We talked about it. I didn't fancy it. Truth be told, last time scared me more than I was prepared to admit at the time, and I really didn't fancy it again. But what to do? If we don't go out with that forecast this time, we never go out with it.
So we decided to head for St Anne's head and have a look.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="St Anne's Head"]
[/caption]Curious. Here was a the same forecast as last week, except that it was wind over tide this time, and it was the same as any other 4/5 occ6 we've been out in. Great sailing.
So off we went. Northerly meant we'd want a South facing bay to anchor in. South Haven, Skomer was a posibility, but we couldn't take Tigger ashore there, so we headed up to the West of Skokholm and Skomer towards St Davids head, and a little bay West of Solva called Caerbwdi. I was feeling far less apprehensive now:
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="That's better."]
[/caption]And now, some dog psychology. Tigger is quite ambivalent about sailing. He likes the fact that it usually starts and ends at beaches. He likes teh fact that he gets good food, can get wet and sandy, and there are usually lots of sticks about.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I'm on the beach!"]
[/caption]It's the bit in between he is not so keen on. The flapping sails, crew fighting and shouting at each other, the crash of the boom and the slap of the waves.
Are you ready to go back to the boat, Tigger?
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Can we stay a bit longer?"]
[/caption]He has improved a lot in the past few weeks. He has become convinced that dolphins may board us at any time, since he first glimpsed them on the crossing to Ireland. He feels it is his place to prowl the decks, and to repel them violently, by barking and running away.
Caerbwdi is South facing, with some rocky islets to the West of it's entrance, affording good shelter. 51 52.215N 005 14.890 W. We anchored in about 8m on sand and went ashore. A quiet bay, with a short walk along the coast path to St Davids in One direction, a bit further to Solva in the other.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Caerbwdi"]
[/caption]The bay is steep sided, a small strem has cut a deep valley in the peninsula, so the sun sets a bit earlier there than out at sea. We found an old lime kiln - it's surprising how many there are in Pembrokeshire:
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lime Kiln"]
[/caption]The curry was good. Louise rustled up some excellent Chapattis to go with it, and the sea cooled the Sauvignon Bland nicely for later. How could we have contemplated not sailing?
Louise was up early the following day. Wind still blowing a Northerly 5, but the views out over St Savids peninsula towards Ramsey Island were spectacular.
Tigger had a walk and then we set off Southwards at a cracking pace, goosewinging downwind towards Skomer and then back around to Dale:
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Downwind sailing"]
[/caption]Louise repaired the ripped sails when we got back. She's always loved 1980s new romantic music, and models her hair accordingly:
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="240" caption="Sail repair"]
[/caption]Ishtar had been neglected over the winter, as we looked for a new home, and then moved. The engine needed a good service, and the whole boat could do with a check up, and a clean. That would have to wait.
So, the question remains. How could two almost identical forecasts (apart from the rain) give a very enjoyable sail one week and a horrendous experience the previous week?
I don't know.
