No ocean too large

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alcyone
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Alcyone

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Transatlantic crossings? Pah!. We've just been to Lavernock point. Mountainous seas, mermaids off Penarth pier, sirens off Cardiff grounds, all hazards negotiated, and, as a bonus, we didn't hit the lock doors off at this, our first visit to the sea with Ishtar!

Today Lavernock, tomorrow, the world! Well St Davids actually, but we may attempt flatholm next week, if we can lay enough food and water on board for the long and arduous voyage.

And before you start calling 'drunk!' the bar was shut when we got back........ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Jammy sod /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif keep an eye on Morfa Bank , Port Talbot Steel wrks ,If I see you I'll give two blasts on the horn . As you can tell I'm working . /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Actually we'll be driving to St Davids - so look out the back window and you'll see us on the motorway......

Stickers, and burgee, as well as can be expected!

I know it's not much to you seasoned campaigners out there, but getting out through the locks for the first time and sailing on the sea on our own with no experienced person and no instructor with us was a big thing. There were 5 yachts in the lock on the way back as well, which was, er, interesting for somoene with as little experience as I.
 
Actually do you want a little 'example' story?
This is going back years but it was a few days after meeting swmbo and we were in the pub with mates and swmbo said 'are you guys just staying in the pub all evening'
Our responce was 'well if you fancy something exciting drive us to Barry'
She did and didn't realise i had a boat!
We sailed to Weston Super Mare at about 2200hrs and waded through mud and went clubbing.(after we found one that let us in covered in mud!)
Ever since she has been addicted (to boats)
Looking back we have done some mad things but it does teach lessons.
 
I think I was concerned about my close manoeuvering skills with a new boat, and the lock did look very small.....

The other thing that bothered me was hitting a sand bank off Penarth or something, but at high tide, I had 13m of water all over, so that was fine too, and we actually enjoyed it. I must check if there is an offset in my depth sounder though, and if the depth is from hull or keel.

Anyway, I'm sure a couple more trips out and we'll be away. I can't wait to do our first overnight trip somewhere.

I can't remember the first time I drove a RIB. It must have felt just as nerve racking and now it's like walking.

Meanwhile, maintenance continues, and the list of things the surveyor didn't find grows long......
 
We find night trips easier... all the buoys are easy to see but it does get scarry if something goes wrong or if the weather gets bad. Only do it if your 100% happy with everything and on first few just go to somewhere your familiar with.
Cardiff to Portishead is easy in the night....loads of buoys to navigate by.
 
I think it will be a while before I am 100% happy with everything, but I'll bear that in mind.

I think I'll do a couple more forays out and then maybe look for a weekend with light winds and a destination with visitors mooring buoys in the blue book.
 
The first passage we did was Cardiff to Watchet. Left around high tide, headed the boat (Etap 22i) due south, slight course correction to arrive at Minehead. Anchored off Minehead, there is a large white spot on the wall at the right place, had lunch while waiting for the tide to turn. Sailed east with the tide, dropped the sails as we got to the start of Watchet town, picked up the leading line into the harbour, tied up and into the pub. The barrage was not so daunting at high tide, less to get stuck on off Penarth, some navigation, a little anchoring practice and pilotage into a harbour with some hazards to make it interesting.
Allan
 
Thanks, I'll copy and paste that. Appreciated.

I can always sue if we end up in the West Indies or something........
 
Actually Lavernock Point / Ranny has been described as the "Cape Horn" of S.Wales (I guess that's because you can tack forever and just go sidways or backwards with the wrong wind / tide). Might also have somethng to do with the wall of white water that sometimes greets you!! So WELL DONE!
 
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