Musing on the name Montreal rock, and the fact that two nearby buoys, the Dakotian and Behar buoys were named after shipwrecks, I wondered whether the rock took its name from a ship that sank after hitting it. I found little information on the brief search I did, but I contacted a friend, the author Tom Bennett, who has written many books on Shipwrecks in Wales, and also the excellent
Sea Guide to Pembrokeshire
Tom pointed out that, during the early development of Milford Haven, it was proposed that the port may be used on the London-Montreal steamer service. Indeed, in the late 1920s and 1930s, a steamer called the Calgaric, of the White star line, was stationed at Milford in a sea ready state, and later used on the London to Montreal route. Tom postulates that maybe the liner anchored near the rock, which took its name when local people referred to the 'Montreal Steamer'.
It could be accurate, or there could be another reason entirely for the enigmatic Montreal Rock. Amazing what can come to light when one looks at a buoy and starts to ask questions though........
Tuesday 31 July 2012
Monday 30 July 2012
Just bobbing about
Paschall was sailing his junk rigged 'Sui' off to Waterford at midday. He'd taken her into the pontoon in front of the griffin to fill her water tanks, so we took Ishtar in and tied up too. Coffee was drunk and it was generally agreed that Lidl own brand 'Jaffa cakes' were better than the originals.
With the important stuff sorted, we set about talking about his passage across the Irish Sea. I lent him my copy of the Irish cruising guide. I explained the general rule in Pembrokeshire, that the tide runs Northwards for 6 hours around high water and then Southwards for 6 hours around low water. Further offshore, this is less true, but still worth bearing in mind when avoiding the many islands and rocks of Pembrokeshire.
All too soon, he was ready to go
With the important stuff sorted, we set about talking about his passage across the Irish Sea. I lent him my copy of the Irish cruising guide. I explained the general rule in Pembrokeshire, that the tide runs Northwards for 6 hours around high water and then Southwards for 6 hours around low water. Further offshore, this is less true, but still worth bearing in mind when avoiding the many islands and rocks of Pembrokeshire.
All too soon, he was ready to go
And then he was gone
Sui's huge blue junk sail always makes me smile, when compared to every other boat, with their white triangles.
He arrived in Waterford about 09:00 the following day, after spending all afternoon, evening and night crossing the Irish Sea.
With Paschall on his way, Louise, Tigger and I just spent the day bobbing about. Enjoying the sun and light winds. Huw had taken Camelot to anchor at Monk Haven, spending the day on the beach, and snorkelling:
We then spent some more time sailing around the buoys, this time passing the Dakotian buoy, looking East up the Haven towards the oil terminals
Everyone else seemed content to be doing the same thing. Just enjoying the warm weather, sunshine and sailing about.
On the way back to our mooring, we bumped into our friend Dave, off to Tenby on his boat 'Mar y Sol'.
We said we'd catch up for a pint on Sunday evening, but we missed him in the end. A lovely day came to an end as Louise rowed Tigger ashore to a nearby beach
And Huw and family came across to Ishtar for a couple of beers before bed. Contentment.
What's that yellow thing
up in the sky? Sun, you say. Well, I never.
We had some time free, Thursday to Monday, as it happened, and, it looked like the yellow thing might be around for a lot of that time. Louise got home from work at 10:30hrs, and we were loading the dinghy and locking the car at Dale by 12:30. Sunny and warm, with light winds.
Louise wants to enter Ishtar for some races this winter, with an all female crew from the yacht club. I think it's a great idea. Without us men barking orders all the time, it will give her (them) a chance to sail on their own terms, make their own mistakes and learn their own best methods.
With this in mind I barked orders at Louise to sail the boat around various buoys in the Haven, as if it were a race. Louise quickly got the hang of it, and we were soon off sailing downwind, passing Monk Haven on the way.
Monk Haven is a tiny cove just NorthEast of Dale. The beach has a wall at it's back, set with rings for fishing boats to tie up to. The valley behind was part of the Trewarren estate and there is a walled garden and fish ponds, in a dilapidated state, but beautiful, nevertheless.
We sailed further along, past the Behar buoy opposite the entrance to the Haven, and marking a second world war shipwreck
We had some time free, Thursday to Monday, as it happened, and, it looked like the yellow thing might be around for a lot of that time. Louise got home from work at 10:30hrs, and we were loading the dinghy and locking the car at Dale by 12:30. Sunny and warm, with light winds.
