Mark Rosenthal

With a reasonable weather window we went for a quick sail to church Bay and back. Winds NE gusting 24kt we put in a reef and enjoyed a social chat about the history of Holyhead Harbour and the Maritime influences of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) and Holyhead (Ynys Cybi) dating back to the 2 Roman occupations of Anglesey. Lovely sunny conditions until the cloud cover increased as we arrived back in Holyhead New Harbour.

SW F5 wind conditions showing Harri’s son and his friend the basics on Flair IV. Back on the mooring for a late lunch as the sunshine faded away behind high level cloud formations.

Issued 2024-08-11 Due to the forecast for very light winds on the west side of Anglesey. As the course would be against the tide up to SouthStack the alternative is to go back anticlockwise as the wind forecast to the east of Anglesey is much better the decision therefore is to cancel the event and for individual yachts to make a judgement on their return to Holyhead. Flair IV intends to sail at approx 09:30 with a planned lunch stop at The Brickworks for lunch to wait for the tide to flow west. Thank you for the great turn out see you back at Holyhead. Flair IV’s progress back to Holyhead Flair IV Left at 10:05 from the 2nd position in the raft alongside the Prince Madoc and the Iceni Marine Services vessel, slipping from between Hierro and Moonraker to sail anticlockwise back to Holyhead. In very light winds we motored east along the Strait head to wind. All the way along the Strait we were pestered by motorised vessels exceeding the 8kt speed limit and creating wake. After passing Beaumaris the wind filled in a little in patches so we deployed the jib. Approaching Penmon raised the main at just after 11 o’clock. As the apparent wind angle changed gradually turning at Penmon Head we deployed the code 0 and made good progress across Red Wharf Bay towards Point Lynas. From Point Lynas the wind angle was sufficient to fly the ‘floater’ spinnaker but insufficient wind to keep the main up so we sailed on the spinnaker alone giving us an opportunity for a late lunch at a quarter past three. The journey had taken so long in these light winds that the concept of anchoring in Porth Wen was not viable so lunch on the go! With the cloud cover changing from the west it quickly became cooler as we past Harry Furlong, looking back at the receding blue skies. We were being caught by Summer Wine motor sailing on our way from Carmel Head back to the New Harbour and as the wind died we motor sailed too. Back on our Mooring 18:00

RAR 2024 7 boats CL2 start 09:15 - but issues with the contohoot (b Yachts sailing some shoddew CLI 10.00 3 possible race finishes Penmon Head Beaumaris pier Light Winds but good speed well judged tides times for the start times. SUNDAY Race concelled due to lack of wind. Left it to individual owners to decide how to return to t Flair IV Left from 2nd position in raft to seil anticlocknise back to HH. Dow at 10:05, Plan te stop for Lunch at

HSC Wednesday evening race. course no 1. winds light NNW 6. to 12 kts. 2nd over the finish.

An excellent afternoon for a sail in Holyhead bay especially for the first time since my shoulder operation in June. Sunshne and steady 13kt SW wind was ideal with friends to keep an eye on me! We had two novice crew members Ruby and Tony with Becca and me introducing them to this complex sport. While Richie and Tess dealt with most of the sail setting.

Helen, Tess, Richie and Becca came on board at 10:30. I had got most things ready for setting off so we got underway shortly after their arrival. Winds again Northerly on a nice sunny morning 10kt as we left the harbour. Great sailing conditions as we left the harbour and sound over to North Stack. Once passed North Stack we turned to the south and headed down to Rhoscolyn. With the wind on our stern we set up a preventer before changing to the Code 0 sailing down at around 5 to 6 kn over the ground. As we passed Maen Piscar the wind became light but we managed to sail round Rhoscolyn head and make a course to Cymyran Bay when we anchored and settle down to have a wonderful lunch with contributions from all the crew. It has been sunny all the way down to this point, but as we finished our lunch and had a brew, high cloud was building from the west. After lunch, we packed away the cockpit table and Tess and I fill the diesel tank from the jerrycan and added more fuel treatment before we restarted the engine and lifted the anchor to sail back to Holyhead on the flood tide. The return course was to windward and we had to tack to avoid getting too close to Maen Piscar as the tide pushed us ever closer. Once opposite Trearddur Bay the Sun started to reappear and apart from some window tide approaching South stack return journey went well but under the shadow of North Stack the wind died away before changing direction to South Westerley 3 to 5 Kt so we had to motor most of the length of the breakwater to get back to our mooring in good time.

Key crew member Luke invited a long term friend and his family to come for a sail. As the tide was flooding we had little choice about where to go in the time available. The last weekend opportunity for me to sail before my shoulder.and Carpal Tunnel operations. Fortunately the weather forecast was encouraging for Flair IV to take Luke and his friends family out for Saturday afternoon. Winds light and Northerly 8-12Kt. With the crew’s arrival soon after 12:30 we had lunch in the cockpit on the mooring before sailing off to sail up the coast towards Carmel Head. Rough water after the tide change but I encouraged them all to have a turn at helming. It was slow progress sailing back against the tide but they all seemed to enjoy the experience with the exception of the tide race near Carmel Head.

Due to tie constraints for crew members we were limited to an afternoon cruise around Holyhead bay. With the rain dying away during the morning I went up to the boat for midday to sort out some of the small jobs and prepare the boat for when the crew arrived at 13:45. By the time the crew, Richie, Tess and Harrie, were onboard the wind had filled in to a steady 9 to 10kt from the south so we set off from the mooring under the full main. Approaching the end of the breakwater we could see the Irish Ferries ship leaving her berth so we checked for traffic with Port Control, circled round and put in a reef as the winds had increased significantly, before resuming our heading across to Clippera passing astern of the ferry. We sailed towards Chruch bay and went in close to shore for the crew to have a good look at where we used to anchor up when doing the HSC 2 peaks race. As it was just a day since the spring tide I suggested we should go towards The Skerries, knowing the we would see wind over tide, so that we would see the buildup of the waves! Having gybed after passing ynys y fydlyn, to see through the arch under the elephant's head, we headed out into the tide race from Carmel Head. We bounced for a short distance before turning to the SE to get out of the challenging choppy waters and headed back to Bolivar with Harrie now getting experience on the helm. She continued to helm all the way beck into the harbour when, due to the high winds we dropped the sails and motored onto the mooring.