We left Bangor after 4 hours sleep, having avoided the worst of the adverse tide and refuelled the yacht. It was light now, but the weather was thick fog. About a mile offshore the fog lifted into a dull hazy windless day and we waved goodbye to a hazy Irish coastline.
That's how the weather stayed for the next 14 hours of motoring to Holyhead in Anglesey, North Wales. There were brief interludes of interest; a hapless yachtsman who had got lost and run out of fuel put out a distress call - he was nearby judging from the VHF signal strength, but we couldn't find him in the murk. Eventually a fisherman found him and passed his co-ordinates to the lifeboat men. We sighted a lone whale on 3 separate occasions (several hours apart so probably different animals). They looked like huge slow moving dolphins, perhaps 7 metres in length. However, on the whole it was just dull. No wind, a gentle rolling see that would rock the boom from side to side and hazy dull weather rolling in and out of fog.
We reached Holyhead just after sunset and were alongside on a deserted pontoon in an lifeless marina by 22h30. I knew tide would be against us from the off the following morning so I wanted to pay and refuel as soon as the marina office opened the next morning, so immediately to bed.
We woke to another dull windless hazy morning, tidied up the admin and rounded the breakwater by 09h45. I don't think we could have done it any quicker; we were practically camping at the office door waiting for the chap to open up. Nevertheless, we already had 3+kt of tide against us around the headland. Absolutely flat calm again and in and out of fog patches again....
Shooting for a mooring off Abersoch (on the western tip of North Wales) tonight. I've spent time there in the past racing dinghies so I know it's a pretty place. Not super well protected but there is still no wind. Hopefully we'll be there in time to have a run ashore tonight.
That's how the weather stayed for the next 14 hours of motoring to Holyhead in Anglesey, North Wales. There were brief interludes of interest; a hapless yachtsman who had got lost and run out of fuel put out a distress call - he was nearby judging from the VHF signal strength, but we couldn't find him in the murk. Eventually a fisherman found him and passed his co-ordinates to the lifeboat men. We sighted a lone whale on 3 separate occasions (several hours apart so probably different animals). They looked like huge slow moving dolphins, perhaps 7 metres in length. However, on the whole it was just dull. No wind, a gentle rolling see that would rock the boom from side to side and hazy dull weather rolling in and out of fog.
We reached Holyhead just after sunset and were alongside on a deserted pontoon in an lifeless marina by 22h30. I knew tide would be against us from the off the following morning so I wanted to pay and refuel as soon as the marina office opened the next morning, so immediately to bed.
We woke to another dull windless hazy morning, tidied up the admin and rounded the breakwater by 09h45. I don't think we could have done it any quicker; we were practically camping at the office door waiting for the chap to open up. Nevertheless, we already had 3+kt of tide against us around the headland. Absolutely flat calm again and in and out of fog patches again....
Shooting for a mooring off Abersoch (on the western tip of North Wales) tonight. I've spent time there in the past racing dinghies so I know it's a pretty place. Not super well protected but there is still no wind. Hopefully we'll be there in time to have a run ashore tonight.
'Run ashore' me hearties. You've got the nautical parlance off pat (-: Never fear, a poor day on the boat always trumps a good day at the office ;-) What's the schedule for the next few days inc France?
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ReplyDeleteHey man Nice Yatch, how fast can your yacht go?
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