On my way at last 49 02.25N 08 20.17W

Ellatrout3
Wed 14 May 2014 11:39
To my family, friends and supporters,
 
Well here I am, after all  the rough weather, sitting becalmed 120 miles SW of Lands End taking a bit of time to catch up. After the recent rough weather from Pwllheli to Plymouth and then getting away from Plymouth much needed to be done.
 
I left Pwllheli on Wednesday 7th with strong head winds (force 5 to 7) forecast. Mal de Mare soon set in and I was sick for the first 24 hours and felt rotten for the next, by which time I was close to Lands End.
At St Davids Head (03.00 hours Thursday) I theaded my way through 10 Tankers manouvering to enter Milford  Haven and, because of the conditions, had to go around Longships Light which was also busy with shipping; finally rounding Lands End at 05.00 Friday. At last the wind was behind me (Mind you it was still blwing a good force 5) and I made good time to Plymouth arrving at 7pm just in time for the Jester dinner at 7.30pm. ((SHOWER, SCRUB, EAT DINNER, SOCIALISE, FALL INTO BED -KNACKERED)) With all my commitments in April it's been a bit sramble all the way here.
 
Well it didn't stop; the forecast for the start on Sunday was south westerly winds force 7 to 9!!  Head winds force 5 to 7 was bad enough down the Irish Sea so I wasn't going to set off against a 7to 9.The starting gun was duely fired at 1pm on Sunday with all the skippers waching from the Royal Western Yacht Club bar. The Challenge had officially started but not a yacht had moved. Andy set off late afternoon but anchored in the outer harbour. The rest of us slipped away in our own time monday mornining. We still had to face winds of force 5 gusting 6 which gradually eased through Tuesday and it became calm at 09.00 Wednesday.
 
All the sails are down now and when I have sent this I'm going to catch with some sleep.
 
As far as possible all my position reports will be at noon GMT each day.
 
Poppa,Dad, Roger