On my way at last 49 02.25N 08 20.17W
Ellatrout3
Wed 14 May 2014 11:39
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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
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