Working on Chelone

Last week, it was up at seven, walk to Stromness Harbour and go diving in Scapa Flow. This week it's up at seven, drive to Pembroke dock, work on the yacht that will soon be on it's way across Biscay.

John, the skipper had a list. I was given a tin of varnish and a brush

Whilst Louise was given various cleaning duties, and started packing some of our things into our cabin in the Forepeak. She appeared to be enjoying working on the boat.

John has been very busy whilst we've been in Scotland, and Chelone is just a few cosmetic jobs away from being ready to tackle Biscay and the Atlantic. She may be in the water as early as Friday, with a shake down sail for us all planned soon. There is even a possibility of us leaving port on Sunday, so we watch each weather forecast with a keen interest.

So, sanding, three coats of varnish, cleaning, scrubbing, refitting metalwork removed for sanding, and the day flew past. Another crew member, Ross, joined us around 4pm, after finishing work on one of the Range boats.

Louise and I left at 17:00. A brief stop to walk Tigger, who'd been very patient all day, at Carew Castle.

And we watched a Heron and a couple of shags hunting fish which swam up the river with the oncoming tide, as the sun set.

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

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.

A couple of days in the Haven

The frustrating days aboard the junk, being in and around a yacht without actually sailing had left me hungry for the real thing. Tigger and I jumped in the car on Monday and headed down to the boat. A bit of tidying up and I took Ishtar in to the pontoon near the Griffin. Two of the largest, and most expensive looking vessels I'd seen moored there were tied alongside:

 

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

There was nobody about that I knew, but it's nice to give Tigger a bit of time playing on the beach - sailing itself bores him quite a bit, but beaches, sticks, sand and water get his attention nicely.

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

 

The following morning I set off up the Haven. The forecast was for 5s and 6s, but getting better in a day or two. I'd planned to anchor overnight at Crow Pool, Pennar Gut, and had a lovely sail up past the tankers waiting to empty or fill up.

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

 

I sailed up past Milford, almost to Neyland before switching on the engine and heading for the narrow entrance to Pennar Gut. The wind was quite strong from the West now, and, as I dropped anchor, after circling to survey the depth, I was concerned the anchor might drag.

After half an hour I gave the engine a burst astern. Solid, with a nice bounce back on the chain - seemed like a secure anchorage indeed. A small ferry left the Power station pontoon and headed out into the main Haven

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Power station ferry"][/caption]

As the tide fell, however, I realised there was a problem with the anchorage I hadn't forseen earlier. I try and take Tigger ashore each morning and evening. With the falling tide, the 'beach' appeared to be mainly thick mud. Not fancying that, I decided to abandon, and head back to Dale. I pulled the anchor up and quickly saw that the thick mud extended out to where I was anchored, explaining the firmness I'd felt when testing it.

I stopped at Milford, taking Tigger ashore and calling in Tesco's for a bottle of Sauvingon blanc before heading back to our mooring as the sun dipped towards the horizon.

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Setting sun"][/caption]

 I received news that an old college friend, Dave would be visiting the following day, and met him on the pontoon at 11:00. We both agreed that 'pottering about the haven' and discussing old times would be preferable to a hard day's sail outside the Haven. We set off passing Castlebeach and Monk's Haven before anchoring at Langoar bay, Sandy Haven.

Dave was keen to display his expert fishing skills, and kitted up whilst I prepared a lunch of some ciabattas, tomatoes, onions and goat's cheese. After lunch it didn't take long for Dave to demonstrate his prowess.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Dave Black"][/caption]

 

It may be difficult to see from the picture, but he'd caught a slipper limpet, still attached to its rock. There are few people I know skilled enough to entice a slipper limpet to chase a spinning lure, but Dave managed it. He returned it unharmed to the deep. He later returned the lure unharmed to the deep as well. He didn't seem bothered, since he hadn't bought it. Before leaving, we went for a walk to Westdale beach, where we briefly spied some fox cubs we'd been told about, and also spotted their parent, presumably out hunting for a late meal for them.

A lovely day.

Love me tender

Our ancient Avon inflatable has done us proud in the last few seasons, but is rather bulky, with floor boards, pump engine bracket and so on. I'd decided to apply for a place in the tender park at Dale, and leave a rigid tender there. We had one in the garage.

