Lundy - August Bank Holiday 28,29,30th

[Deleted]

I haven't looked at tides or anything yet, but I am thinking about making another attempt at getting to Lundy over the August Bank holiday.

On attempt 1 we diverted to Watchet due to gales. Attempt 2 saw severe gale 9 in Cardiff Bay and I couldn't even get out to the trot moorings, let alone to Lundy. Once again it will have to be weather permitting, but I'm hoping it will be 3rd time lucky!

Anyone else interested?

Julian

[allan]

I am hoping to take the whole week (31st August to 3rd September) as holiday. Lundy looks like a good start, possibly with Ireland or some of the small Devon and Cornwall ports afterwards.
Allan

[Xanadu]

Would love to join you but Rhiannon has a concert for the end of the opera course she is doing next week, so will have to give this one a miss.

I too have tried and failed twice to get to Lundy, both times due to bad weather, so need to do this one ASAP.

[seahawk]

Relax boys, Lundy ain't going anywhere.

[Deleted]

Ireland as a follow-on sounds pretty tempting as I would have liked to go on the club trip to Ireland but could not justify taking two weeks off during the school summer holidays. The busiest time of the whole year for camping equipment, but the kids go back in September, so maybe I could be tempted to extend the August Bank Holiday too....

Provided that the destinations are 'fin friendly' that is! :-)

Incidentally nothing has been mentioned about the club trip to Ireland, so I asume it has been abandoned.

[allan]

I think the Irish trip is still on. Unfortunately I cannot go until the bank holiday weekend.
Allan

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Hey Allan, never Know Irish trip may turn out like last time with me running a close well maybe not so close second. I've missed almost the whole sailing season so making up will be a pleasure...Lundy will be on the list, close to the sea at least now..

[Matt]

Hi Julian, not sure if you need crew but I am off on the bank holiday Sat, Sun, Monday. I know some are sailing down to Dale on the Friday but can't do it but can do the 3 days if you need help/company. Working on the Friday before and Tuesday after unfortunately.

Matt

[Camelot]

I have personnally abondoned the Irish trip. And there didn't appear to be a great deal of interest from others for the dates seleted.

My recent cruise around Lundy, Ilfracombe, Watermouth, Swansea, etc revealled a number of maintenance issues with Camelot which need to be tackled before a longer trip, and my recent time working away has prevented me from doing it until now.

The biggest issue is that the helm keeps jamming if WD40 isn't sprayed daily on the steering quadrents. I was happy enough to go to Weston with this but wouldn't attempt Ireland untill I have stripped and rebuild the steering system, and completed a reasonable length test sail by which time most of my leave will be used.

I hope to have the work done by Sunday and am thinking of a trip to Watchet as the test. Anyone up for Watchet on Sunday?

[Deleted]

Matt - It would be great to have some company, and as I'm so used to sailing single handed having any help would make it seem like seventh heaven :-) although Allan has now planted the idea in my head of taking the rest of the week off and going on to Ireland. Or perhaps the Devon/Cornish coast if the weather isn't suitable to make the crossing. I take it you couldn't do that as you have to work on the Tuesday.

Anyone know a good pilot book for Ireland? I'm sure I will go some time if not this one. After all I've yet to make it to Lundy!

I'll be at the club over the weekend as there are still a number of little jobs to do on Katy, so can discuss everything with anyone who is in the bar on Saturday night.

Huw - Are you planning to sail to Watchet and back on Sunday or stay overnight? I might join you if I have finished all those little jobs.

Julian

[vikingsmb]

Is anyone going sailing this weekend 21st/22nd at all as I have a free weekend if you need crew, I'm available
cheers
rob

[Matt]

No probs Julian - your right, I am only free on Sat, Sun, Monday, back in dreary old work on Tuesday. Don't blame you going to Ireland I would jump at the chance if I could.

Update 23/08/10 - I've put myself down for Safety boat duty on the Sunday now anyhoo.

Cheers.

Matt

[Camelot]

Aug 20, 2010 0:48:32 GMT @julianc said:

Anyone know a good pilot book for Ireland? I'm sure I will go some time if not this one. After all I've yet to make it to Lundy!


Huw - Are you planning to sail to Watchet and back on Sunday or stay overnight? I might join you if I have finished all those little jobs.

Julian

I'm planning to stay in Watchet tomorrow night, and return Monday evening, departure time yet to be decided. Coracle is also coming.