Louise wants to enter Ishtar for some races this winter, with an all female crew from the yacht club. I think it's a great idea. Without us men barking orders all the time, it will give her (them) a chance to sail on their own terms, make their own mistakes and learn their own best methods.
With this in mind I barked orders at Louise to sail the boat around various buoys in the Haven, as if it were a race. Louise quickly got the hang of it, and we were soon off sailing downwind, passing Monk Haven on the way.
Monk Haven is a tiny cove just NorthEast of Dale. The beach has a wall at it's back, set with rings for fishing boats to tie up to. The valley behind was part of the Trewarren estate and there is a walled garden and fish ponds, in a dilapidated state, but beautiful, nevertheless.
We sailed further along, past the Behar buoy opposite the entrance to the Haven, and marking a second world war shipwreck
Behar buoy with divers on the wreck
Enjoying the sailing, now, I ordered Louise to take us around the next bouy, the Montreal rock buoy, marking the rock of that name, in the entrance to Sandy Haven.
Montreal rock buoy with Sandy Haven caravan site behind.
From there, we headed South, towards Angle bay, and then across to Watwick bay. We crossed the shipping channels quickly, and avoided getting too close to a big tanker leaving. Not as close as some, anyway.
Louise sailed us back Northwards and into Dale, putting Ishtar on the morning as the afternoon sun dipped in the West. We'd just put the kettle on when our friend Huw, and his son Matthew paddled out in their inflatable kayak. They asked us to join them in the Griffin for a pint.
We agreed to go ashore later. Louise cooked up a curry (King prawn Jalferezi with onion bhajias) and we set off for the pub. There we met up with Dave, who was staying on hus boat, Caswyn. Just after dark, about 10pm, our friend Paschall turned up, on his junk rigged kingfisher, 'Sui'. Paschall had just sailed down from Oxwich, and was hoping to get across to his native Ireland the following day. More important tasks were attended to first, however, in the shape of three pints of Guinness. It had been a hot day at sea for Paschall.
We took the dinghy back out to Ishtar at about 23:00 and slept soundly.
We took the dinghy back out to Ishtar at about 23:00 and slept soundly.
Wednesday 25 July 2012
Sailing again
Surely not? Not another weekend away?
The first decent high pressure of the summer saw hot weather, clear blue skies and light winds. Family matters kept us in Neath until 5pm, but we were at Dale by 7pm, chomping and the bit to get out to Ishtar.
A lovely warm evening saw crowds outside the Griffin, however, and we were waylaid and forced to drink pints of foaming ale, or, in Louise's case, distinctly non-foaming but chilled cider. We didn't get out to Ishtar until much later, and I think the hot sun had addled my brain somewhat......
The first decent high pressure of the summer saw hot weather, clear blue skies and light winds. Family matters kept us in Neath until 5pm, but we were at Dale by 7pm, chomping and the bit to get out to Ishtar.
A lovely warm evening saw crowds outside the Griffin, however, and we were waylaid and forced to drink pints of foaming ale, or, in Louise's case, distinctly non-foaming but chilled cider. We didn't get out to Ishtar until much later, and I think the hot sun had addled my brain somewhat......
I was still sleeping when the engine started at 06:00 on Saturday morning. Louise was up and about, and motored Ishtar around the corner to Castlebeach bay. Tigger was jumping about, ready for a beach trip and a swim, and Louise was already setting the anchor when I clambered out of the cabin, bleary-eyed.
I left them to it and put the kettle on. I could hear Louise rowing away, and then Tigger barking on the beach. It was still only just after 06:30, but the day was already hot, as was the coffee.
With no wind whatsoever, there seemed little point in moving. Louise cooked some pitta breads stuffed with melted cheese, 'quesadilla-style' and we enjoyed the very rare and beautiful weather.
A couple of hours later the wind picked up. It was still only 7 knots or so, but it was lovely to put the sails up and drift along on the blue sparkling waters, other sailors, fishermen, divers, and all the other ships and boats of the bustling port going about their business:
Sadly, our enjoyment was short lived. We received a phonecall with some sad news, and had to dash back home very quickly. Still lovely to get out on such a beautiful day, though.
