Milford Haven 51:42.6N 5:02.2W
Millybrown
Mark Hillmann
Fri 3 Jul 2009 17:09
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Another brief check-in as I sit in a pub with
wi-fi, next to the marina at Milford Haven. I need to stay sober enough to
walk down to the station at 7 for the next crew.
It was a quiet trip over from the Scillies with the
wind behind us and motoring when it went light. Quiet only describes the
wind, the Bristol Channel was full of mist and ships. There had been
several before dark yesterday, mostly out of sight, but once I know they
are there, I do try to see them. With visibility only a few
miles that was not often successful.
Just before dark last night the weather cleared,
Lands End appeared and a little evening sun. Through the night there were
ships on the AIS all the time. They were never close but the guard zone,
with its alarm, was reset every half hour and time spent identifying lights and
AIS positions to make sure they were not heading our way. I only
identified one light without an AIS transmitter, perhaps a small fishing
boat?
Still, I sleep briefly between each check and end
up reasonably refreshed. It is now, after arriving and sitting down, that
sleep may arrive by mistake.
I had expected to tie up on the outside pontoon
that they have here, before asking about coming into the marina. When I
got to the entrance the gates were open, so I motored on in. The young
lady in the lock control tower shouted for me to radio her, so I did and a berth
was organised. They have ships that come through the lock as well as us
little yachts. I had happened to catch the high water free-flow period,
but they do need to avoid "meetings".
Single handed, it is the berthing that is always
most difficult, so to drive into a berth and then get diesel, gas and bits
that may get mobile phones and computers working, is a successful end to the
day.
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