtar, but the anchor dug in, and we had a cup of tea.

We were not there long before we got a VHF call from Vince of Cardiff yacht club. He was out on Alana, near the North Cardiff buoy, and would see us shortly.

Louise wanted to try setting the spinnaker, and did it well.

We didn't have it up long. The wind was now westerly, and we needed to go North West. She doused the spinnaker, put it away and we set genoa and main and neaeded for home, both delighted.

We could see Vince, on Alana headed our way, and it wasn't long before he was with us.

He turned, with the Holms behind, and we both headed back for the locks.

Half an hour or so later and we had locked in with 7 other boats and approached our spot on the pontoon.

A lovely day, and it seems so strange to think of so many boats not being used in such weather.

For our next trick.....

So, back in Cardiff. Not sailed as yet, although some very kind friends at Cardiff Yacht Club sorted our alternator. Thanks, Dom, and particularly Graham.

We loved the summer. If there was any way that we could do something similar next year, it would be great. Tom's mooring was likely to be in use, so we enquired at Dale yacht club. Yes they had a mooring available for next year. We were told of a local company who would lay a mooring, but they wanted £700! We decided to do it ourselves.

I worked out that 3 large concrete blocks, about 4cwt each, and some good heavy 1.5 inch ground chain would do the trick. I made up the blocks,


and our friend Vince, from CYC helped us to move them.





So we set off from Bridgend to Dale. We arrived early. Low tide was at 17:00. The plan was to drop the mooring near the slip at low tide, then drag it out, bit by bit, using lifting bags, the following morning at high tide.

It had been hard work, so we played with Tigger on the beach, Louise did a spot of fishing and Vince and I had coffee and cakes.




We dropped the blocks and chain at 17:00, as planned. Not much to do in Dale.

'I know, why don't we go to the Griffin?'

suggested Vince. I ponted out that it was early, but he wouldn't be dissuaded. The Cwrw Haf was as fine as it was during the summer, and my tuna fishcakes were excellent. Vince managed a pile of bangers and mash, saving one sausage for Tigger. Louise had veggie lasagne. Always complains that there are not many veggie options, but always has veggie lasagne when there are.

An early start. Launched our rib just before 09:00. Weather windy and wet. I'd seen the mackeral sky the day before, but thought we might be ok. We marked the mooring position and I kitted up



We began the drawn out process of diving to find a concrete block, filling the lifting bag, towing it out to the mooring, sinking it, diving to get the lifting bag, repeat, repeat with chain, shackle chain to blocks. Took four hours in all, ably helped by Louise, Vince and another club member, Huw.

Here we are, all looking very happy.





Eventually, we got it all done. I was very tired. Vince, the only one not in diving gear, was soaking. To try and save him getting any wetter, I gave him a piggy back ashore. Thankfully, Louise was a little slow with the camera.





Huw and I then had a dive for 'pleasure'. It was windy and quite swelly on the wreck of the Dakotian. The visibility was less than 2m. We had a brief look around the stern section and dropped onto the sea bed. Quickly sirred up the silt and lost the wreck. It's only 400 feet long, so easily done.

A long trip back to Bridgend. All tired, but happy at a job well done. Thanks to Louise, Vince and Huw.

And Home......

We left Lundy after a poor night's sleep. A lot of bouncing around on the mooring. We found out why as dawn broke. The wind was Easterly. All the forecasts said W/NW, but it was in our face.

We set off at first light, best we could do was about 030 degrees. Not good. We needed to pass Foreland point before the tide turned too much against us, and that was over 30 miles away. In the end, we inched past it against the full ebb, but the tides were very small neaps, so we could make progress.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Wakey, wakey"][/caption]

It was another lovely day, long, but mostly fair. As we neared Foreland, the Wind did turn to the West, and we sailed into Porlock about 18:00. 47 miles covered.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Porlock, looking west towards Foreland."][/caption]

We dropped the anchor. I got the rod out, hoping to fill the holds with bass. My heart wasn't in it though, and neither were the bass, so we agreed a draw, 0-0.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="The perfect cast. Pity the bass didn't appreciate it."][/caption]

 Louise made some food, Mexican Fajitas, and very good they were. As darkness fell, the wind was in the NW, uncomfortable for Porlock. We went to bed early, but sleep was poor for a second night, the anchor chain making an awful noise.

Louise set the alarm for 2am, when the tide should change. I heard her get up, check the GPS, look outside, GPS again, outside again.

'Mart, I think the anchor has dragged. The GPS says we are ashore.'

Panicked, I checked the echo sounder. 4m, but we were definitely much closer in than we should have been. I started the engine, Louise pulled up all 40m of chain and teh anchor and we reset. In fairness the wind had eased, but it was our first anchor drag, and not at all nice in the pitch blackness.

