A&R Lener

We just finished a 36‑hour cruise from Arklow to St Martin Isle of Scilly. Fog hugged us at the start but cleared up soon, and we kept the sea calm for our first overnight sail aboard Lagertha. With little wind we motor‑sailed most of the way to hit our 5 kt target – still a great adventure. Happy to be on such a beautiful spot now 😊

Another day, another beautiful stretch of Irish coastline! We had a lovely, easy sail today – a short hop from Dún Laoghaire down to Arklow. Sometimes the best sails aren’t about battling the elements. Just a gentle breeze and a chance to soak up the views from aboard Lagertha. 😊 We’re really enjoying exploring the Irish coast – it’s absolutely stunning!

We made it across the Irish Sea from Port Erin on the Isle of Man to Dún Laoghaire in Ireland. Not a huge amount of wind to play with, so it was a bit of a motor sail ⛵️Honestly, sometimes a little engine assistance is very welcome! The best bit? Having a pod of dolphins lead the way - always a magical moment. ✨ It took us nearly 13 hours, but we arrived just in time for a well-deserved Guinness! 🍻 Life aboard Lagertha is good, even when it involves a long passage. We're definitely feeling the Vitamin Sea vibes now!😊 We stay here until storm Floris clears 🌊🌪️☔️

A short hop from Peel to Port Erin to escape the tidal gate

Lagertha is coming home. Anew standing rigging and a new staysail furler 🙌🏻 The second leg of our trip crossing the Irish Sea heading towards the Isle of Man, good planing getting there! 🌊 Up to Holyhead motor sailing, the tides pushed is with a whooping 10 knot until we left the TSS. But once we left the TSS, the engine went off the wind picked up nicely at 70-80 degrees and maybe 15 knots or so?⛵️ Without the engine running its much more enjoyable. Cruising up with full sails out giving us a solid average of six knots towards Chicken Rock Lighthouse and the drinking dragon 🐉 at the southern tip of the IOM. When we turned northward, the wind just wasn’t strong enough for downwind sailing. So, we motored the last bit on the west coast to Peel Habour instead and waited until 1 o’clock in the morning when the lock/flap-gate opened, so we could go into the marina.

Managed to scrape ourselves away from Pwllheli after two great months there - lovely place for a break! Lagertha got some serious rigging TLC sorted while we were docked: a brand new standing rigging, new chain plates and a few shiny upgrades - including a stay sail furler and a new spray hood and cockpit enclosure is up too 🙌🏻 the old one took quite a battering in 2024 December's storm! Now heading back to the IOM with 20 knots of true wind on the nose barrelling through the Bardsey Sound 📍 off North Wales. Let me tell you, the waves weren't cooperating much today - all over the place and definitely not showing their proper height in these videos! It felt a bit like being tossed around in a washing machine out there 🤪. After we got out of that churning section though - switched off the engine after getting the genoa up. Put the gearbox into reverse (classic Max-Prop fold task)... and then couldn't seem to wrestle the gear lever back into neutral 🤯! Had to turn the prop shaft manually with my hands just to get it sorted, which was definitely a bit of an emergency moment 😐. Added 'gearbox investigation' to our to-do list. Next up, while we're at it - the genoa didn't quite furl completely! Seems like there were a few missing turns on the drum after all that rigging work, especially when it's rolled tight in stronger winds. Anyway, arrived at Porthdinllaen anchorage 😌 and it was a beautiful sunny evening - perfect for recovering from the sea, getting some extra turns on the genoa furler drum and planning our next leg back to the Isle of Man. Sailing life? Never seems to get boring! 😉

Left the lovely anchorage at Porth Dinllaen and set course for Pwllheli, where Lagertha’s getting new rigging. Although the sun was out, we saw nearly nothing, thick fog all the way. 😶‍🌫️🌞 Bardsey Sound was a proper test! Known for ripping tides, overfalls, and wild currents. Made even more exciting by near-zero visibility but luckily nearly no wind and a rather calm sea. The radar got a workout, and the boat turned sharply more than once as the very strong tidal streams took hold. Definitely kept us on our toes! 💨🌊 Our planning was right, we wouldn’t like to be there in unfavourable conditions. Had to keep a sharp lookout for lobster pots, too. Hard to spot when you’re sailing in a cloud. 🦞 Just before we arrived at St Tudwal’s Island for our lunch stop, the fog cleared and the sun came out in full. Beautiful sunny day to anchor and breathe before timing the tide into Pwllheli Marina. Great sailing day and adventurers. #SailingLife #BardseySound #FoggyPassage #RadarTest #PwllheliBound

Up at 4am and off from Port St Mary to catch the fast tide round Anglesey. Timing was spot on to reach the stunning anchorage at Port Dinllaen well before sunset to enjoy a sundowner⛵🌅 A proper adventure: beautiful sunrise, dolphins riding the fast streams, whirlpools swirling past and long stretches of motor sailing under the sun at calm seas. 😎🐬 Not much wind but enough for a good tan and plenty of sea spray! #SailingLife #TidalAdventure #PortDinllaen #SeaEscape

Today’s sail from Peel to Port St Mary was a cracking little shakedown trip! 😎 We slipped through the Sound of Calf – a narrow stretch with some tricky currents to keep you on your toes – but totally worth it for the stunning view of the Drinking Dragon rock. 🐉 The weather played along nicely too: cool, dry, and just enough breeze to keep things interesting. 🌬️ Now tucked in and set up in a good spot for the next leg over to North Wales. ⛵ #SailingLife #IsleOfMan #CalfSound #ShakedownCruise #DrinkingDragon