Liquidstate

The Channel Isles holiday is/was somewhat of a big deal for me. I’ve been an active sailor for seven years, covered thousands of miles, participated in several annual sailing holidays and seen my fair share of nasty weather.

However, this year marked my biggest challenge - to act as Skipper for this years’ big holiday, arranging (and be responsible) for all the planning, crew, passages, whilst doing my best to have a good holiday! Thankfully, as ever, I had Jen by my side to make sure I didn’t do anything stupid, dangerous, or well … dangerous and stupid
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After a great holiday, it was eventually time to head home - but not before we made just one last stop. Of course, our stop as in yet another country We left Reykjavik just after dinner on Friday night, and within ten minutes of leaving the harbour, we spotted a massive shark, which we move past incredibly slowly so we could get a good look. After that, we set our sails and headed towards our next destination; Thorshavn, Faroe Isles. Read the rest of this entry »

As the Iceland trip was our most technically complex trip to date, it was agreed that rather than our usual “outbound” and “return” crews, we would help each other. So, for the delivery trip, Robert got the help of Jen, Russ, and me.  Likewise, on the return trip, Robert flew into Reykjavik just before we were to due to set sail.

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Robert has always wanted to sail to St Kilda, so its seemed like a good basis for a sailing trip. But, unfortunately, St Kilda is only accessible in certain weather conditions. We sat in the pub one night thinking of how we could organise the trip, and what we would do if St Kilda wasn’t a goer. After all, its a long way to go to just come back again. It was round about then that Jen produced perhaps the most famous of our boat quotes … “well, if we cant get into St Kilda, then we’re already half way to Iceland”.

A plan was born … its just a shame nobody thought to check a map first!

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7th August 0745 -> 1935
Penarth (Cardiff) -> Swansea
55.6nm / 12 hours

Went up the mast, fun with the Swansea locks!

9th August 1010 -> 2034
Swansea -> Neyland
66.1nm / 10.5 hours

More fun in the locks, dolphins, blind nav, “come along side early bird”.

10th - 11th August 1930 -> 1135
Neyland -> Pwllheli
106.5nm / 16 hours (inc 6 night hours)

Navigated out of neyland by night. Radar practice. Saw lots of stars (inc milky way). Anchored in bay waiting for tide window (Pwllheli channel dries to +0.3!).

12th - 13th August 1150 -> 0215
Pwllheli -> Dun Laoghaire (Dublin)
92nm / 14 hours (inc 4 night hours)

Good sail across the Irish sea.

15th - 16th August 1330 -> 1230
Dun Laoghaire (Dublin) -> Troon
171.8nm / 23 hours (inc 6 night hours)

Night sail navigation. Way point naming.

TOTAL DISTANCE = 492nm
TOTAL HOURS = 75.5
TOTAL NIGHT HOURS = 16