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.
