We picked a week when Louise finished her shifts on a Thursday - that would give us four days sailing. Two days to Dale, and two days enjoying Pembrokeshire before we sail back.
Louise turned up at 10:15 - I'd stayed on Ishtar and had a couple of beers with Friends the night before. Louise took her across to the locks.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Leaving Cardiff"]
[/caption]With the wind in the West, we stemmed the last of the tide as we headed past Lavernock point. It was neaps, so there was not a lot. Nice and easy, on a Starboard tack off down towards Watchet, Louise retired after her nightshift and I enjoyed the peace and quiet, away from the noise and people whinging!
There were regular radio calls from a survey vessel off the Vale of Glamorgan, but little other traffic.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Survey Vessel"]
[/caption]The weather was not great for sailing, wind West, veering NW force 3 or less, dense fog patches. When it was time to tack NW, the wind had already veered.
I noticed we were near Foreland Point. In the past, I've had a boost from th etide close in there, so we headed for that. It looked lovely, but there was no additional kick from the tide at all.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Foreland Point"]
[/caption]Looking at the clock, and our speed, i realise that we might make Lundy, rather than our planned Oxwich. We'd arrive after dark. I spoke with Louise, now risen, and she loved the idea. Rather than crossing the channel, then, we'd stay on the English side.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Exmoor mists"]
[/caption]as we entered one of the dense fog banks, we soon realised we would be very late getting to Lundy, against the tide, in the fog, in the dark. As if to aid us in our decision, the wind dropped to almost zero, and everything dripped in the damp air.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Cold, wet and miserable"]
[/caption]Neither of us fancied many more hours of it, so we headed back across the channel, catching the last of teh evening sun as we approached Oxwich, leaving the fog behind.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Approaching Oxwich, late evening"]
[/caption]Anchored at the second attempt and Louise cooked a Thai Green curry with Pasta. Tired, and with a start at 06:30, we set the bed up around 22:00.