Monday 23 July 2012
Receiving weather information using Shortwave radio
One of the things that I've been thinking about that was prompted by our friends trip across the Atlantic and then Pacific to New Zealand:
http://ishtaryacht.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/brians-heading-south.html
is the issue of communication with the outside world. I'll post more on 2 way communication soon, but earlier this year I became interested in receiving weather information using a short wave radio and a laptop computer. Clearly, when close to land, it's easy enough to pick up weather information using a mobile phone, or by listening to the coastguard broadcasts every three hours on VHF. Further out, though, these methods are unavailable, and the mariner is left to the short wave radio for information.
There is plenty of information out there on how to do this, and there are some links to useful reading sites at the end of this post, but the basic requirements are shown below.
I picked up the transmission in the following picture using 10100.8MHz, from Offenbacch in Germany, but there are many transmitters, and many frequecies.
http://weather.mailasail.com/Franks-Weather/Radiofax-Schedules-Northwood-And-Offenbach - Frank's weather.
http://www.thiecom.de/ftp/informationen/seefunk/ - Offenbach broadcast shedules
http://www.jvcomm.de/index_e.html - JVcomm software
http://ishtaryacht.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/brians-heading-south.html
is the issue of communication with the outside world. I'll post more on 2 way communication soon, but earlier this year I became interested in receiving weather information using a short wave radio and a laptop computer. Clearly, when close to land, it's easy enough to pick up weather information using a mobile phone, or by listening to the coastguard broadcasts every three hours on VHF. Further out, though, these methods are unavailable, and the mariner is left to the short wave radio for information.
There is plenty of information out there on how to do this, and there are some links to useful reading sites at the end of this post, but the basic requirements are shown below.
A Laptop computer, running relevant software. I used Jvcomm32, which can be used for fax and teletext transmissions.
A shortwave radio. Pictured is a Degen DE1103, which I bought for about £50 from ebay. I've also used a Sony ICF-SW7600, a better radio, but 2-3 times the price. The radio needs to cover (typically) from around 2MHz-15MHz (check links for full range of frequencies), and, importantly, must have SSB (Single side band) or USB (Upper side band) capability.
A short lead to connect the radio headphone socket to the microphone input socket on the laptop, for sound transfer.
(Not pictured) Both radios come with a ~10m long external antenna, which I run down the garden to a pole - without this additional aerial, I received nothing.
I picked up the transmission in the following picture using 10100.8MHz, from Offenbacch in Germany, but there are many transmitters, and many frequecies.
You may just be able to make out some weather information on specific dates for the North and South Aegean sea, wind directions and speeds and so on. at the top of the picture is the spectrum window. I found that by using the fine tuning button on the radio, I was able to change the sound (which screeches like a fax machine) until a wide block of mainly noise shows up as distinct peaks of information. The text will also become clear. When not tuned correctly, odd characters appear, and the text becomes more and more unreadable as you drift away from the correct frequency.
It took me around three days of playing about to get this, and it's very much a question of teach yourself, and sticking at it through the frustrations. When I eventually got the text, I was elated! After a bit of fiddling, I also managed to receive some weatherfaxes, again from Germany, on 7878Mhz:
I'm just begiining to understand how all this works, but I'm convinced that, as my understanding and experience grows, I'll soon be able to get accurate text and fax weather information as easily as I currently do using my phone and VHF radio.
Links
http://weather.mailasail.com/Franks-Weather/Radiofax-Schedules-Northwood-And-Offenbach - Frank's weather.
http://www.thiecom.de/ftp/informationen/seefunk/ - Offenbach broadcast shedules
http://www.jvcomm.de/index_e.html - JVcomm software
Sunday 22 July 2012
The British Summer Returns
We'd planned to just spend the weekend messing about once we got Ishtar to Dale. Louise wanted to get some practice just sailing from place to place and dropping the anchor for a short wait before setting off again. We headed just around the corner from Dale to castlebeach bay, where she set the anchor perfectly, before taking Tigger ashore to inspect the beach for sticks, and have a swim.
She'd spotted a small tear in the mainsail on the way around, so quickly set about sewing that
before hauling the anchor and setting off for a short sail across to Sandy Haven bay. Once more she set the anchor before the tell tale patter of raindrops on Ishtar's topsides began. I was surprised, but Louise was not. She told me that the forecast was for very heavy rain - the forecast I'd seen had given light winds and fair weather.
