Swansea to Lundy

Friday in Swansea saw much progress from Julian in setting up the AIS unit we decided would be a good idea for this season. Rain poured down all morning, but Robinetta stayed beautifully dry inside, and warm with the electric heater going full blast. The promised strong winds did not quite happen, but we found plenty to do on our day ashore.

Mumbles in the distance

Saturday saw us locking out at the first exit of the day, one hour after high water at 07:00. By 07:25 we were motor sailing along at a relaxed pace just outside the Swansea harbour entrance channel. As soon as we cleared the Mixon Shoal the engine went off, and we sailing with no 1 jib and full main. The sea was absolutely flat and there was nothing to aim at so we thought about giving “George” the helm. The tiller pilot can steer a compass course much more reliably than a person.

When we tried turning George on nothing happened. Power was getting to the plug, but George was not responding. I continued to hand steer while Julian got to grips with George.

The wind ran out at 10:00 and I put the engine back on to keep up our speed. Helming was dull, but I kept a good look out, and saw something strange glinting in the sea a couple of hundred yards away. I changed course to have a look, and discovered a glitter covered helium balloon. Julian helped me retrieve it, and we pierced, then binned it.

I also spotted a ship coming down channel behind us, so we put the AIS on to check its course and how well it showed up on the chart plotter. Success!

Julian got George working by lunch time, and we put him to work, which gave us both a chance to relax. By 16:30 we were only an hour from Lundy, and the sea lost its flat calm, with quite a swell soon developing. Before we realised it George could not cope, and his attachment point to the tiller broke. We were back to hand steering again.

Approaching Lundy

The main Lundy landing area has several private moorings, which looked a lot like crab pots at first pass. Since it was high water some of them were half underwater, making for an interesting search for a good spot to anchor. In the end we went as close to the landing beach as we could, in 12m of water at the top of the tide. I got 36m of chain out, and the anchor set first time.

As soon as we were sure Robinetta was secure we got into Worm, and I rowed us ashore.