Mark Rosenthal

2025-07-05 Cruise along the coastline in Holyhead Bay I went to Flair IV for around 12:15 and sorted out a few items, including new clips for the halyards at the mast base, before the crew arrived about 13:20. The weather was bright with 16kt to 20kt WSW winds. As we discussed the plan for the afternoon we had lunch, once again supplemented by Tess’s very tasty pulses with a variety of other inputs. After clearing away lunch the crew removed the covers and prepared the sails whilst I made a final check on the rotation of the propeller shaft running in forward and reverse gear. We left the mooring with the 2 reefs in the mainsail and deployed the jib behind the main as we sailed down wind towards the Aluminium Jetty. After checking with Port Control Sean was on the helm to get us out towards Clipera on the far side of the TSZ, while I showed Tess how to remove the log paddle wheel unit to clean it as it had not been recording our boat speed for a couple of weeks. The unit was covered in tiny shrimps which had completely seized the rotor. After cleaning and re-installing the Water Speed Display immediately started showing 8 to 9 kts as we approached the end of the Aluminium Jetty. With the flood tide starting at 13:30 we had decided to just go for a sail in the bay and come back close to the shore line near Church Bay. As we approached the TSZ the Irish Ferries Fast Cat made her passage in to the Ferry Port but our passage was not disrupted as we sailed behind her as she entered the port. During the return to Holyhead a small tear in the old genoa was noticed which got worse as we entered the New Harbour area Another great day sail in some strong but very acceptable winds.

A beautiful evening with clear skies and steady F4-5 W winds. A good turnout of 6 yachts. The race was complicated by the squib flees rounding the Clipera mark at the same time as the offshore fleet but in the opposite direction! Then, due to the continued closure of Terminal 3, the Irish Ferries left terminal 5 and the Stenna ship entered the port just as the racers were sailing across the port entrance. Our thanks go to the ferry skipper’s consideration and to Holyhead Port Control. All in all a great event after a long wait for good sailing weather!

After lunch we decided that we should raise the main with both reefs but use the full jib, this worked well as we headed back across the northern coastline of Ynys Mȏn on a fetch. Fairly soon we saw Summer Wine struggling to make as well to windward as we were able to. We managed to sail in a single leg from Middle Mouse all the way out to a suitable point to take, near Langon Ridge, to successfully make it all the way to Meath and then Clipera judging the situation perfectly to tack and clear the stern of Stena Adventurer as we crossed back into the New Harbour and back onto our mooring. It was an interesting sail showing the crew the benefits of understanding the tidal currents as they change across the coastal areas of Ynys Mȏn.

Borth Wen (The brickworks) I forgot to start the recording until we were out in the bay, again! With the morning light ssw winds forecast to increase by 11:30 the crew, Tess, Richie Sean and myself prepared the boat to leave soon after 11:00. With the 135% jib, replacing the carbon jib under repair, we set sail from the mooring with the full main and unfurled the jib but noted that the roller reefing line joint was sticking in the fairleads. Flair IV was well balanced on the broad reach as we followed Summer Wine out of the New Harbour area. Following our check with Holyhead Port Control for any commercial traffic we turned towards Bolivar on more or less a dead run; flying the jib goosewinged for most of the run up to Carmel Head. Tess did a great job taking over from me on the helm and we were spoon on a reach along the north coast of Ynys Mȏn (Anglesey) at around 10 - 11kt. The 5m tidal range on today’s tide helped power us along with the sails pulling beautifully; passing Harry Furlong mark and a midpoint between Middle Mouse and the coast to the east of Wylfa. As we approached Borth Wen and turned into the bay we could see a motor yacht at anchor, a number of jetskis racing around and Live Wire also from Holyhead Sailing Club heading in to anchor up. The winds, now 18kt gusting 20-22, made lining up to anchor quite tricky as they descended over the high cliffs surrounding the bay. After our second and successful attempt to get a good anchor bite, we prepared the cockpit table, raised the sprayhood and set up a wonderful lunch mostly supplied by Tess. Summer Wine and Live Wire were anchored in the bay but they left well before us and now there was a thin fog filling into the bay but with the sprayhood up we were not affected too badly.

Winds were F5 with wind over tide at The Skerries. Wave height maximum 1.5m. intermittent very light showers. A lot of arctic terns between Langdon Ridge and The Skerries. 2 ferry movements on our return to the port causing us to alter course to sail into the New Harbour.

SW f5 to f6 average 17kt max 24kt light shower later on return passage. choppy seas on return between The Skerries and Carmel Head.

