Falmouth to Caernarfon (6th July - 9th July)

Chris 'The Perk' Perkins at the helm as we leave Falmouth on a three day leg round to Caernarfon

Falmouth is a great place but we were glad to leave. We were now behind programme if we were to make it to Scotland so had to get some miles under the keel.

We left Falmouth at 1700 and flew the spinnaker until supper. We enjoyed a lovely sunset. Happy hour was filled with a spot of PG Wodehouse. What's not to like?

We had a lovely sail around Lands End. It seemed so quiet as we did our 2 on 4 off watch pattern but when you look at AIS you can see we were not alone!

The Navionics Plot as we rounded Lands End

I'm not quite sure why but we enjoyed just loads and loads of visits by dolphins. Really lovely as ever.

We had an uneventful sail across the Bristol Channel other than encountering several fishing vessels without AIS transmissions. This is a bit of a sod really because Fishing Boats are the ones that you really could do with picking up. We wondered if it was so they didn't reveal where they were fishing?

The following morning we made a breakfast stop at Skomer Island, an uninhabited island just off the coast of South West Wales. We picked up one of two mooring buoys and sat amongst the Puffins and many 'other' birds. At this point, we had no bird book so I can only describe them as 'other'. 

The ducks were in their element enjoying chats with many old friends and acquaintances. After breakfast, we cracked on with a favourable tide to head up the coast of Wales to Caernarfon. Arrival time to enter the Menai Straits was really important so we decided to stop in a small bay at Nyer a few hours south so we could better time our arrival.

I sailed into Nyer just as dawn was breaking. Rob and Chris were off-watch asleep so I picked up a mooring and then went to bed ... nice

Drone-time. It was great practice and we were able to find out what happens when you put your fingers into the whirling blades ... well, Rob was. I think the medical profession would describe the effect as minor bruising, abrasions and some shock. We concluded that this should be avoided.

A drones-eye view of the good ship

We left Nyer at 1113 for the few hours sail up to the entrance of the Menai Straits.

The route into Caernarfon Harbour

The tides were strong as we expected but Rob 'No Fingers' Parson's (navigator) timing was perfect and it was all very controlled.

Approaching Canaerfon Marina with Snowdonia in the background. The entrance into the marina was an interesting experience with a 3-knot cross-tide. As the Harbour Master said 'the entrance sorts out who knows their boat'. Selma and Ella were on the shore waiting for us. Ella had decided that we must have hit the harbour wall which was absolutely not true. We just missed it. But as the saying goes 'an inch is as good as a mile to a blind donkey'; not that I'm suggesting Ella is a blind donkey.

The marina is in the heart of Caernarfon.

Brimble all snugged up and looking good.

Selma and Ella met us at the dock and we enjoyed a good catch up and dinner as well as exploring the castle the following day. But as St Marher said in 1225 'And te tide and te time þat tu iboren were, schal beon iblescet' ... which roughly translates to 'if you want to get to Troon then crack on'. So the following evening off we went again bound for Ireland.