Out of the water

The boat came out for the winter and the hull was pressure washed. I should have got them to take a picture before the wash as I have no idea of how much fouling there was over the 12 months or so in the water. I stripped off the sails and the dodgers took off food and valuables. On inspection of the prop shaft I had lost the sacrificial anode, not sure if it just shook itself off, maybe it came off on the return from Ireland as it was non stop full engine for 11 hours.
Let us see what the winter brings. Roll on summer.

Sail day 13 5/10/08

We set off and sailed round Holyhead bay, quite a sunny day. Angie, Ralph, Tina. 9NM

Additions

The recent additions to the boat have been a wind speed indicator, a man overboard recovery sling and an auto pilot you can see the first mate here hands free!.
The auto pilot has been fantastic, it worked so well going over to Ireland.
Maybe the next thing would be a plotter.
Well a few more trips to go but we are coming to the end of the season so I hope to see more of you who didn't make it this year in 2009.
Brian.

Sail day 12 24/09/08

We had a great day off sailing and checking out the Dublin and City quay moorings, amongst the pints of Guinness and local cuisine down in the Temple Bar area, we set off early (ok 6.30) as the wind was on the nose and we faced returning on the engine. Lady Ash solidly pushed on for 11 hours averaging about 5 knots. This trip I was able to judge the fuel consumption as 2.36 liters per hour. Well done John on your first trip on Lady Ash. 47NM

Sail day 11 22/09/08

For this trip we welcomed John to the Lady Ash crew list. John is a day skipper and this year has been across the channel and Scotland. We set sail just outside the harbour wall and set course for Howth in Ireland. The sign you see rather said it all, 290 degrees to head up into the tide, autopilot on. After a few pints the previous night, a full breakfast and some medium sized waves, we both felt a bit queasy. So queasy in fact that John lost his breakfast. I hung on but later on lost my carrot cake over the side! Well we stayed away from food quite a bit but hard a great sail and averaged 6 knots so arrived in Howth about 1800 after a 10 hour trip.
Lady Ash did really well and the new auto pilot rarely skipped a beat. In the night a boat tied onto us as there was no room in the marina due to it being racing week. About 52NM

Sail day 10 26/07/08

This trip was the first time I left the boat at anchor on her own, the first time I had used the dinghy!. I went round to Camaes bay with the tide and went to a barbeque. Then returned to holyhead when the tide turned with a full crew again. A great sunny afternoon with a little sailing until the need for a speedy return put us back onto the engine. 7 NM 21.2 on the GPS.

Sail day 9 22/07/08

This was a quick trip out with 3 new crew members, full crew at last! We sailed in the bay and went out to the Langdon Ridge easterly cardinal. A good opportunity for my sister to test her new oilies and a new experience for Sean and Kaitlin. 7NM

Sail day 8 12/7/08

This was a short trip out to South Stack about 2000 to 2300. The idea was to go around to trearddur bay but I decided to go back. Coming back I felt the strength of the currents round North Stack.10 NM

Sail Day 7 28/06/08

A recent addition to the Lady Ash crew list is Zoe. She is a day skipper who hadn't been sailing for a while and wanted to rectify the position. Looking at the tides we decided to go round to Moelfre. I hadn't been that far before in Lady Ash but decided to give it a go. First leg went swimmingly cruising along past the skerries, mice and Lynas point to finally anchor at Molfre and have a well earned break and something to eat while watching fishing Kayakers in front of the lifeboat station. The plan was to use the dinghy and go ashore but as yet I don't have an outboard and the wind was a bit strong for a long row. About 6.30 we set off back, a great sail until we got towards Carmel head and then the wind was on the nose.While Zoe helmed I had a few ventures onto deck to play with the reefing to give interest along with an impromtu lesson in toilet habit trigger mechanisms!. A seal popped up in front of the boat with a great big fish in his mouth! I decided to go on the engine and head straight back. It was pretty rough motoring against the waves and very wet from spray (no pics of this, must get a wet bag for the camera!). Eventually got in to Holyhead after dark. Just in time of course to grab a Guinness in the sailing club to get rid of the salty taste (apart from the crisps). Well done Zoe, well done Lady Ash, great day 29NM through the water 40NM over land!

Sail Day 6 15/6/08

Andrew arrived and we set sail, a good strength wind 3/4 and we went out for a few hours as I had to get back for fathers day. We saw the usual ferries a quite a few other boats but we were sailing well, tacking, gybing, set out up wind and returned down wind. Out for about 3 hours. Andrew really took to it so hopefully he will crew again on one of the longer trips. 8NM.

Sail Day 5 14/6/08

Another sunny day. Another single hander. Must get some more deodorant... I went on the longest trip so far. All the way out and round the back of the skerries lighthouse. An abortive attempt to get the spinakker up was tried but I think I need at least one crew next time I try this.. On past coal rock and the other cardinals then on to Porth Wen. Whilst having a particularly agreeable plate of spaghetti I was paid a visit by an inquisitive seal and a seagull intent on eating anything he could. The old brickworks is really striking I have stayed over night there a few times, there was only one other boat anchored. I had a call from Andrew who wanted to come out on the Sunday, so I had to get back on the next tide to holyhead, great sunset over the skerries and the West mouse going up past the Wylfa power station . 18 miles on the log 33 miles gps. a lot of movement with the tide. Great day...

Sail Day 4 8/6/08

As I spent my birthday working I had to get out for a sail. A short day this one, just went out to Langdon Ridge and then back, a light wind day nice and sunny. Fishermen the usual ferries and quite a few other yachts were out. 9 NM.