Trip back from Milford

[ishtar]

Louise and I brought Ishtar back from Milford last weekend. A lovely trip, as it turned out, although we did change plans, and I was not initially convinced we'd enjoy it at all.

Vince joined us on Friday - Like us, he was going to drop his mooring chain for the winter, and re-attach the head buoy next season. He would then drive our car back to Cardiff for our return.



Louise dived under Ishtar, to scrape off a bit of the weed - we wanted every bit of speed we could get.



Vince and I continued working really hard getting Ishtar ready for the trip:

[ishtar]

The forecast on Friday night changed significantly from earlier, bad weather was now given for Monday, whereas high pressure had been promised. When leaving Milford, heading East, the tide runs East for the last 2 hours of the Bristol channel ebb, giving an 8 hour flood. We left an hour before that, and effectively managed nearly nine hours with fair tide.



Our planned trip to Tenby was abandoned as we bowled along under a strongish Westerly wind



A very blurry photo, but this just shows the extent of the heavy seas on St Gowan's shoals, and why you should stay inshore if possible:



we were soon passing Caldey, and quickly crossed Carmarthen bay. We actually managed 55 miles in just over 8 hours, great progress.

[ishtar]

A quiet evening at Oxwich followed:



The alarm was set for 02:50 hrs, but I awoke just before. We quickly upped anchor and set off to make the most of the tide. Louise wanted to do the whole passage alone, including the first 3 hours, crossing Swansea bay in the dark. I left her to it.

When I woke at dawn, we'd made fantastic progress, and were approaching Nash point.



I was told not to touch a sail, the GPS, anything.

[ishtar]

Louise did a fantastic job. We thought we might reach Fontygary, or maybe even Barry before the tide turned. On we went, Louise demonstrating the latest in sailing attire:



It dawned on us we might even make it back to Cardiff, and as we charged past the Ranie buoy, the Penarth dinghies looked lovely in the September sunshine:

[ishtar]

We locked in at 10:15 and were tied up on the pontoon not long later. 55 miles in 7 hours! Almost 8 knots SOG average, hard to believe, but the tides were huge.

Sitting here typing this up on Monday night, with the wind screaming outside, and seeing the sea state earlier this afternoon makes us glad we pushed it. September can be very benign, or a run of Atlantic lows can make it very unpleasant indeed.

A lovely trip, very rewarding, especially for Louise, and we are very glad to be back home at CYC.

[sheila]

Martin, you feeling alright? You're very complimentary about Louise for a change?

[Fred]

Looking forward to bringing back Runagane from Milford this weekend with wife. May stop of at Oxwich or Ilfracombe.Doubt I have the speed of Ishtar Neap tides. Weather looks promising.

Fred

[simpleered]

Re. Trip back from Milford, Interesting story and pics. Martin.From your brief Louise did some excellent navigation. Well done both of you.B.K.

[Deleted]

Fantastic job Louise! One up for us girlies.........sounds like an excellent trip.
k