Caswyn, Vince and Dave

We set off from North Haven, Skomer early on Saturday morning, motoring around the West side of the Island rather than waiting for slack water at Jack Sound. with less than three knots of wind, we didn't even try to sail against the last of the North going tide. A couple of hours later we were rounding St Anne's head and, shortly after that, Louise and Tigger went ashore in the dinghy, and then off to Milford by car, for provisions.

Caswyn was due in around lunchtime, having left Oxwich, where they spent the night just after 06:00. They duly pulled in at Dale around 13:00, and shortly after that, Louise and I went over to see them.

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

I'd promised to dive on Caswyn's mooring for Dave, but had not yet managed it. Instead, we pulled up the riser and attached the mooring buoy. I did try and snorkel the chain, to check it, buu couldn't manage the full length, so I'd have to dive it when I bring back my dive gear to Ishtar after the Lundy trip.

That sorted, we ate some lunch and then all went ashore for showers and a visit to The Griffin.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Martin, Vince, Dave at the Griffin"][/caption]

 

I picked up some weed in the tender outboard on the way back to Ishtar, which caused it to overheat, but it seemed fine once I cleared the blockage. Louise cooked a loved chinese meal of sweet and sours prawns or chicken with duck in plum sauce, followed by Banoffee pie with cream. With Dave and Vince tired after their passage, Louise and I then headed back to Ishtar and our bunks.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Dale sunset"][/caption]

 

Sunday dawned hot and windless. There seemed no chance of sailing. Dave wanted to do some work aboard Caswyn, so Vince joined Louise and I aboard Ishtar as we headed around to Castlebeach Bay. Louise would do some fishing, and Vince and I would take Tigger ashore.

We soon lay at anchor and I quickly rowed Vince and Tigger ashore at Castlebeach.

After throwing a stick into the sea for Tigger for a short while, we meandered up the coast path to Dale point, looking down on Ishtar on one side of the headland

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Ishtar, centre"][/caption]

and then down on Caswyn, near the pontoon on the other side

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

After returning to the boat, we motored out to St Anne's head where Louise and Vince did a bit of fishing. With just one mackerel to show for an hour's effort, though, I suggested we try over the wreck of the Dakotian.

This was far more fruitfull, and Louise was soon well ahead in the race

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

Vince soon joined in with a small pollack, before sealing the matter quite categorically a few moments later with a lovely cod.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Vince, with cod"][/caption]

Tired, sunburned but very happy indeed, we returned to Dave aboard Caswyn. Pretty soon we were ferrying our belongings ashore, Vince and Dave enjoying a pint and Louise and I an ice cream before we squeezed into Louise's tiny Citroen and returned to civilization, all of us wishing we could stay in Pembrokeshire for a few more days.

I'm sure we'll be back soon.