Weather conditions F4 gusting F6 out in the bay 27kt recorded at one point. Aqualibra and FlairIV racing with Houdini having set off for the Isle of Man earlier in the afternoon. After Becca completed the works to the jib halyard redirector Flair IV we had problems raising the jib and inserting the vertical battens in the high winds, which was why we were a little behind Aqualibra at the start. As usual this season Dawn assisted by Dave Meacher (OODs) set course 1 again, this is now the norm for a May Wednesday evening race! Aqualibre remained ahead as we followed the Squibs out of the New Harbour but then Aqualibre got confused and rather than follow course 1 she followed the quibs going to Clipera. Flair IV followed the proper course and even so passed Aqualibre on the beat to Penrhos where the depth of water was a little less than 2m below the keel. Nothing eventful occurred during the race until Flair IV was sailing back into the New Harbour where she had to alter course to avoid one of the Squib Fleet which was being towed by the safety boat as she had lost her rudder. This meant that Flair IV was now close to the wall as she approached the knuckle but we managed to pinch sufficiently to get past, and then head for the new IDM. We could have done with some sunshine as it became quite cold on our way to the mooring. A good sail shame there is not more competition!

Today Sean and I worked on a variety of tasks including working out why the engine was refusing to run. We also modified the end of the lowest jib batten to stop it from falling out. The winds in the morning were 16kt + NE so with just the two of us we waited on Flair's mooring until the forecast lower winds came in. After lunch the winds dropped and we prepared to set off to sail in the bay. A beautiful sunny day was perfect for a sail over to Church Bay. Once back on the mooring we attended to fitting the revised lower batten before clearing everything up to go ashore.

Weather conditions F6 dropping to F4 and less 055° (NE) A fair amount of choppy waves as we took the launch to get onboard. With 3 yachts preparing to race Dawn Russell announced course 1 for this evening's race. Start 18:30 with the normal shadow on the northern end of the start line under the wall. Flair IV first over the line seconds ahead of Houdini. Flair IV tacked early as Houdini was covering her leeward quarter and could have trapped us against the Aluminium Jetty. A slow tack meant that Flair IV lost the lead to Houdini and there was a very close encounter at a subsequent tack where FLair IV had to again lose time in bearing away. On the way to Meath Houdini held the lead with Flair IV gaining again and more so on the broad reach to Penrhos where Houdini had flown her spinnaker but had to bear away to keep it flying. On Flair IV we decided not to fly the spinnaker getting to Penrhos mark just behind Houdini. Again at the last mark on the course, Clippera, we were seconds behind, but having attempted to raise the spinnaker it all went wrong ending in a major tear of the sail and a complete stop as it acted as a sea anchor. Houdini made it to the line first with Flair IV completing the course even after the disaster with the spinnaker and Aqualibre coming in a while later. 2025-05-14 19:30:06 Houdini 1st 19:33:55 Flair IV 2nd 19:53:25 Aqualibre 3rd

Tides: High Water HH: Saturday 10th 10:00 Sunday 11th 10:32 Weather Very light winds on Saturday getting better late afternoon 13:00 7kt gusting 9kt, 19:00 10 gusting 12, more on Sunday 10:00 10 gusting 12 19:00 13 gusting 19 Saturday: I forgot to start the record on SailTies until we'd past North Stack, nor did I record the track on the B&G, so a little longer trip than shown. We actually left the mooring at around 10:30 and with only an incoming ferry which we contacted to say we were staying close to the breakwater on our passage to North Stack. Wind conditions: Northerly 5-7kt which gave us a tight reech to North Stack where, unusually, the waters were nice and flat with a very noticeable change between the currents as the ebb tide had started, sweeping us to the south. With the strong tide flowing now behind us we hoisted the lightweight spinnaker, furled the jib and dropped the main. This photo shows the Anglesey flag flying above the Sailing and Cruising Wales group burgee. With the spinnaker flying on sheets alone with no pole our course took us out slightly to the West before we altered course to sail round Rhoscolyn Head and into Cymyran Bay. In the bay the wind died completely. With the spinnaker flying, just on sheets with no pole or guys, our course took us out to the West slightly before we altered course to sail round Rhoscolyn Head and into Cymyran Bay. In the bay the wind died completely. Once an anchor, we lost the wind altogether which made it very pleasant to have our lunch, although it did get very warm in the blazing sunshine. After lunch Tess started work on the domestic water pump, lying on the galley floor with her head in the cupboard under the galley sink while we looked at servicing one of the sheet winches. Having completed the starboard sheet winch the tide changed and the wind filled in, making it was ideal for our return to Holyhead. Once round Rhoscolyn Head we headed up to a tight reach and with tidal backing made very good progress until we chose to tack and aim for South Stack so that we could get close to see the guillemots and the razorbills. Being on starboard tack were helped by the tide run slipping sideways past South Stack but then tacked to avoid the disturbed wind around the headland and sailed with the tide to a point where we coul sail round North Stack to reach the end of the breakwater. Once inside the New Harbour, we downed the sales and motored onto the mooring before clearing up and leaving FlairIV.