Still in Falmouth.
It's been a long weekend as Monday was Bank holiday. There were lots of people on the boats in the Marina, but most of them just spent their weekend onboard - and never went anywhere.
We went into town centre and did some shopping/sighseeing.
We bought passage charts for Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Atlantic Coast pluss a couple of good pilot books for the same area.
As Geir was about to pay, he discovered his mobile phone was gone, and with it - his credit cards!
We ended up dialing his number and it was answered by the driver of the taxi that had driven us into town. He was some distance away and we agreed he would deliver the phone to the marina office.
Sigh of relieff - it could have been lost - and as we are travelling, getting new ones is very difficult.
With Bank holiday over we could finally get to work on the boat.
We haven't decided yet which route to take accros the Bay of Biscay. As the weather forecast looks now it would be best to sail Falmouth to Camaret-Sur-Mer near Brest and from there to Gijon, Spain.
Winds will be from NNE - but near La Coruna a bit too windy. As we still have lots of time we can sail "the longer way" and get there more plesantly.
Welcome to our sail blog. We are a Norwegian married/retired couple making our dream come true on this 2 year long sail voyage. We would like to share our experiences with you and will try to update this blog as often as possible.
27/08/2019
22/08/2019
Milford Haven to Falmouth
Our trip from Milford Haven to Falmouth finally took place.
The past days at Milford Haven was an agony, waiting for suitable wind force/direction.
We did a day trip by train to Haverfordwest and Grete finally got a lightbulb for her sewing machine.
Also installed som clews to lock the boom prevneter lines on the boat.
The distance from Milford Haven to Falmouth is 150 nautical miles. It took us 28 hours.
Left at 8PM Tuesday and arrived at 12 noon the next day. We had acceptable winds and seas most of the time.
After rounding Lands End wind and seas calmed and we motored into Falmouth and Falmouth Marine in nice sunny weather.
It looks like it's going to be an expensive but very needed stay.
We replaced all the running rigging in Deganwy in Nort Wales and the rigger there strongly advised us to replace
the standing rig (all SS wires) He also hinted that our main sail had seen better days.
The main sail was on our list and we had long been uncertain about the state and life-span of our standing rig.
However - we got a deal with A2 rigging in Falmouth - and they are replacing the standing rig for us starting this Tuesday.
Grete and I discussed what to do with the worn out main sail.
Talk to sailmakers and see if we could get a fair price and to have a new sail sent to a port in Spain or Portugal.
First we did a search on the net for local sailmakers in Falmouth to check what they had too offer.
A telephone call later, we had managed to get a deal with local sailmaker SAILTECH.
Owner - Peter Crockford came to the boat 15 minutes later did an inspection and took with him the old main sail.
They will make us a new main sail and deliver it within Friday next week.
They are also making a "clip-on" mizzen sail to attach to the back-stay, when anchoring. Both at a fair price.
The lead time for deliver a main was normally 3 weeks, but they were able to shorten that to a week.
Today Geir disconnected wiring up to the mast. The mast is being lifted off for inspection and meassurements.
The coaxial antenna cable to the VHF antenna was in a poor state and needs to be replaced.
Cable is available locally and will be replaced while the mast is down.
The past days at Milford Haven was an agony, waiting for suitable wind force/direction.
We did a day trip by train to Haverfordwest and Grete finally got a lightbulb for her sewing machine.
Also installed som clews to lock the boom prevneter lines on the boat.
The distance from Milford Haven to Falmouth is 150 nautical miles. It took us 28 hours.
Left at 8PM Tuesday and arrived at 12 noon the next day. We had acceptable winds and seas most of the time.
After rounding Lands End wind and seas calmed and we motored into Falmouth and Falmouth Marine in nice sunny weather.
First mate happy to have arrived in Falmouth
It looks like it's going to be an expensive but very needed stay.
We replaced all the running rigging in Deganwy in Nort Wales and the rigger there strongly advised us to replace
the standing rig (all SS wires) He also hinted that our main sail had seen better days.
The main sail was on our list and we had long been uncertain about the state and life-span of our standing rig.
