Are we sinking?

Twice in the last 15 months we've thought that, and twice it's been the Plastimo flexible water tank housed in the forecabin. When the second one split, 13 months after buying it and one month after the guarantee expired, I decided enough was enough, and fitted a rigid tank.

A plastimo tank, around 70litres, designed for a boat was around £75, fittings extra. A Fiamma one, designed for a camper van was £49.95, fittings included.

These guys really know how to deal with us boating folk........

I removed the old tank, cut away the false floor supporting it in the locker under the forecabion berth and fitted a new floor, sloping to allow the water to drain to a lowest point. Louise painted the locker and I fitted the new tank.

Initially, it was not vented, until we realised that the resultant air lock stopped us from filling it. I then fitted a vent pipe, running it up to just below the deck filler for the main water pipe - figuring any water spilled, even when heeling, would be minimal. Perfect!

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="The new tank"][/caption]

 

The 'breather pipe'. I ran this from the top of the tank to a high point, near the water intake, just below decks.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Vent pipe"][/caption]

A trip round Flatholm with company

We hadn't planned to go for a sail. The boat was back in Cardiff and we had anticipated a few weeks maintenance. The sun was out, the winds were light and our friend Tom was staying with us. It seemed silly not to go out for a couple of hours.

The racing fleet were in the bay, hardly moving in the light winds. They looked like a photograph, so little movement could be seen. The lock was similar:

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Locking out"][/caption]

 

Engine off at the Outer Wrach buoy and we set full sail. With the wind a few points to the West of South West, it was a close haul to clear the West of Flatholm and then run around with the flooding tide. Louise helmed. Tom seemed to be enjoying it.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Louise and Tom"][/caption]

 

The tide was flodding, but was a very small neap. Trying to pass West of Flatholm on a flooding tide, with the wind in the West was quite a task, and the GPS suggested we would not do it without a tack. Tom took the helm and his experience showed. We passed very close to the island before turning East and then back North, around it.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Flatholm from the West"][/caption]

Tom seemed very concerned about the depths, 3 and 4m and so on, and the rips over the Bristol Channel sand banks. Blue water sailors! Never happy with less than 2 miles under the keel. It was interesting to remember back three years, to when Louise and I were exactly the same. Local knowledge has taken away almost all of that fear.

The wind picked up as we turned for Cardiff, and Ishtar began to sing, her bow cutting the waves. She's not the fastest, nor the prettiest, by far, but she does make me smile when she bristles and champs, then lurches forward, chasing the wind.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="...and the East"][/caption]

 

A warm Saturday afternoon in late September, and everyone seemd to be enjoying the weather. Tigger was guarding below decks.

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

Catastrophe struck as we neared the Outer Wrach buoy! A huge pool of oil in the bilges and the engine would not start. When I remembered I had tightened the alternator belt before leaving, I found that I'd moved the starter motor fractionally. Easily solved and I tighted its loose nut. The huge pool of oil turned out to be water from a leaking cockpit lid, dislodged by our sail, with a thin film of oil over the top, I relaxed.

One of those days when you get back to the pontoon wishing you were still out sailing.

Home to Cardiff

Click pictures to enlarge.

It's mid September. In the UK, this can mean long warm settled days, sadly missed earlier in the year, or violent Atlantic depressions, racing in one after another. Being very busy, and with a list of maintenance items to addrees this winter, we decided to return to Cardiff with Ishtar at the first opportunity.

The weather for the weekend looked good, rain and Force 6 winds on Friday, settling on Saturday with High pressure, sun and Westerly 3s and 4s. Perfect. We decided to remove the head buoy from our mooring, and leave a line attached to the riser chain, dropping that to the sea bed to reduce wear over the winter. Our friend Vince wanted to do likewise on his mooring, and kindly agreed to drive our car back from Dale to Cardiff.

Dale was in a grey mood, overcast, windy and muddy, with a 7.7m tide - the highest, and lowest, I'd ever seen.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Low tide"][/caption]

 

We immediately set about the moorings, scraping kelp and laverbread from the buoys, removing seizing wire and undoing shackles. We were sheltered from the mainly Westerly winds, but not from the driving drizzle.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Winterising the moorings"][/caption]

That took about an hour. Vince and I had coffee and Welsh cakes. Vince liked those, and decided Ishtar would sail faster with less weight, so did his best to ensure we would be unencumbered by excess Welsh Cakes. Thanks, Vince.

Louise wanted to dive before we left, and scrape some of the remaining weed from the hull, again, hopefully speeding our trip.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Smile!"][/caption]

 

It wasn't long before she returned to the surface, reporting that the weed was restricted to the waterline, and we'd removed most of that last week. I took Vince ashore, thanked him for his help and he left. By this time, it was pouring with rain, and the wind was howling in the rigging. The pontoon was empty and Dale seemed like a ghost town as the evening faded.