Within an hour, Ishtar was starting to bounce around. We had considered sailing through the port and up river to spend the night at Llangwm, but a look outsaide showed that the rain was so heavy, the visibility was down to around 100m. We set off for Dale.
We quickly realised that we should have gone back sooner, as we rounded Great Castle Head. The wind indicator was showing 28-30 knot gusts from the West, blowing hard pointy rain drops into our faces. With the current against us too, we motored, making only around 2 knots, and it took us nearly an hour to get back to Dale - a very unpleasant trip indeed.
This was further compounded when we got to the mooring to find that one of our two mooring lines had sunk, meaning that I was forced to sit in the dinghy, bucking in the rough seas, fishing about under the bouy until I found it.
By the time we got below, I was soaked to the skin, and freezing cold.
Louise made some sausages, mash, broad beans, peas and gravy, followed by cheeesecake and a bottle of wine. By about 9pm, the bad weather had passed, and it looked like we might get a good night's sleep.
Nope. As I lay drifting off in the forecabin around midnight, I could feel the wind getting up again. This time the boat started jumping around far more energetically, to the point where I started to feel sick. I very rarely get sick on a boat. I realised that the wind was now blowing straight down the Haven from the East. An hour later the screeching of the wind was as loud as I've heard when aboard, and we spend a very uncomfortable night indeed, and woke bleary eyed, the remains of the gale hampering the racing yachts efforts to get out and sail.
It had calmed down almost completely by 11 o'clock, but we were both knackered and, with Louise working, and plenty of wet clothes to dry, we called it quits and set off home.
Wednesday 11 July 2012
After a bit of a gap
....not having been to the boat for 5 or 6 weeks after I fell in the garden and tore ankle ligaments,
we finally got back to Ishtar and moved her from a mooring at Llangwm down river 15 miles to our own mooring at Dale.
Louise wanted to do this trip through the busy port of Milford Haven single handed, so I took Tigger in the car and went for a few walks, while she did just that.
Over to Louise.....
The first thing I had to sort out when I got onto Ishtar was a small tree trunk that had attached itself to the mooring. Unfortunately the current was too strong due to the 7.3m tide and I had to leave it.
I got myself ready and cast off. I had put the main sail up and had put the anchor out on deck with 10m of chain already cleated off just in case I had an emergency and had to stop somewhere in a hurry. Off I went in the beautiful sunshine..... for about 20 seconds until I heard the sound of the grease hose to the stern gland rip off and hit the prop shaft. A quick about turn, I put Ishtar back onto the mooring.
2 hours later, up to my elbows in grease I had managed to sort the problem out and I set off again. By now I had missed the tide and was going to be punching the incoming tide for the next few hours.
It was nerve racking doing my longest single handed motor sail and with our recent diesel problems neither of us has any confidence in our engine. Its very unfortunate really because the engine has always performed well, all the breakdowns have been fuel related. I was listening carefully all the time to the pitch of the engine and kept my eye on the speed, nervously watching for any hint of trouble.
Martin had advised me to run the engine at about 2500 revs and I was doing about 3-3.5 knots. It was all going fine until I got to Lawrenny when the speed suddenly dropped to 2.5 knots. I expected the engine to slowly die and I had a scary moment thinking I would have to try to sail against the tide in light winds.
Luckily it was just the effect of the current and within half a mile my speed had picked back up.
Martin was waiting at Neyland with Tigger, looking out for me. I don't know who was the most nervous, me on the boat or him watching, knowing that if anything went wrong he couldn't do anything.
I actually felt a bit more relieved once I got past the Cleddau Bridge and was into the haven as the wind picked up a little and I had a bit more room to sail if I had engine trouble.
At various points along the route I found myself thinking "what if I broke down now?".
Once I passed Neyland the wind picked up a little and I let out the genoa, I managed to pick up my speed to about 4.5 - 5 knots. The sky looked thunderous over Milford Haven but so far I had been lucky with the weather and it stayed dry.
Martin rang again to ask to be picked up on the pontoon at Dale. By now I really was looking forward to getting to Dale but I still wanted to do it all myself. I tacked towards Angle which meant I was on a good tacking angle to get to Dale. At the visitors pontoon I decided to drop the sails and head for our mooring. Martin had put a new riser chain on our mooring with some new tails and they were very easy to pick up. Once on our mooring I put the anchor away, thankfully not needed, tidied the boat up a bit and put the fenders and lines ready.