As for Irish pilot, I got the Southern Ireland Cruising Companion by Robert Wilcox, for my aborted trip, which is on offer in whsmith still:-

www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=9780470713815

I've not used it yet, but it seems to be very good. Martin and Louise also have the same book and they have used it and may be able to give a better appraisal.

[vikingsmb]

is that the book that they showed us in the club a while back?

[Camelot]

I've no idea which book you're talking about Rob.

[Matt]

Rob if you click on the link it will show a photo of the cover of the book if this helps :-)

[vikingsmb]

It's not the book I was thinking of, as it has a picture of a lighthouse on it, if I remember correctly it was about all the good landing places and bays to anchor in, can't remember off the top of my head what it's called though

[Deleted]

I ordered the book that Huw recommended and received it this morning. I've had a quick flip through and it looks very good indeed - although when I go to Ireland I intend to go one better and pick up a crew with local knowledge.

Last September I chartered a yacht in Croatia. As usual I couldn't get any of my friends or family to show an interest in sailing (I have two brothers and a sister and none of them have even bothered to come and look at Katy, let alone go out on her) and so the choice was either to go alone or abandon the idea. I didn't fancy going on holiday on my own and was about to give up when I found a company that offered what they call 'pot luck'. Skippers who don't want to sail alone can share a yacht with one or more other skippers that are in the same situation, but you don't know who they will be until you get there - hence the 'Pot Luck' bit. In my case 'Pot Luck' was sharing a yacht with two Irish girls from Cork who spend their weekends crewing on a 40ft racing yacht and enter all the really serious races. From the way they spoke it is a well known boat to those into the international racing scene, but as I'm a cruiser and not really into racing the name didn't mean anything to me and I've forgotten what it is.

Anyway, I digress. I am still in touch with them and when Allan suggested going over to Ireland I contacted them and they have agreed to join me aboard Katy for old times' sake. (slumming it :-) ) Unfortunately they are away sailing in Majorca from the bank holiday, so it can't be next week, but we are going to arrange something for a later date. Perhaps then I could get a small flotilla from CYC interested in taking advantage of a bit of local Irish knowledge too.

Also a female friend of mine (a friend with benefits, I think is the modern phrase) is renting a cottage near Watchet with two of her friends (whom I don't know) for the week following the bank holiday, and I have been invited to sail over and visit them. Three for the price of one, she put it, so I think that's another very good reason for giving Ireland a miss this time!

So... Matt. I've decided to just do the Lundy trip, so you are welcome to come if you are still interested. Although the weather looks somewhat unsettled with strong winds, so even that might be doubtful. Anyway I will stay on Katy on Friday night ready to lock out at 8:00 on Saturday morning (high tide is at 9:46). I've even got a spare sleeping bag if you haven't got your own. We'll have to play it by ear, but we could always go somewhere, even if Lundy is once again out of reach.

Huw - I sent you a text asking what time you intend to lock out as I would join you in going over to Watchet last Sunday, but got no reply. Have you changed your number? Did you go in the end?

Julian.

[Camelot]

I haven't had a txt from you, but I haven't changed my number either. Did you definately send it to me?

[Camelot]

Correction to last post, just checked - the mesage is on my phone, but I didn't see, which probably means one of the kids has been playing with my phone again, though of course they both deny it!

Very sorry about that Julian, would have been good to have you along.

We had a good trip, very light winds and near mirror smooth on the way, but force 6 on the beam on the way back. Angie was very sick, but it was very good sailing, and my steering now feels great after being lubed.

Sorry again Julian.

[Matt]

As you originally changed to Ireland I agreed to do safety boat duty all day Sunday thinking that the Lundy trip was off.

Wouldn't mind joining you in Watchet the week after though.

Matt

[Deleted]

Matt, this is getting confusing! In order to clarify, my original intention was just to try to get to Lundy for the bank holiday. Then Allan suggested extending the bank holiday for the rest of the week and going on to Ireland from there, which seemed to be a good idea until other developments um.. well... er... developed.

My friend and co. are also extending the Bank Holiday in a cottage in Watchet. When I said I'd been invited to sail over and join them I meant during the week, not the following weekend.

My current plan is still to attempt Lundy, and still to extend the bank holiday, but by stopping off at Watchet for a few days on the way back instead of going on to Ireland. Probably returning to Cardiff on Friday. As I will have been generally heading East perhaps I should keep up that direction and go on to Bristol on Sat for the weekend, as I haven't made that trip yet.

If you fancy Bristol you are welcome to join me, but I think I should start another thread for that - others might want to join too and this one is getting totally convaluted!

Julian.