I checked the weather. The high pressure was still there, but by Monday another low would force it down over France, with strong Southwesterlies forecast for Monday. We'd planned to go to Tenby, then Oxwich, across to Porlock and then to Cardiff. Our thinking was that with the huge tides, we would not make any progress at all when it turned against us, so we'd have to make shorter than usual hops up the channel, waiting on the flood.

I remembered hitting a foul tide approaching Milford a couple of years back and checked our pilot (The excellent Sea guide to Pembrokeshire, by Tom Bennett). The tide turns to run West along South Pembrokeshire and St Govans head two hours before low. That meant an effective 8 hour flood, maybe 9 hours if we punched the last hour before it turned.

Food for thought as we tucked into our curry. The bombay potatoes were mighty hot, just right for a wet autumn evening.

The following morning was sunny, just as forecast with strong Westerlies. We decided to head straight for Oxwich if we could make it, leaving 3 hours before low water at 11:30. We'd hoped to meet friends for a beer at Tenby, but that would have to wait. Coffee and crumpets was followed by a period of stowing everything breakable.

As the time approached, I became much more nervous. The day of rough weather we had encountered after the Ireland trip was till at the back of my mind.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Cast off"][/caption]

 

As we left Dale and turned Southwards heading out of the Haven, I nearly turned back. The swells were huge, and the waves crasheing onto St Anne's head brought back frightening memories. I remembered that it was the height of the ebb, with the biggest tide of the year, the Haven disgorging its entire contents into the Bristol channel, and the oncoming wind. Let's see what it's like at Freshwater West, away from the wind over tide.

It calmed off near Crow rock, the swells down to 2m. we were already flying along at 5 and 6 knots under full sail. I could not help wondering at the designers of boats, as Ishtar rose up and over each swell effortlessly, maintaining her speed with the fresh winds. Louise seemed more relaxed, too.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="At Freshwater West"][/caption]

 

Ishtar picked up speed and I began to relax. With the tide running with us for the next 8 hours, we'd make Oxwich an hour before the flood ended, at around 21:00. With Genoa flapping in the lee of the main as the wind veered Westerly, we dropped the main and ran with the wind.

Staying close in to the cliffs to avoid the St Gowan's shoals, I intended to head away from land before we were close to potential rough water at St Govan's head. The ranges were not firing, and we were glad we were not further out:

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="St Gowan's shoals"][/caption]

 

Louise went below for some rest and I was alone. We'd left our dog, Tigger, with my mum - he will not do his business on the boat, so if we know we will not be going ashore, we don't take him. As the afternoon eased along, and we left Tenby, and Caldey light in our lee, I could just make out The Worm's Head - the start of the Gower peninsula in the distance. I spent the next few hours enjoying the sail as the wind and swells eased.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Sun and Sea"][/caption]

 

I love that picture. I've taken similar many, many times. Just the sun and the sea. You can't hear the wind, feel the warmth of the sun, nor smell the salt air, hear the birds, but it still makes me smile.

As Louise returned to the deck, we were well past the Worm's head, and Oxwich was just a few miles ahead.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Worm's head, Gower"][/caption]

 

We were soon rounding Oxwich point and bedding in the anchor. The last of the swells dying down as the cool air of September passed over us.

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

We switched off the engine - we'd been running it for the last few hours to give an extra boost to our speed as the wind died down. 55 nm covered in just 8 hours. A fraction under 7 Knots average speed over ground. Bristol channel tides can be a help, as well as a hindrance.

Louise rustled up some bangers and mash, with tinned peas and broad beans and thick dark gravy. We would be up at around 02:45, so I thought a beer was a bad idea, despite a magnificent day's sailing, after a very nervous start.

I awoke 5 minutes before the alarm, at 02:40. Low tide was at 03:25, and then we would have approximately 6 1/2 hrs to get as far up the coast towards Cardiff as we could. Monday's forecast was now for Force 6-7 with occasional gusts of gale force. If all went well, we would anchor at Fontygary bay, or even Barry, catch a couple of hours sleep before setting off again about 16:30 to sail the last few miles back to Cardiff Bay.

Louise hauled in the anchor. With no moon, it was very difficult picking our way between used and unused mooring buoys before we cleared the bay at Oxwich. We'd have to head for the West Scar cardinal mark, to avoid the Scarweather and Nash sands before heading up the channel. Wind was Westerly about force 3. A bit stronger would have been nice, but we were not complaining.