However - we got a deal with A2 rigging in Falmouth - and they are replacing the standing rig for us starting this Tuesday.
Grete and I discussed what to do with the worn out main sail.
Talk to sailmakers and see if we could get a fair price and to have a new sail sent to a port in Spain or Portugal.
First we did a search on the net for local sailmakers in Falmouth to check what they had too offer.
A telephone call later, we had managed to get a deal with local sailmaker SAILTECH.
Owner - Peter Crockford came to the boat 15 minutes later did an inspection and took with him the old main sail.
They will make us a new main sail and deliver it within Friday next week.
They are also making a "clip-on" mizzen sail to attach to the back-stay, when anchoring. Both at a fair price.
The lead time for deliver a main was normally 3 weeks, but they were able to shorten that to a week.
Today Geir disconnected wiring up to the mast. The mast is being lifted off for inspection and meassurements.
The coaxial antenna cable to the VHF antenna was in a poor state and needs to be replaced.
Cable is available locally and will be replaced while the mast is down.
15/08/2019
Holyhead to Milford Haven
We left Deganwy on Monday the 12th at 9AM bound for Milford Haven.
There are 2 routes. Shortest that goes from east to west through the Menai Strait which is on the south side of Anglesey Island. The other is going north of the island. To go the shorter route timing is imperative as there are strong tidal considerations to be reconned with.
In our case it ment waiting several hours after we had come out from Deganwy.
We went the longst route. The forecast was for NW winds once we got around Anglesey that would had given us a good sail southwards. Sadly we experienced headwind from exiting from Deganwy,
all around Anglesey - wind shifted direction to stay right in our nose continously.
After we had passed Holyhead harbour, we got into an area with heavy overfalls.
We were heading into 15-20 knots wind and with currents going with us life got pretty sour.
So we turned around, rang the marina at Holyhead and they confirmed they had space for us at the pontoon there. This used to be a large marine, but the whole thing sank some years ago in a storm
and it hasn't been rebuilt yet. We got a space after cirkeling 30 minutes waiting for another sailing vessel was departing. The mooring was very "lively" as there was a bit of swell and it became difficult to sleep.
We left at 9AM the next day to benefit from the outgoing HW and southgoing current.
We negotiated the overfalls off Holyhead hedland and with a WNW breeze we got a good sail that lasted 5-6 hours. The wind calmed for an hour or so, then turned to S and increased. At the same time current was against us - speed got down to 1-2 knots - seas went up to 4-5 meters and was very confused. The poor seastate contiued all the way to the inlet to Milford Haven which we arrived after 30 hrs in poor weather. At times it felt like being inside a washing machine, especially in the darknes of night.
Milford Haven Dock Marina is in the old harbour. It's non-tidal and accessed via a sealock.
Video is from the sealock as Grete watches the forward mooring while water is rushing in.
We were both very tired when we arrived. On top of it all, Grete dicovered our bed was soaking wet. Turned out both our aft lockers - accessed via hatches on deck - was half full of sea water. Somehow water on deck found its way in there and there was a small hole that allowed water to come in through the wall that seperates the locker and our bed in the aft cabin.
Everything had to come out of the lockers, water to be bailed out and dried up.
Bed had to be stripped out and our new de-humidifier put to work.
After that we ordered take-away indian food - ate and made up bunks in the saloon and went fast asleep. - That is Geir did. Grete did some reading, went to sleep.. then woke up at 4AM and checked the aft cabin. It was dry and she fixed the bed and got in very pleased about herself.
Well, I (Geir) woke up 10 minutes later - got my bedlinnen under my arm and went fast asleep in the aft cabin.
Today I visited the local chandlery. Bought some new gaskets to put on the hatches and some paint
to give a protective/sealing cover on the inside of the lockers.
Another thing we discovered was that the hatches has a rope mounted from the hatch to the rim of the locker. The bracket that holds the rope is in an impossible position as it lands on and deflates the rubber gasket on the rim of the locker allowing water to come in. I removed the ropes/brackets - not needed. Glued new gaskets on the inside of the hatch that now mates with the exsisting ones. Hopefully this will keep the water out. Next is painting the inside of the locker.
