Sail day 31st May

The wind blew during the night and then early hours disappeared again to our relief. We awoke to a beautifully sunny day again. After breakfast we got under way and briefly broke our journey to watch a seal who always kept his (or her, not being an expert on seal sexing) eventually as we neared South Stack we got some wind and managed to sail back to port, nice trip 52nm on the log, 61 gps, F5

Sail trip 30 May

Andy and I set off for Porth Dinallen at 1430 with a great forecast, however the weather hadn't read it. No wind at all! so we motored all the way down. When we got there we negotiated the isolated danger mark and anchored up, had dinner note Andy's impression of Wallice and watched the sunset



then blew up the dinghy and rowed ashore to get last orders in the Ty Coch. We set off back only to find the wind had arrived and we had some waves to negotiate, armed only with paddles we struggled back to Lady Ash briefly hampered by a well meaning crew with a powerful searchlight! Force 0, 24 nm on the log, 29 nm GPS.

Sail day 24th May

1200-1400 Just a few hours sailing today, Lady Ash again was graced by a new crew member. Helen was a complete novice but jumped right in to helming and generally soaking up the experience. We decided against going around South Stack and headed back to Holyhead for lunch doing 2 knots against the tide round North Stack. Coming back we saw a racing team looking good sailing in to port. F4 10nm

Sail day 17th May

I set off on the first solo sail of the season, good forecast although the return trip was going to be wind on the nose but not very strong. I sailed all the way to Porth Wen around the west mouse
and the east mouse as I was making big tacks. On the way in I passed a group of sea kayakers, I got to the bay and anchored up, had lunch and a nap.

Then I set off back at 1600 just before slack water and motored as the wind had died. All was going wonderfully and gps said I would get back to Holyhead at 18.00. Unfortunately the wind had climbed and I had a drenching wave battering nightmare on the return leg past Carmel Head. Also landing Lady Ash on my own proved tricky, a second pass and a slight drop in the wind helped.
phew a few more miles (30nm) and skills acquired...

Sail day 10th May

We set off for Pilot Cove and there was so little wind we motored for about an hour. Small overfalls near North stack but nothing too exciting.





Once we were past North and South stack the wind picked up. After that we moved on well, I managed to forget a tape for the video camera so I was confident we would see Dolphins...not.
We arrived at Pilot cove and sailed around the southerly cardinal to enter the bay and anchor for a late lunch.
After a slap up nosh of cheese and broccoli pasta washed down with coffee and topped off with snickers (I know how to live) we set sail for home.
A great wind on the way home plus a fair tide on the way home saw us doing 9 knots over land at times.
We got back to Holyhead at 20.30 having done 40 NM.
Great days sailing, still no bloody Dolphins though...Maybe next trip?

sail day 09 May

Well at last I managed to get the sails back and with the help of a new crew member (Sarah) rigged the sails and the new halyard system. Here you see Lady Ash fully dressed.





We had enough time left to go out into the bay for a test run, we logged 9NM and got back for a few guiness in the sailing club.