She punched the marks into the GPS and wanted to skipper the passage on her own. Fine, I thought, and went below to rest, at least until it was light. I stuck my head out a couple of hours later, and we were making great progress, Nash point just visible in the East.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Just before dawn"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Approaching Nash Point"][/caption]

 

I was kept below, with orders not to touch the GPS, nor make any suggestions. Louise wanted to do it all.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Stay down there."][/caption]

 

When I was finally allowed on deck, I asked Louise if we would make Barry or Fontygary bay. 'Cardiff' she replied. The GPS was now showing 9 knots SOG. The tidal prediction for this part of the coast was in excess of 5 knots with the huge tide, and we were using it to great effect, the engine now on as well.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="It's autumn!"][/caption]

Familiar ground, now, as we passed Aberthaw:

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

Steepholm, in the distance:

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Steepholm Island"][/caption]

Flatholm, closer,

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Flatholm Island"][/caption]

 

The GPS told us that we would easily make Cardiff before the tide turned, and we stormed past the Ranie buoy and Northwards towards Penarth:

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Dinghies racing, Penarth"][/caption]

 

We made the 10:15 lock. Almost exactly 7 hours after leaving Oxwich. The GPS showing 55 nm covered. Yesterday was amazing at nearly 7 knots average, this was almost unbelievable, at nearly 8 knots!

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

With light winds, clear skies, sun and warmth, we may have made a mistake in leaving Dale so soon, but the split water tank and weedy hull were not the only signs that Ishtar needed some TLC this winter. 15 minutes after locking in, we were tied up on C pontoon, Cardiff Yacht club, and there were plenty of friends about.

Good to be back home.

Summer's gone, and all the leaves are falling....

Yes, it's that time of year again. The time of year when one finally realises there is not much chance in still holding out hope that summer will start and start thinking about Indian summers. That is, Friday evenings in front of the telly eating an Indian, instead of battling against inclement weather.

Louise missed the previous weekend, so was dead keen to go and try and have a nice weekend this one. Tigger rather fancied the curry.

He soon changed his mind. A short sail across to Watchhouse bay and we anchored up. Louise deposited a dancing Tigger in the Dinghy and set off for the beach:



 

Great fun was had, Tigger swimming after sticks. Louise joined in when they got back to the boat. It looked freezing.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Nice In?"][/caption]

It wasn't long before the shadows lengthened and we headed back to the mooring for another wonderful sunset and a glass of beer:

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

The following day and strong winds again. Louise wanted to do some shopping so we headed up to Milford, not making quite so much speed as some of the racing fleet.

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

 

The day pretty much ended there. Our mainsheet, which had been slipping for a while, resolutely refused to hold the sail in the strong winds. We tied up on the Mackeral stage, Louise did her shopping and then we headed back to Dale, for some repairs.

I can't splice braided line, so it was out with the needle, cotton and some whipping twine. Louise did a lovel job, and a late evening sail proved it was strong enough.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="New mainsheet"][/caption]

The following day looked more promising. We left the mooring early, with a view to a sail up the river and back:

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Early morning, Dale."][/caption]

 

We stopped off at the pontoon to scrape off some of some of the weed that was growing on Ishtar's hull. Louise and I spent half an hour with a couple of oars, which was surprisingly effective. I took this picture, not noticing somone else helping us.....

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Hungry?"][/caption]

Louise took us up the Haven, under the Cleddau bridge and up the river, sailing, then motoring when the wind died.

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

Picked up a mooring at Llangwm and went ashore. Someone was enjoying themselves:

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I'm happy"][/caption]

The pair of them went ashore on the pretense of picking blackberries. They came back with 4. Took some nice pictures though.

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

 

They were soon on their way back out, Tigger in the bows, watching out for sticks.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Keeping an eye out"][/caption]

 

I waited on the boat, admiring the scenery and some welcome sunshine on this early autumn day:

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

 

A nice relaxing sail back down th eriver, the evening sun highlighting some of Milford's industry

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

 

and great beauty

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Castlebeach bay"][/caption]

 

We witnessed a near miss as we approached Dale, the two skippers staring at each other like something out of a spaghetti western:

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Plenty of room"][/caption]

 

Tied up at the pontoon at Dale. A bit early for the Griffin, sadly, so Louise took the opportunity to test some cake from the cafe. I remembered the owners from 'The Lobster Pot' at Marloes, many years back. They were impressed I remembered them.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Tigger, Louise and carrot cake"][/caption]

A typical summer's weekend sailing

Louise couldn't make it, so I was on my own. Well, Tigger was there, naturally. Arrived at Dale at 09:00, 7.6m tide at the top of the slip. Unloaded the car, pumped the dinghy and got absolutely soaked in the Northwesterly Force 6 blowing on the way out through the moorings. This is August, so of course the weather is awful.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lovely weather"][/caption]

Of course it doesn't look that bad in the photo. It never does, does it? Tigger was distinctly unimpressed.

