A bit blogged off

As you may have noticed, updates to the blog have dried up.  I am trying to think up excuses of which I claim several:

• There never seems to be much time after sailing and exploring our destination
• It takes ages to look through photos and select the best for the blog
• I came equipped with a good wifi antenna but have still not found enough wifi to carry our regular updates and I have been too mean to pay for my 3G dongle
• We have not had long days sitting in the rain in a marina with good internet access.

So I have resolved to carry on, possibly with a poorer level of service, so you can expect:

• Note form – can’t be bothered with proper prose,
• Days lumped together, especially when I am catching up
• Fewer photos.

It is possible that I will tidy up a bit when we are back home and I add the tracks.

27 June to 2 July 2014 - Messing about around Anglesey Part 2

27 June 2014 - Caernarfon to Menai Strait E

Went through the bridges and the Swellies a bit early, so the tide was flowing quickly but smoothly and continued flowing with us on the other side.  We did not fancy the exposed anchorage at The Pool off Beaumaris or the moorings at Beaumaris, but instead found one shortly W of Gallows Point, which is a little more sheltered.  There seem to be quite a few moorings that one can borrow on such occasions, and it is accepted as the way to go through the strait as without a really fast boat it’s best to take the tidal gates one at a time. The problem is that the landing places on the shore are all private so you have to stay on the boat.

Britannia Bridge – we will to through the other span

 

The pyramid mark, from under the bridge

The next transit, looking backwards

Swelley Rock and Menai Bridge

Menai Bridge

Bangor Pier

28 June 2014 - Menai Strait E to Conwy

Probably the slow option, but one suited to first-time visitors. We beat slowly past Beaumaris and through Puffin Sound, then headed over to Conwy Fairway buoy.  However by the time we approached the tide was well up and a number of boats were sailing well outside the buoyed channel, preparing for a race. Berthed in the marina and walked into Conwy to take part in the Pirate Day.  As we were berthing a pirate ship arrived and fired a few cannons.  Helen, Kamal and family came and joined us on the boat for a very late lunch and we rowed the children round the marina in the dinghy.

Pirate Day at Conwy. Novice pirates try rowing

A short trip round the marina

29 June 2014 - Conwy to Menai Bridge

We decided Conwy was not a good base – for a day sail you have to leave 2 hours before high water and motor against 4 knots of tide past Deganwy, do a bit of sailing and then reverse the process the process on the way back.  Maybe that’s why there a re a number of big power boats there.

Sailed through Pemnaen Swatch, trying to follow the instructions in the pilot books.  This is a high tide route that save going N of Puffin Is (so several miles).  Picked up a mooring in the strait just past Bangor. Later we phoned the piermaster at Menai Bridge, who let us use Prince Madoc’s mooring there, which is a heavy pontoon and allowed us to walk ashore.  It is much visited by people fishing or just wandering abou, so is a bit noisy.  It is also the base for Menai Boat Club, who have a dinghy on a running mooring there. A member can unlock the dinghy, paddle out to his boat, then bring the dinghy back for the next person – very handy and well used. [Prince Madoc is the ship used by Bangor University’s school of Ocean Science – we have seen it a few times in the area]

Leaving Conwy at Sunday rush hour

Dayboat race off Beaumaris

Moored at Menai Bridge

30 June 2014 - Menai Bridge to Caernarfon and Snowdon

Shopping in Menai bridge, including fuel and camping gaz. We then slipped the mooring at the appointed time to go through the bridges and the Swellies. We put up the mainsail and found that we were in a slight contrary tide.  However another boat a short way behind us was motoring into a much stronger flow of tide. It’s surprising how the tide varies over a short distance. The boats on moorings at Menai Bridge seemed to always by lying in different directions. With enough wind right behind us, we decided the motor was unnecessary, so sailed through the bridges with mainsail only following the marks carefully. 6 other boats went through at the same time, which gave confidence that we were going at the right time.

