052:53.100 N
004:24.374 W

Pwllheli

Anchor up Skomer Island at 0545
Anchor down off Pwllheli beach 0000

~~

Up and away just after dawn as we had a long day ahead and were needing to get into Pwllheli before the next gale.

We picked our way through bobbing Puffins, Shearwaters and Razorbills around the boat, and eased our way out into rather the bleak sight of grey, tumbling, restless waves. Cardigan Bay stretched out ahead of us so once we passed the jagged rocky ‘Bishops’ we slipped into watches.

A cracking sunrise over Skomer rewarded our early start and for the first half of the day we had a beautiful sail which was highlighted by a large pod of Common Dolphins swimming by us for a long time, such a treat so close by.

Astonishingly we only saw two boats the entire day, one fishing and one powerboat, so strange for what we presumed to be a busy waterway.

Bardsey Island marked our first sighting of the top of Cardigan Bay with a beautiful sunset. Around the corner is Pwllheli but entry is tidal and as we couldn’t get in until high water at dawn we always knew we would have to anchor.

However, the gale began to arrive before we had anchored. What followed was a pretty stressful time firstly finding our anchorage, getting anchored (luckily it dug in straight away) and then spending six hours listening to the grinding and graunching of the anchor chain & rope as TC nodded up and down, swung from side to side and rode out the 30-40 knot gusts.

Not much sleep as we both quietly thought through all the ‘what ifs’. However, TC looked after us beautifully and around dawn we made our way tentatively in through the entrance way, not easy for first timers with a gale trying to blow us off course onto the sandbanks, and grabbed the first finger pontoon available and made fast, so relieved to be inside and safe.

Friendly staff and excellent facilities (best showers yet) and a quick shop for Bol’s birthday supper tomorrow!