Louise could not sleep, and stayed up the rest of the night, but we did not move again.

By now we were very tired, I put the mainsail up at 07:00, hauled in the anchor (Ishtar has no windlass) and sailed off our anchorage, heading North. Louise took over, heading for Nash point/Aberthaw.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Louise, tired again"][/caption]

A good sail followed. No engine, just the sound of the sails, and the water fizzing past the hull. I left Louise to it. I do have a tendency to take over, and sometimes, Louise just needs to  do it all herself.

When we bought Ishtar, we decided that it was best if I tried to learn everything to a reasonable standard. When we felt that I was 'safe', Louise would learn. That worked admirably when manoeuvring under power, and Louise has now passed me in that department. She does need more time sailing, and navigating for that matter, without my interference. Anyway, she sailed us well, up towards the Welsh coast, before the wind died, and the engine went on again. It was not long before we rounded Lavernock point and were back in familiar territory, off Penarth.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Home at last"][/caption]

 

We locked in at 13:15 and, 15 minutes later, were back on the pontoon. The 'Cardiff stain' had made short work of Ishtar's white hull.

 

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="On the pontoon."][/caption]

We've been away just three months, but it feels like much, much longer.

I can't finish without thanking Tom Bennett once more, for use of the mooring, and 'Tom' the tender. It was a wonderful experience, Tom, and we would surely not have pushed ourselves and made this trip if it were not for teh use of the mooring. See you soon.

 

A Day on Lundy

Well, a day and a half, actually. We arrived on Friday evening, about 17:00. Louise pumped the dinghy and we went ashore.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Lundy landing"][/caption]

A long climb up a steep hill, passing signs telling us dogs were not allowed (we already knew that, so Tigger stayed at home with my mother) and that we should call in the pub and pay a £5 landing fee.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Looking down at the moorings from the top of Lundy"][/caption]

We wandered around the South end and then on up to the old light.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lundy old light"][/caption]

 This was open, and we climbed to the top for spectacular views, East and West, way out over the Bristol channel.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Surveying the channel from Lundy old light"][/caption]

 We wandered down the the Marisco Tavern and duly paid our £5 each. Tested the beer, curiously enough called 'Lundy Old light', I've no idea where they get these names from.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="and very good it was too......"][/caption]

And thence back to Ishtar. Louise enjoyed a tantalising few seconds stretched between the tender and Ishtar before finally succumbing to gravity and taking a swim. She does so like the water. Cider related? Who can tell.

Friday night is curry night on Ishtar (and off her). Louise prepared a delicious meal, with chapattis, papadoms and a king prawn vindaloo. Perfect.

Up early and shore on Saturday. Walked up to the village and then on Northwards up the East side of the island to the North light.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lundy, East side"][/caption]

 

There are many oldbuildings representing Lundy's long history. Some have been restored, others are in ruins leaving one to muse on what they were like when full of life in years gone by.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lundy ruins"][/caption]

It took about an hour and a half to walk to the light at the North end. Stunning views, but I'd recommend good boots.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lundy, North light"][/caption]

By this time, our feet were sore, but it was a beautiful late summer/early autumn day, warm and balmy and the Bristol channel sparkled in the sunlight.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Looking West"][/caption]

 

We walked back to the village. Bought some more water and juice in the shop. The bells in the church rang out and a folk group performed shanties outside the Marisco tavern. Lundy was 40 years old today!. That is to say, the island was given to the National trust 40 years ago, and the last owner, now an old lady, had come over on the Oldenburg from ilfrcombe to join in the celebrations.

Refreshed, we set off back for the West side, as the afternoon heated up. Found a breathtaking small ruin right at the cliff edge, near the old light.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Ruin, lundy, West side"][/caption]



As the day wore on, we relaxed, very tired after our exertions and with sore feet. The duck pond was surprisingly cool, as was the attitude of the ducks towards me refreshing my feet in their pond.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Duck pond"][/caption]

 We finished our circumnavigation of Lundy at the South light, just as the Oldenburg was about to leave. The island became much quieter then, as it was when we arrived the previous night. Selfish, I know, but it felt as if it was our own private island, when all the day trippers had left.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Oldenburg "][/caption]

I had an excellent 5 bean chili in the pub, with two great pints of Lundy ale. Louise had Mushroom stroganoff. Garlic bread and extra chips were shared. Way too much, despite our appetites. Tired, and slightly sad to be leaving early in the morning, we returned to the beach and Louise rowed us back out to Ishtar. I'd seen this on a headstone earlier. It had many meanings, but summed up how I felt about Lundy, perfectly.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="It's been a lovely day."][/caption]

It's been a lovely day.

Lundy Island. Beautiful.