1 July 2014 - Moel Elio

Bike ride to Llanberis, tea at Pete’s Eats, who kindly agreed to store the bikes for the day, circular walk up Moel Elio, more tea at Pete’s Eats and biked back to the boat.

2 July 2014 - Caernarfon to Belan Narrows and back

Forecast not too good but maybe we will have a look.  Once out in the strait we realised how sheltered the harbour was – this will be just a short outing not a passage! Beat down to Belan narrows with 1 reef. By the time we got there the flood tide had lessened and there was no problem going through, except that we did not fancy a beat all the way to Porth Dinllaen, followed by a couple of days hanging about waiting for the weather for the next leg. So we headed back and were soon back in the same place in the harbour.

22 to 26 June 2014 - Messing about around Anglesey

22 June 2014 - Beaumaris to Moelfre

Approaching Puffin Sound, to head N up the E side of Anglesey

Tea with Helen, Jai and Amber

They are building a new lifeboat slip and house at Moelfre. Meanwhile the lifeboat has to use a mooring in the bay

23 June 2014 - Moelfre to Holyhead

Point Lynas lighthouse (NE corner of Anglesey)

Skerries lighthouse on L and West Mouse on R (N coast of Anglesey)

Approaching Holyhead

24 June 2014 - Holyhead to Treaddur Bay

A brief bike trip to South Stack, where there is a big bird reserve.  Much of it was closed for film-making, which was probably a good thing as we did not have time to explore it all

South Stack from the land

South Stack from the sea

Treaddur Bay

25 June 2014 - Treaddur Bay to Llanddwyn Is and Pen-y-Parc

Anchored in Mermaid’s Cove at Llanddwyn Is.  Rather small bit seemed it would suffice. Explored the island, noting special flowers and geology. Also the old pilots’ cottages and boathouse. The weather (and the forecast) then changed to a less sheltered direction, so we moved out and went to Pen–y-Parc a short way N up the coast. This had shelter from the right direction and a lot more space.  I think Mermaid’s cove is best used as a daytime stop.

In Mermaid’s Cove, more rocks emerging as the tide goes down

Horned Poppy is not just at Felixstowe

Henbane, Poisonous plant

Interior of one of the pilots’ cottages

One of the nature reserve gates. Hand made, all joints pegged. No nails.

One of the special sorts of rock

26 June 2014 - Pen-y-Parc to Caernarfon

The wind changed well before getting up time, putting us on a lee shore. So we had a hasty breakfast and left for Caernarfon. On the way the wind almost dropped and returned to its original direction. Frustrating! We went into the old harbour next to the castle. This is extremely sheltered and is also cheap. It also has the entertainment of sounding Morse “B” on the horn to get the footbridge opened – none of this new-fangled radio stuff.

Approaching the old harbour and footbridge

On the old slate quay next to the castle – the most picturesque mooring for a long time

Royal Welsh Yacht Club in Caernarfon town wall – very grand. Unfortunately with visiting Helen and family we did not find the time to visit.

20 and 21 June 2014 - England to Wales

20 June 2014 - Ravenglass to Piel Island

Left Ravenglass against the last of the flood. Still cannot see the back leading mark as it is behind trees – you just catch the odd glimpse, but not from the direction of the line.

The directions for finding Piel Island are quite simple: Go along the coast past the second wind farm, turn left and follow the wind farm boats. The whole area is packed with wind farms. At present it is still possible to sail between the farms, however I suspect they will slowly all join up so that we have to weave our way between the turbines – not a welcome prospect.

Picked up a mooring which the ferryman said was free.  Later we went ashore and found that the ferryman is also the landlord of the pub, which makes him the King of Piel.  The pub was reopened a year or 2 ago. We spent some time looking at the King’s Collection of Curiosities which are well displayed in the back room.  The island is a mini holiday destination for people from Barrow and a good nearby cruise destination for yachts from Preston, Fleetwood, Glasson and other places at the end of long muddy tide-limited channels.

