Pwllheli to Plymouth
Ellatrout3
Fri 13 May 2016 10:39
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Well it all started off ok; I was on board soon
after eight and away by 9.30. It was a warm bright monining with a brisk North
easterly 16Kts force 4 even a touch of 5 going through St Tuds. After passing St
Tuds I got ready to hoist the spinnaker even though I was a bit queasey, but the
weather didn't last. The wind gradually went ahead and declined until th sea was
an oily rolling surface. Then it rained, heavy rain that fattened the sea even
more and didn't stop until 3am just before Milford Haven came
abeam.
Dawn broke, cold and misty and when the sun came
out around eleven it wasn't a lot better.Suddenly there was an almighty bang and
thump, thump, thump down the length of the boat. I think it was a log and I also
think it hit everthing except the wind pilot, which was luckiy, otherwise it
wold have been all over! When I looked back all I could see was something that
looked like a seals nose sticking out of the water, but it was too hard to be a
seal. At this time I decided to take stock; of the 26 hours since leaving
Pwllheli I'd actually motored 20. All things considered it was dfinitely
downhill, only to get worse! I'll check my phone I thought, probably got a
signal coming past Milford haven, I'll se if there are any messages? There was
one "your phone has been locked, we will send you a link to your email address
to enable you to unlock it." !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a pain; these B security
systems drive me mad, how was I going to get the email, how was I going to
ring for a mooring as prearranged; I couldn't even ring Margaret.
Ah well press on!
By 4pm Tuesday the mist had decended, it closed
down to about 100 yards and I never saw a thing until it lifted at 8 o
clock the following morning when I was off Falmouth. I never saw any
lihgts, all though I heard Longships fog horn when I passed between it and Lands
End. Still no wind, the sails have been up and down like yoyo's, but at the time
of writing I have only sailed 12 of the 52 I've been
going.
Talk about things going bump, somethng or
somebody doesn't want me to get to Plymouth. Another thump at the front and
something came banging along the boat, not as heavy as last time but more
serious. It got tangled with the popellor causing heavy juddering and shaking
the boat. fortunately I was on deck and knocked her out of gear
immediately. The banging stopped, nothing appeared out the back, A quick look
below , no sign of any water comng. What do I do? Well, I thought,
if I reverse it may unwind whatever is there; so I gingerly engaged reverse, she
was still travelling slowly forward, and nothing alarming happened, the
propellor obviousl went round and there was no banging, so try it gently forward
- still ok! I never saw anthing float out the back so I don't know what it
was but when things go with a bang under the seat of your pants it
certainly frightens the life out of you. I've got even more white hair
now!
It certainly was a quiet trip - weatherwise that
is - I finaly arrived at Queen Annes Battery at 7.30 Wednesday evening. Of the
58 hours I spent travelling I did very little sailing, only 13 1/2 hours, but
lots of motoring 44 1/2 hours. But it was different; I saw the dilphins face
slapping, they don;t seem to mind the mist and rain, I saw one of our brand new
frigates exercising, it was manouvering around me and then stoped dead in
front of me and across my path less than alf a mile ahead and it never
moved. I had to alter course to sail round him, I don't know what he was playing
at but I'll probably be arrested tomorrow.
Its off to the Azores on Sunday and I'll let you
know how it goes.
Poppa/Dad/Roger.
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