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

Firstly, Get the boat in order. Checked the oil after the oil change last time. Fine. Refitted the winches - Louise had taken them to be rechromed, they look lovely. Also spot the new winch handle after someone had made an offering to Neptune with one last time out.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Rechromed winch and handle"][/caption]

Quite odd. The way they worked was different. The sheets still wound around the winches, and they worked fine, but the new chrome seemed to alter the way the lines fed into and out of the winches. Oh well. I'm sure there's a reason for that.

My good lady has taken to fishing. In a big way. Strange for a vegetarian, and cries of 'I'm sorry' as she despatches her catches reminds one of the native Americans, offering up prayers for their brothers as they kill wild deer and buffalo. Does it work with Mackerel? One can only presume so.

Anyway, she had wanted me to rig up an anchor we could use for fishing in slightly deeper water - our main anchor was all chain, and was far too heavy. I duly did so and that was installed, too.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Fisherwoman's anchor"][/caption]

 

Jobs done, I sailed the mile or so around into Castlebeach bay. Shelter from the Northelies for the night, and a chance to take Tigger ashore. He likes beaches. Ah, the other downside to August. Boats everywhere. I could not get to my usual anchorage, so tried closer in under the cliffs.  Our Delta anchor dragged for the first time, and when retrieved, it was clear why - thick kelp.

Sorry, Tigger. Back to the mooring, and no beach. Three times I tried to pick up the lines. Ishtar has a high freeboard, and teh bow whips around very quickly in any wind. Finally I managed it, only to drop the boat hook over the side.

Leave it, or unmoor, try and manoeuver between the other yachts in this wind and pick it up with the small boat hook? Well, I'd never know if I could do it unless I tried. I did, and it worked. I really was in smug mode, and put Ishtar back on her mooring first time. I may not have crossed the Atlantic, I have single handedly picked up my own boat hook with another. What's my prize?

Great start to the weekend. Still, the sunset was lovely, as it almost always is.

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

The Perseid meteor shower was due. I went on deck at 22:00, after a Jalferezi, with a bottle of wine and sat, staring into the starry darkness for an hour. They were supposed to be visible at a rate of 60-80 per hour. I saw 2, but that's not to say I was not chuffed. I've always loved them, and seen them many times. They will, of course, be on show over Dale many years after I won't be. A beautiful evening.

With the wind still strong Northerlies on Saturday, I left the mooring at 07:00 and headed up the river Cleddau with the tide. Intent on getting as far as our old stamping ground last year, Llangwm. The, ahem, blue skies and strong sunshine overhead.......

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Rain?"][/caption]

 

It was still lovely, and the upper reaches of the Cleddau were far more peaceful than the lower Haven. I reached Llangwm around 10:00 - a usual run of around 3 hours from Dale. The new tennant on Tom's mooring looking very pretty, bobbing in the tide. Her owner, Laurie, nowhere about, unfortunately.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Tom's mooring"][/caption]

 I borrowed a mooring, took Tigger ashore, filled some bottles of water and sat on a bench, looking out at the sunlight sparkling on the water.

I rowed back out to Ishtar, just in time to see this attractive little vessel pass by. I complimented her owner and Tigger barked at him. Barqued?

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

 

The tide was now ebbing strongly. I raised the main, sailed off the mooring, unfurled the Genoa and set off after her, frantically adjusting sail for the fickle winds of the upper Cleddau. At one stage I had to wear round to avoid a sand bank, thinking of Jack Aubrey cursing at unseaworthy vessels as I did so, from the Patrick O'Brien novels and films.

Started the engine a bit lower down and was panicked momentarily s I passed under the Cleddau bridge at a very strange and worrying noise coming from the engine, until I looked overhead and noticed they were painting the bridge and the noise was coming from their grinders.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Painting the bridge"][/caption]

 

I made my way back to the mooring. A really nice sail. It does make it all seem worth it when that happens. Bad weather, getting soaking wet, the constant maintenance and costs of owning a boat, then, that warm glow at the end of the day when you realise the alternatives, several hours in your local shopping centre and endless DIY, are not for you......

A short sail on Sunday. I'd spotted a small bay between Wtch house point and Great Castle head, watch house bay. Good shelter from the North, and I spotted this fine vessel at anchor there:

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Watch house bay"][/caption]

 

Sailed around the corner into Sandy haven, and tried out the new 'Fisherwoman's anchor' at Langoar bay. It held well, and I took Tigger ashore. He found a stick. He's good at that.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Langoar, Dinghy, Ishtar behind"][/caption]

 

And so, back. Put the boat to bed, bundled all our stuff and took another soaking in the dinghy on the way back. Yes, it's August. Yes, there are too many people about for my liking, the weather is usually rubbish and sailing single handed is hard work, but if you can't enjoy just being out on a boat, in a stunningly beautiful part of the world, there is something wrong with you.

Brilliant!