Post by allan on Sept 6, 2010 7:34:30 GMT
First, sorry no pictures, I forgot my camera. Just back from a great week in the Bristol channel. We had planned to head for some of the small ports down the Devon and Cornwall coast.
We set off on the Saturday of the bank holiday to Watermouth. On the Sunday we hoped to head for Clovelly but 10 minutes out it was obvious that sitting outside Clovelly waiting for the tide would not be a good plan. We headed over to Oxwich which was calm but windy. From there we headed to Tenby and picked up a buoy for the night. Rowing in against the wind was a pain but this was forgotten with a couple of pints in the Bush pub and fish and chips from Park road chippy. After some more beer in the sailing club it was time to row back to the boat, into the the wind! 180 degree wind shift in 3 hours! In the morning we went into the harbour for a couple of hours then off to Dale with some fishing on the way. I caught a couple of what I thought were baby mackerel but now think may have been herring. We then moved onto Milford were we had a day off sailing. Next we headed back to Tenby, sharing the sea with a pod of dolphins, and on to Swansea. Saturday morning saw us heading out of the Tawe lock and off to Watchet. We managed to get down to Minehead in one beat before the wind dropped and we had to motor with the tide to Watchet. Again beer and fish and chips! We headed back to Cardiff on Sunday arriving in time for the 1715hrs lock.
Sailing:
Cardiff to Watermouth. Good sail, into a west wind but made it before the tide turned.
Watermouth to Oxwich. Very windy, saw 39kts of wind off Oxwich head.
Oxwich to Tenby. Some good sailing to start with but the wind dropped in the middle of Carmathen bay so motored into Tenby.
Tenby to Dale. Great sail between Caldy and the mainland, cruising chute up until St Govans head then the wind dropped so motored.
Dale to Milford. Sailed the first mile in 30 mins!
Milford to Tenby. Heading into the wind and tide meant it was a sail south and then back up to the range limit and motor from there to Tenby.
Tenby to Swansea. Very good sail across Carmathen bay and to Oxwich before motoring past Mumbles head.
Swansea to Watchet. Really good sail down to just west of Minehead with 20-25kts of wind and tacked. The wind dropped so we motored along the coast.
Most of the week's sailing had been good with good winds, not too much "channel chop" and good speeds. Then came one of the best sails I have ever had.
Watchet to Cardiff. Left Watchet 15 mins after the gate opened at 1430. Wind 18-24kts, 110% Genoa and full main with wind at 60-70 degrees. Lots of sail trimming to get the helm balanced and Chausey lifted her skirts and flew! Long periods of over 7kts through the water! It is the only time I can remember when I did not want any change to the wind speed or direction. Managed to get to the Rannie before the wind reduced and sailed to the outer Whach by 1700hrs making the 1715hrs lock. What a great sail!
Allan
We set off on the Saturday of the bank holiday to Watermouth. On the Sunday we hoped to head for Clovelly but 10 minutes out it was obvious that sitting outside Clovelly waiting for the tide would not be a good plan. We headed over to Oxwich which was calm but windy. From there we headed to Tenby and picked up a buoy for the night. Rowing in against the wind was a pain but this was forgotten with a couple of pints in the Bush pub and fish and chips from Park road chippy. After some more beer in the sailing club it was time to row back to the boat, into the the wind! 180 degree wind shift in 3 hours! In the morning we went into the harbour for a couple of hours then off to Dale with some fishing on the way. I caught a couple of what I thought were baby mackerel but now think may have been herring. We then moved onto Milford were we had a day off sailing. Next we headed back to Tenby, sharing the sea with a pod of dolphins, and on to Swansea. Saturday morning saw us heading out of the Tawe lock and off to Watchet. We managed to get down to Minehead in one beat before the wind dropped and we had to motor with the tide to Watchet. Again beer and fish and chips! We headed back to Cardiff on Sunday arriving in time for the 1715hrs lock.
Sailing:
Cardiff to Watermouth. Good sail, into a west wind but made it before the tide turned.
Watermouth to Oxwich. Very windy, saw 39kts of wind off Oxwich head.
Oxwich to Tenby. Some good sailing to start with but the wind dropped in the middle of Carmathen bay so motored into Tenby.
Tenby to Dale. Great sail between Caldy and the mainland, cruising chute up until St Govans head then the wind dropped so motored.
Dale to Milford. Sailed the first mile in 30 mins!
Milford to Tenby. Heading into the wind and tide meant it was a sail south and then back up to the range limit and motor from there to Tenby.
Tenby to Swansea. Very good sail across Carmathen bay and to Oxwich before motoring past Mumbles head.
Swansea to Watchet. Really good sail down to just west of Minehead with 20-25kts of wind and tacked. The wind dropped so we motored along the coast.
Most of the week's sailing had been good with good winds, not too much "channel chop" and good speeds. Then came one of the best sails I have ever had.
Watchet to Cardiff. Left Watchet 15 mins after the gate opened at 1430. Wind 18-24kts, 110% Genoa and full main with wind at 60-70 degrees. Lots of sail trimming to get the helm balanced and Chausey lifted her skirts and flew! Long periods of over 7kts through the water! It is the only time I can remember when I did not want any change to the wind speed or direction. Managed to get to the Rannie before the wind reduced and sailed to the outer Whach by 1700hrs making the 1715hrs lock. What a great sail!
Allan