My trip was almost over as I headed off to the pontoon. With only one other boat on the pontoon and very little wind in the shelter of the bay it was easy and straightforward to tie up on the pontoon. Ishtar was back home, I had made it, ok a little greasy but quite pleased with myself. The pint of cider that was quickly consumed was very welcome and I think Martin was proud and relieved to see both boat and skipper safe and sound.
Louise.
Doing your first solo trip is always quite nerve wracking. Doing your first trip through an extremely busy port with the tide against you, an engine you have doubts about and having to sort out mechanical issues before you leave is no mean feat. I was so proud of Louise when I saw Ishtar tied up at Dale pontoon.
Tigger was less impressed. He ran down along the pontoon jumped aboard and started sniffing around for food. We opened a bottle of wine and enjoyed the sunset.
Martin
we finally got back to Ishtar and moved her from a mooring at Llangwm down river 15 miles to our own mooring at Dale.
Louise wanted to do this trip through the busy port of Milford Haven single handed, so I took Tigger in the car and went for a few walks, while she did just that.
Over to Louise.....
The first thing I had to sort out when I got onto Ishtar was a small tree trunk that had attached itself to the mooring. Unfortunately the current was too strong due to the 7.3m tide and I had to leave it.
I got myself ready and cast off. I had put the main sail up and had put the anchor out on deck with 10m of chain already cleated off just in case I had an emergency and had to stop somewhere in a hurry. Off I went in the beautiful sunshine..... for about 20 seconds until I heard the sound of the grease hose to the stern gland rip off and hit the prop shaft. A quick about turn, I put Ishtar back onto the mooring.
2 hours later, up to my elbows in grease I had managed to sort the problem out and I set off again. By now I had missed the tide and was going to be punching the incoming tide for the next few hours.
It was nerve racking doing my longest single handed motor sail and with our recent diesel problems neither of us has any confidence in our engine. Its very unfortunate really because the engine has always performed well, all the breakdowns have been fuel related. I was listening carefully all the time to the pitch of the engine and kept my eye on the speed, nervously watching for any hint of trouble.
Martin had advised me to run the engine at about 2500 revs and I was doing about 3-3.5 knots. It was all going fine until I got to Lawrenny when the speed suddenly dropped to 2.5 knots. I expected the engine to slowly die and I had a scary moment thinking I would have to try to sail against the tide in light winds.
Luckily it was just the effect of the current and within half a mile my speed had picked back up.
Martin was waiting at Neyland with Tigger, looking out for me. I don't know who was the most nervous, me on the boat or him watching, knowing that if anything went wrong he couldn't do anything.
I actually felt a bit more relieved once I got past the Cleddau Bridge and was into the haven as the wind picked up a little and I had a bit more room to sail if I had engine trouble.
At various points along the route I found myself thinking "what if I broke down now?".
Once I passed Neyland the wind picked up a little and I let out the genoa, I managed to pick up my speed to about 4.5 - 5 knots. The sky looked thunderous over Milford Haven but so far I had been lucky with the weather and it stayed dry.
Martin rang again to ask to be picked up on the pontoon at Dale. By now I really was looking forward to getting to Dale but I still wanted to do it all myself. I tacked towards Angle which meant I was on a good tacking angle to get to Dale. At the visitors pontoon I decided to drop the sails and head for our mooring. Martin had put a new riser chain on our mooring with some new tails and they were very easy to pick up. Once on our mooring I put the anchor away, thankfully not needed, tidied the boat up a bit and put the fenders and lines ready.
My trip was almost over as I headed off to the pontoon. With only one other boat on the pontoon and very little wind in the shelter of the bay it was easy and straightforward to tie up on the pontoon. Ishtar was back home, I had made it, ok a little greasy but quite pleased with myself. The pint of cider that was quickly consumed was very welcome and I think Martin was proud and relieved to see both boat and skipper safe and sound.
Louise.
Doing your first solo trip is always quite nerve wracking. Doing your first trip through an extremely busy port with the tide against you, an engine you have doubts about and having to sort out mechanical issues before you leave is no mean feat. I was so proud of Louise when I saw Ishtar tied up at Dale pontoon.
Tigger was less impressed. He ran down along the pontoon jumped aboard and started sniffing around for food. We opened a bottle of wine and enjoyed the sunset.
Martin
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