Route from Deganwy/Holyhead to Milford Haven
In our case it ment waiting several hours after we had come out from Deganwy.
We went the longst route. The forecast was for NW winds once we got around Anglesey that would had given us a good sail southwards. Sadly we experienced headwind from exiting from Deganwy,
all around Anglesey - wind shifted direction to stay right in our nose continously.
After we had passed Holyhead harbour, we got into an area with heavy overfalls.
We were heading into 15-20 knots wind and with currents going with us life got pretty sour.
Ocean Viking approaching Holyhead marina.
and it hasn't been rebuilt yet. We got a space after cirkeling 30 minutes waiting for another sailing vessel was departing. The mooring was very "lively" as there was a bit of swell and it became difficult to sleep.
Holyhead Marina
Holyhead lighhouse
Milford Haven Dock Marina is in the old harbour. It's non-tidal and accessed via a sealock.
Video is from the sealock as Grete watches the forward mooring while water is rushing in.
We were both very tired when we arrived. On top of it all, Grete dicovered our bed was soaking wet. Turned out both our aft lockers - accessed via hatches on deck - was half full of sea water. Somehow water on deck found its way in there and there was a small hole that allowed water to come in through the wall that seperates the locker and our bed in the aft cabin.
Water in port locker.
Bed had to be stripped out and our new de-humidifier put to work.
Emptying the lockers og stuff and seawater
Well, I (Geir) woke up 10 minutes later - got my bedlinnen under my arm and went fast asleep in the aft cabin.
Today I visited the local chandlery. Bought some new gaskets to put on the hatches and some paint
to give a protective/sealing cover on the inside of the lockers.
Another thing we discovered was that the hatches has a rope mounted from the hatch to the rim of the locker. The bracket that holds the rope is in an impossible position as it lands on and deflates the rubber gasket on the rim of the locker allowing water to come in. I removed the ropes/brackets - not needed. Glued new gaskets on the inside of the hatch that now mates with the exsisting ones. Hopefully this will keep the water out. Next is painting the inside of the locker.
11/08/2019
Sailing south from N.Wales
As mentioned earlier - we are sailing south to Falmouth.
Weather has been very wet and windy the past day and we agreed on remaining here in Deganwy untill we found a good "window" for the sail south.
It now looks like we will depart from Deganwy at HW on Wednesday (at 11AM) - and we will do the trip in one stretch. The distance is just under 300nm and it will take around 60 hrs. or 2 and a half day. If the forecast is right, we will have good sailing winds all the way.
Weather has been very wet and windy the past day and we agreed on remaining here in Deganwy untill we found a good "window" for the sail south.
It now looks like we will depart from Deganwy at HW on Wednesday (at 11AM) - and we will do the trip in one stretch. The distance is just under 300nm and it will take around 60 hrs. or 2 and a half day. If the forecast is right, we will have good sailing winds all the way.
A day trip to Liverpool
Liverpool is less than 2 hrs by train from Deganwy and we decided to have a visit.
We left at 9AM With a local train from Deganwy station.
The first train took us to Chester where Merseyrail took us right into the city centre.
Geir had visited Liverpool a few times in the 1970-ties and of course a lot was changed.
We visited Merseyside Maritime Museum and Liverpool Museum.
We had lunch and an early dinner before returning.
We were back on board just before 9PM.
We left at 9AM With a local train from Deganwy station.
The first train took us to Chester where Merseyrail took us right into the city centre.
Geir had visited Liverpool a few times in the 1970-ties and of course a lot was changed.
We visited Merseyside Maritime Museum and Liverpool Museum.
We had lunch and an early dinner before returning.
We were back on board just before 9PM.
08/08/2019
Leisuring in Conwy Bay
Our stay in Conwy (Deganwy Marina) has become a bit longer than expected.
Here's a view of Conwy Bay from Conwy Castle.
We will have to wait untill Sunday 11th to set course southwards as there is a depression with a lot of winds and rain on it's way from the south.
