Back from Milford

[Alcyone]

We brought Ishtar back from Milford last weekend. Made a trip out of it, stopping off at Lundy. We'd wanted to go to Clovelly as well, but our alternator broke before we left Milford, and I didn't think we'd have enough battery power. Still, a lovely trip.

 

[chrishelen]

Great pics, one thing that worrys me though,did you give Louise a day off to go poseing for pics sitting around and whatnot?they get used to it you know, then they want holidays and stuff,its a slippery slope.

 

[Csail]

Very good pictures, i'll show swmbo tonight. Why do we all have that classic shot of person and the anchorage behind?
Where were the porposes?

 

[Alcyone]

Chris,

No day off. She rowed, walked, fell in the water and cooked. A slow day for her, but no day off........

Andy,

This was strange. I've seen porpoise, and Dolphin, many, many times. The porpoise tend to be shy. On the way down in june, off St Gowans, there seemed to be a pod of dolphin, with some porpoise tagging along. Those porpoise seemed to behave more like the dolphins, and less nervous.

On the way back, same rough position, but further South by a c ouple of miles, we again saw porpoise with dolphin. Don't know if it is a normal thing, or it was just a one off, and the same pod.

In all, about 25-30 animals.

 

[chrishelen]

I take it all back Martin,whilst you were diving in the bay having fun poor Louise was scrubbing the boat and washing and stuff,funny thing though when she was diving in the bay a while back she had at least 5 of us sorry i mean them helping her out of the water and getting that nasty wetsuit off,we were all busy when you got out,strange that.

 

[Alcyone]

I take it all back Martin,whilst you were diving in the bay having fun poor Louise was scrubbing the boat and washing and stuff,funny thing though when she was diving in the bay a while back she had at least 5 of us sorry i mean them helping her out of the water and getting that nasty wetsuit off,we were all busy when you got out,strange that.

Yes, that became clear to me yesterday.

For those who were not there, we were waiting for a chap to have a look at our broken alternator (2 wires in the wiring loom had broken, all sorted). A chap with a motor cruiser had run over his mooring lines so I had a plop to cut them off. Whilst kitting up, Louise helped me by lifting my bottle onto my back. She said, 'it's funny, when I did it, there were about 5 blokes helping me to get dressed'. All the guys thre started looking sheepish, and shuffling their feet.

I felt a bit sick for about half an hour after the dive, btw. Never felt ill before in the bay.

 

[graham]

Sounds like a great sail back.glad your alternator is fixed.

Quality of water in the Bay seems to vary depending on how much rain we have had washing slurry and fertiliser chemicas etc off the farms into the watercourses /rivers then ending up in the bay.This time of year farmers are slurrying fields so probably all kin ds of bacteria in there. I think the fouled prop man owes you 2 pints instead of just one for going in

 

[Alcyone]

Actually, Graham, it was almost all motorsailing. That is not to say that we did not enjoy it immensely, but it was only Porlock to Barry (ish) that we sailed without the motor. Firstly, the tides were tiny, as you had pointed out some weeks back, so we had little assistance. Then, leaving Lundy, the wind was Easterly. We could see it blowing the forecasted NWly by the smoke at Post Talbot, but it was on our nose.

Lastly, once we had started the engine, I was a bit loathe to switch it off. Ishtar sips diesel, and with no alternator, I thought it best to just let her run, rather than give the batteries a kicking by starting/stopping a lot.

Anyway, our first full season has been well above expectation. We both feel that we want to work hard on our skills this winter, and take on some rougher conditions. Within reason, of course.

 

[mrbloto]

a little tip keep all your sheets tidy on deck and coach roofi know it was flat calm they will have you over the side or around your prop before you know whats happening i know i was that soldier i was lucky it happened in the bay just leaving pontoon

 

[Alcyone]

a little tip keep all your sheets tidy on deck and coach roofi know it was flat calm they will have you over the side or around your prop before you know whats happening i know i was that soldier i was lucky it happened in the bay just leaving pontoon

Quite right, too. I'll do them now.

 

[Alcyone]

There. All done.

 

[Csail]

Can you swim with them? Might take little boat there tomorrow.

 

[Alcyone]

Can you swim with them? Might take little boat there tomorrow.

Don't know.

I've been in with dolphins many times. They can be very friendly, or aloof. I've only once been in with friendly ones in Wales. About 15 years back, just off the Oxwich wreck. They came to us, and stayed for 1/2 hour, clearly playing for/with us.

I find seals the same. Sometimes they seem very scared, other times (particularly at The smalls) they'll tug your fins, and even lie on top of you.

Not now, when there's pups around, obviously.

I'd have guessed that pod may well have played.