Over the last few weeks I've painted it, applied some aluminium skids on the keel, built a trolley out of some pram wheels I found 'Up the forestry' and fitted a towbar to the car to tow it down in a trailer. After all this loving attention, I was hence, less that happy to see water pouring in from a hitherto unnoticed hole. Anyway, that would have to be fixed, off for a sail.The wind forecast was 4, 5, 6, or 7, mainly NorthEasterly, depending on the time and source of the forecast. It was a Force 3 from the West when we got to Dale...........Our friend Adam, from the Hurley silhouette Watermint, joined us for a coffee, and we spotted a seal on the nearby floating pontoon

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

He let me get surprisingly close in the tender to photograph him, and even stayed there later when several boats moored. There may have been something wrong with him, although he seemed quite content watching the grey mullet under the pontoon.

Louise set off for a bit of practice, keeping close inshore, navigating the small bays on the North side of Milford Haven, such as Monk's Haven

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Monk's Haven"][/caption]

 

 and then into Sandy Haven, where we bumped into another yacht from Cardiff, Cassandra, and her crew, Karen, Peter and Elaine.

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

We then switched the engine on and slowly picked our way up Sandy Haven Pill, until we got to just 1 foot under the keel

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Sandy Haven Pill"][/caption]

 

The spectacular yellows of the Oil Seed Rape looked wonderful against the blues of the spring skies, and it was warm, very warm for late April.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Sandy Haven"][/caption]

 

A lovely sail back to Dale followed, Cassandra just ahead of us. Sails set perfectly, we quickly narrowed the distance between us and teh bilge keeler, before inexplicably falling behind again. Peter later informed us that was when they'd started their engine.......

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

Further up the Haven, the ships and tugs went about their business, one on fire drill

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Fire Drill"][/caption]

A few beers in the Griffin with Peter, Elaine and Karen, later, we were joined by Adam. There was a barbeque, part of the Royal wedding celebrations, but Tigger found the pickings quite scant.

A good day.

The wind picked up in the night and the chain from the mooring banging on the bow, together with the wind in the rigging and I didn't get much sleep. Louise fitted a new display unit for our wind instrument, and set about cleaning the boat, as the wind, and sea, picked up from the East.

She pumped some sealer into the hole in our tender

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

About an hour later I was rudely awakened from a snooze by Louise shrieking. After all the love I had lavished on our tender, she'd left me without reason or warning, taking our oars, baiiler and a dive cylinder with her. Reason - sheared bolt on the painter line.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="She's left me"][/caption]

With the leak, and the choppy sea, it dawned on me she might have sunk. A view of the shore at Dale through the binoculars yielded nothing. I tried to take Ishtar in, but it very quickly became clear there was not enough water. Louise pumped the inflatable and 20 minutes later, rang to inform me, thankfully, that it had blown ashore and been tied to the pontoon by a windsurfer.

Adam, and Dave, from Mar y Sol, came to our rescue, and within 20 minutes, the leak was plugged with a stainless bolt and some epoxy resin. Dave even zipped out to pick me up in his tender.  Coffee and biscuits aboard Mar Y Sol were followed a little later by a few beers in Dale Yacht Club

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Ishtar's crew, Dale yacht club"][/caption]

The beers certainly helped us to see the funny side of things, we'd lost nothing but a couple of hours.

I'm not sure what I said in the bar, but clearly it was hilarious, judging by the looks on the faces of Nick, Adam and Dave.

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

 

When we left Ishtar, the wind instrument was reading 0 knots. By the time we'd met the others at the club, it was blowing 20 knots from the East, with more later. A very wet trip back to Ishtar was followed by another uncomfortable and noisy night. By the morning we were both overtired. We'd arranged to help Dave and Adam fit a wind unit toi the top of Mar Y Sol's mast, but they had both headed home too, so we packed up and headed ashore.

Bobbing about in a small tender with large waves is not fun at the best of times, but we then had to quickly manoeuvre back into the waves when a thoughtless chap in a speed boat faffed around, not realising we had to cross his bow to get to the beach, and he was getting blown ashore. We got soaked for that.

Tigger was most upset to find that someone had chained a ball to the concrete slip

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Why chain a ball to the beach?"][/caption]

 

We tied up th etender in the tender park and headed home. Not the best sailing weekend.