20 Jul. Party onboard for a circumnavigation of Anglesey, via Maltraeth, Caernarfon (overnight) and Cemaes - 77 miles in great weather.
2 Aug. The plan had been to pop down to Kinsale (185 NM) to support the Holyhead Sailing Club Squibs sailing in the Irish National Championships. Unfortunately, the wind in Holyhead was F7-8 so departure was delayed. 3 Aug. Wind only F5-7, so off we set. Sadly, as well as being strong, the wind was also in the wrong direction and after beating to windward for the best part of 28 hours, we flopped into Kilmore Quay. Kinsale was another 70 miles or so, which would have meant arriving in time to turn round for the return trip and missing all the racing, as well as probably facing a beat most of the way home!! We elected to have a sleep, a pint and some more sleep, before setting off at 0430 to catch the tide north through St George's Channel. After an unpromising and wet start, we had a great sail home and were back in 18 hours, almost all under sail except when we were playing with the Irish Coastguard helicopter.
8/9 Aug. Family charter, which took us both south and north of Anglesey. The original plan to anchor in Rhosneigr was foiled by a fresh S'ly breeze and associated swell.
16 and 18 Aug. Circumnavigation of Anglesey, via Rhoscolyn, where we dropped the girls, and Caernarfon (2 nights to avoid strong winds).
21 Aug. Positioning Dun Laoghaire for race to Pwllheli - departed 1430, arrived 0200.
22 Aug. The start was a spinnaker reach in light NW'ly. We stayed with the Js inside Kish Bank and were still with them at Codling where there were some spectacular overfalls caused by the spring tide. Having gybed after Codling, we started to fall back a little with the light wind being knocked from our sails by the swell. We just made it to Bardsey Sound before the tide turned and were almost through when the wind died completely..........we spent the next 6 hours stuck under St Tudwalls, before finishing at 05:13!! We carried on sailing and were back in Holyhead 12 hours later.
1 Sep once more saw us setting off round the Island - this time stopping at Menai Bridge to sample the delights of Dylan's restaurant. Having been through the swellies, the following morning, we were a little late for Caernarfon Bar and the wind against tide conditions made the passage more interesting than you would wish, but nontheless manageable.
6 Sep. Two-handed delivery for Pwllheli to Dun Laoghaire race, the last ISORA of the season.
7 Sep. Spring tides and wind forecast to be W F6 backing SW 3-5. The course was start to finish with no intervening marks. We made a good start and were up with the leaders into Bardsey Sound, where the wind against tide conditions became increasingly extreme and then we entered the overfalls.......all pretty predictable really, but the 4m breaking waves did make for an exciting passage! However, with the excitement behind us, we were still well up with the leaders, with everything to play for and so it remained as we beat to windward with the wind and tide slowly taking us round to our desired course. At one point it looked as though we would make it, but alas, we were either too slow or unable to point high enough, or a combination of the 2 and we finished being pushed by the incoming tide and having to work our way south against it, losing a couple of places in the process. The results can be found on the ISORA website. In the meantime we have the winter to consider how we are ever going to sail to our (rather too large) handicap!
8 Sep. Back to Holyhead .....and the drawing board?
28 Sep. Delivery to Caernarfon for the winter in glorious weather once again. 2013 summer over?
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