Our plan is to sail from Deganwy Sunday morning for Milford Haven. Should be there Monday at noon. Then possibly Tuesday from Milfordhaven to Falmouth.
Today we spent a few hours sightseeing in Conwy and to see the Castle there. The castle and city walls was built started 1285. The castle looks very pictoresq from a distance but on the inside it has fallen into ruins. But the building of it all took just 4-5 years and cost 15.000 pounds - a huge amount at the time.
The next ones are from inside the Castle.
Here's a view of Conwy Bay from Conwy Castle.
The marine is very good, but we vacated the boat Monday night.
We had a nice room at the Quay Hotel in Deganwy and enjoyed a fine sunny evening by the sea.
We will have to wait untill Sunday 11th to set course southwards as there is a depression with a lot of winds and rain on it's way from the south.
Our plan is to sail from Deganwy Sunday morning for Milford Haven. Should be there Monday at noon. Then possibly Tuesday from Milfordhaven to Falmouth.
Today we spent a few hours sightseeing in Conwy and to see the Castle there. The castle and city walls was built started 1285. The castle looks very pictoresq from a distance but on the inside it has fallen into ruins. But the building of it all took just 4-5 years and cost 15.000 pounds - a huge amount at the time.
This is a model showing what the village looked like beginning of 1300's
The next ones are from inside the Castle.
04/08/2019
Bangor to Isle of Man and Deganwy
We left Bangor early Thursday 1st Aug. and had a great sail around the northern tip of Isle of Man to
a nice bay an hour north of Douglas. In the bay there were 2 visitors moorings and we tied up to one of them Unfortunately it turned out to be an impossible place to stay. We woke up early and the boat was rolling hard from incoming swell - and checking the water depth it had dropped to less than 3 meters and it was still coming down. We talked to Douglas Harbour office and they directed us to a mooring at the outer harbour visitors pontoon. We arrived there and went back to sleep
In the afternoon we went for a walk into town, had some lunch and went to the inner harbour master to pay the harbourfee. As we had arrived in the morning and was sailing late evening - there was no charge :)
We cast off at 2300 Friday for the sail down to Conwy Bay in Wales. We will go to Deganwy Marina on the east side of Conwy Bay.
The crossing was uneventfull - quite a lot of shipping traffic in/out of Liverpool. But with good AIS transponder and radar navigation is very safe.
We arrived the fairwaybuoy on time to get us up and into Deganwy in time for HW.
The channel up there is very shallow and dries at low tide.
We docked just after midday Saturday the 3rd.
Later that day we were joined by Geir's old radiofriend David/G4OGW and his lovely wife Patricia,
or Pat. It had been more than 20 years since we last met - and they had drove all the way up
from their home south of Hereford. A short drink to say hello turned out to be an all night with fun a laughter.
a nice bay an hour north of Douglas. In the bay there were 2 visitors moorings and we tied up to one of them Unfortunately it turned out to be an impossible place to stay. We woke up early and the boat was rolling hard from incoming swell - and checking the water depth it had dropped to less than 3 meters and it was still coming down. We talked to Douglas Harbour office and they directed us to a mooring at the outer harbour visitors pontoon. We arrived there and went back to sleep
In the afternoon we went for a walk into town, had some lunch and went to the inner harbour master to pay the harbourfee. As we had arrived in the morning and was sailing late evening - there was no charge :)
We cast off at 2300 Friday for the sail down to Conwy Bay in Wales. We will go to Deganwy Marina on the east side of Conwy Bay.
The crossing was uneventfull - quite a lot of shipping traffic in/out of Liverpool. But with good AIS transponder and radar navigation is very safe.
We arrived the fairwaybuoy on time to get us up and into Deganwy in time for HW.
The channel up there is very shallow and dries at low tide.
We docked just after midday Saturday the 3rd.
Later that day we were joined by Geir's old radiofriend David/G4OGW and his lovely wife Patricia,
or Pat. It had been more than 20 years since we last met - and they had drove all the way up
from their home south of Hereford. A short drink to say hello turned out to be an all night with fun a laughter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)