Early departure from Ravenglass

Peil Island, complete with castle

Moorings at Peil Island

Castle on Piel Island

The mainland, complete with lifeboat house

21 June 2014 - Piel Island to Beaumaris

Liverpool seemed a good destination, but a quick look at the chart shows that it’s quite a long way to the bar and then 15 miles of buoyed channel from there to the marina, dodging ships and timing the strong tide carefully.  On top of that it’s a long way back to Anglesey – there is nowhere any good to stop at the Wirral, the Dee or anywhere else until Conwy or the Menai Strait.  So we decided to head to the Menai Strait.

A long day but a good sail. It was good to eventually get clear of the wind farms and gas installations of Liverpool Bay. Anchored at “The Pool” off Beaumaris.

Leaving Piel. Windfarm boat and Piel Castle

Passing yet another wind farm

Puffin Sound and Trwym Ddu lighthouse

Thursday 19 June 2014 – Ravenglass

A bit of a lie-in after yesterday’s exertions. Keith and Linda, who live fairly nearby, came and joined us for a picnic lunch on the boat. It was good to catch up with each others news. The plan for our afternoon had then been to take a trip up the river Esk in the dinghy on the high tide. However during lunch the wind got up to F5 so we did not fancy a long row and decided to stay on the boat as it floated to make sure all was well.

Sellafield train with 4 waste containers – I have normally only seen 2

Wednesday 18 June 2014 – Ravenglass and Scafell Pike

We are getting used to the idea of walking ashore from the boat. It is really quite convenient not to have to fiddle with the dinghy.  So this was the first time we have set off on an expedition in bare feet, carrying bikes, rucsacs and boots. We cycled slowly to Wasdale Head and I was revived with a cup of tea and a cake. Then walked up the path to Scafell, by way of Mickledore. The day was very still and warm, which I blamed for my slow and laboured progress. Not much of a view from the top as the clouds came and went.  Some of the mist was much lower than us, so on the way back we were lucky to see a Brocken Spectre and glory from Lingmell Fell. At the top we met a man from Keswick who had first climber Scafell Pike in 1952 and had made many trips since. He turned out to be a useful source of advice on which of the many paths to follow, and led a little group of people down a path like the Pied Piper. On our return to the valley we had more tea before the bike ride back to Ravenglass.

Warmest day so far, high pressure continuing

Tea stop

Top of Scafell Pike

Brocken Spectre and glory (use your imagination)

Wastwater

Tuesday 17 June 2014 – Whitehaven to Ravenglass

Whitehaven deserves proper exploration but the wind seemed good and it would be a shame to miss a sailing day when the weather is generally very light.

There is not a big tidal window for this trip – you can get out of Whitehaven at HW-4 according to the book, and would like to approach Ravenglass before HW.  Whitehaven look up the draft of the boat on their tidal curve to decide at what time there is sufficient depth. We opted for a draft of 1.4m (rudder fully down) and got in the lock with a motor boat. No messing with sluices, they just crack open the gates a bit to let the water out. A few yachts got in the next lock and seemed to mess for ages moving up to make room for other boats. We were very grateful for the early lock as we never saw any sails behind us as we turned S round St Bees Hd. At this point the wind was far abeam and we went a bit slowly, even with the cruising chute up. It would have been a pleasant sail in the sunshine if we weren’t on a deadline to get into the shallow estuary at Ravenglass.  After a while we made good speed with a bit more wind and passed Sellafield reprocessing plant. Against the tide all the way, contrary to my reading of the charts. Unfortunately the Eskmeals firing range was active and so their range safety boat kept us waiting for 20 minutes.  We therefore entered Ravenglass against the ebb. The back leading mark was invisible behind tall trees, but the turning buoy was visible.  We anchored in a likely spot and soon moved to shallower water on advice from a nearby yachtsman.

In the lock at Whitehaven

Leaving Whitehaven

Sellafield reprocessing plant

Dried out at Ravenglass

Now all the water has gone

Sunset at Ravenglass