A slightly different format as I’m sitting at a table on a steady boat in Pwllheli marina today, rather than standing in the cockpit with the iPad resting on the hatch cover trying to steady myself and not make too many mistakes. AIS tracking seems to be struggling with both boats now and is very intermittent. I will try and screen shot the days track from Navionics, but that went wrong when it locked up on my ipad and I had to close Navionics not far off Pwllheli and lost the track.
Foreness and Jeddo departed Dale in Milford Haven at around 06.00 on Sunday to be at Skomer at slack water. Daydream had gone to the marina to pick up crew and an overnight search and rescue operation in the marina prevented them leaving to travel with us. It turned out that the drunk seen falling in the marina at the beer festival had been captured on cctv climbing out of the water and the RNLI had spent the night searching for a casualty that had in fact saved himself.
As Foreness and Jeddo were both on swinging mooring and Daydeam in the marina, we had a discussion the night before over WhatsApp video about going inside or outside the rocks due to the tidal races. My opinion was that at slack water there would be no problem, so we would go inside.
As we approached Skomer Island Foreness called me vhf saying i seemed to be going in the wrong direction. I hadn’t realised the “inside” route was in fact through Jack’s Sound. A narrow gulley between Skomer and the rocky peninsular of the mainland with about 3 rocks to dodge. The pilot book said it was passable at slack water, so we went for it. Wow, it was interesting. Have a look at the video. I hate to think what it is like when in full flow.
As we exited we were treated to seeing Razor Bills and loads of Puffins swimming on the water. Unfortunately I passed the Razor Bills befor I had a chance to get a picture and the Puffins dived under water as the boat got near and there was no opportunity to get a snap.
After that bit of excitement we continued on to Ramsey Sound. It wasnt as rough, but more of it at whirl pools at the end that turned the boats by 90 degrees before we recovered them.
The rest of the journey to Fishguard was uneventful apart from a large dolphin swimming in the harbour that took no notice of us and was too far away for a picture. We anchored in the pretty cove outside the old town harbour. Daydream made good time and arrived about 1 1/2 hours later. We went ashore to stretch our legs with a walk a short way along the coast path.
Great Log and pics Dave, thanks for posting. Has your AIS recovered? Seems strange that they’re both not working.
Sorry Mick, only just read the comment properly. AIS is working fine on both boats. My antenna is on a pole on the push pit. Foreness, I think is on a splitter using the vhf aerial at the top of the mast and has a greater range. We both seemed to disappear once we got near the mountains. Obviously limited receiver stations in the remote areas.