A days sail
Posted at 9:59 AM, Aug. 21, 2006
Sun 20th Aug
Weather forecast was pretty awful for Saturday so I only went to the boat in the eve arriving at high water just before dark. It saves lugging the dinghy and gear too far across the beach. Had been on the boat 5 mins when the heavens opened, good timing.
Sunday dawned very overcast and grey, the mountains hiding in the clouds. The forecast was for W-SW 3-4. I slipped the mooring and hoisted the no 3 genoa, nice to get underway without having the peace of the morning disturbed by the clatter of the engine. Once past the moorings at Beaumaris the wind was bit more on the beam so up with the main. Exiting the Straits via Puffin Sound the sea was a bit bumpy and the wind picked up. Now a solid 26 knots gusting to 30 is not my idea of 3-4 so I hove-to whilst I tucked in a couple of reefs in the main. That done Dansa felt better balanced and I set off beating into the brisk Westerly. I decided to tack well into Red Wharf Bay as with less fetch the waves were smaller.
Lunchtime found me anchored at Moelfre and the weather was improving, sun replacing drizzle. I lunched content in the cockpit even decadently had a glass of wine.
Late afternoon, when the tide was about to turn, it was up with the main, sail out the anchor and turn and run back down the coast.
Crossing Red Wharf Bay
The wind had eased some, the sun still out and Dansa showed she was enjoying herself with a lively roll or two. This time Puffin Sound was smooth and I was soon short tacking up the Straits, wind dead on the nose of course but the flood tide was with me. Past Beaumaris the channel is narrow, the sandbanks hard and unforgiving and there is a profusion of moorings but I enjoy the challenge of tacking through here, getting the line right, nailing the tacks smartly. It was a splendid evening, the mountains had emerged some wearing summit clouds like hats, the water flat, no-one else about, perfect. Back near the mooring I handed the jib and picked up the mooring under main alone, a pleasing end to a day on the water. (33 n miles)