We'll be bringing Ishtar back to Cardiff Bay soon, for the winter, but a few friends were going to be in Dale for the weekend, so we left the strains of fitting a new bathroom and long work hours behind and headed West.
Sheila and Vince were at Dale, aboard their new Moody 31 'Volition', and very nice it was too. Vince assured me he was delighted with her sailing capabilities, and she was a good boat for a few friends to enjoy a few glasses of wine aboard too.
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[/caption]Saturday dawned with drizzle and little wind. Louise and Sheila decided to take Tigger ashore and go for a walk on the coast path. Ishtar's leisure batteries were low, so I said I'd take her for a spin. It would be worth ensuring all was well before the two day trip back to Cardiff.
As I passed Monk Haven, they took a picture of me.
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[/caption]20 years of diving aboard Ribs, and I'd been on boats with the engine running enough times. After about 25 minutes, I switched the engine off and raised the sails. A leisurely sail up to Sandy Haven and I was soon 'chilled out' after the recent strains of work, and doing up the house.
I returned to the pontoon and fell asleep, waiting for Sheila and Vince, Louise, and friends Allan, Ian and Jackie to gather - we'd booked a table at Dale yacht club that evening.
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[/caption]The food was lovely. I had field mushroom stuffed with leek and goat's cheese, followed by fisherman's pie.
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[/caption]A few more beers and some wine aboard Volition out on the floating pontoon later, and a great evening was had by all. I'd intended to move Ishtar back to our mooring afterwards, to avoid squeaking ropes and fenders on the pontoon, but convinced myself (helped by maybe a glass too many of wine) that it was calm enough for a peaceful night.
It was, until about 03:00, when the wind picked up. I couldn't take it and Louise and I hurriedly dressed, much to the chagrin of a sleepy Tigger, and moved across to our mooring.
We left early on Sunday as Vince on Volition, and Allan aboard Chausey set off back for Cardiff.
It won't be long before we do the same.
