Waterlines - Weekend Cruise
On Friday 19th July a hearty group of sailors met at SCYC with a view to a cruise. Six yachts formed the group consisting of three Pandoras, Tim, Diane and Tom Fantom (Blue Tack), Chris and Carol Hughes (Sophie) and Dave Limmack and myself (Biscayne), with Roy Dearden and Rosemary (For Goodness Sake), and Derek and Rosemary Elston and Steve Colclough (Lucky Luke). We were very pleased to welcome ex-Commodore Captain Mel Barratt and Di (Cestrian) to the fleet and their wealth of knowledge on sailing in the area. Weather conditions (BS 4-5 NW-N) were unfavourable to sail to our original destination of Aberystwyth and the contingency plan to go to Porthmadog was unanimously carried. Weather conditions were seen as almost ideal, the only doubt was if the wind blew as forecast to 5, entry to Porthmadog could be difficult. However, because the wind direction was suitable, and entry to Porthmadog was 16.15h, a further contingency would be to sail back to Pwllheli for the night. A further review was set for the following morning at 10.30.
Saturday saw the weather blow as predicted and with Lucky Luke and Cestrian having a head start (already in Pwllheli) the rest of us left Abersoch at 13.00h ready to have a late lunch off Criccieth Castle. However, as For Goodness Sake shot by me on the moorings, flying his main only we decided to regroup at Pwllheli. Through the light squalls and the view of Porthmadog getting ever blacker, we decided to carry on, as word came from Lucky Luke of a welcome drink in Criccieth Bay! The weather played tricks however and we had to bypass Lucky Luke's hospitality and head straight for the Fairway Buoy at Porthmadog to make entry time. This proved slightly difficult as we had such a good wind on a reach/run we made it in record time, none of us wanting to waste the conditions. This then meant a half an hour wait in lumpy conditions before setting off down the long channel to calmer water. We hoped to all raft around a large steel boat in the marina, however we were told on arrival the channel was too narrow so we spread out along the trots. Mel had the inflatable and a system of ferrying emerged to get us ashore. Showered and hungry, we were made very welcome at the Sailing Club and had a superb meal. Unfortunately, at 00.30h at the end of the evening, Mel's dinghy threw in the towel after only just getting Sophie and Cestrian's crew back safely. With no transport, it was back to the drawing board and returning to the Sailing Club, a poor luckless sailor was press-ganged, very nicely, into ferrying the remainder of the motley gang back to ship, three journeys in all!. I think I heard him repeating to himself and shaking his head, "28 hours at sea from Cork, to come back to this!".
The weather was beautiful and the views of Borth Y Gest and the coastline were magnificent as we left Porthmadog at around 06.00h Sunday and by 08.30h we were, (made it this time), rafted off Criccieth Castle having a la carte breakfast prepared by our, not only club captain, but new chef extraordinaire, Steve (Owat). As the sun became too hot we returned across the bay to our moorings to enjoy the blazing heat at Abersoch.
© Judi Jackson
