Michael Klim

a beautiful sunny day with moderate to light wnw wind. An hour after low water we sailed towards North Stack picking up the eddie in the bays, sailing closer than normal to the shore. Having got some great views of North Stack fog signal station we turned and sailed towards Langdon Ridge, giving our novice crew, Ewan, a chance to helm on a broad reach. From there we gybed to return to the New Harbour. We had to motor sail in the lower wind conditions to clear the TSZ, but stopped the motor and sailed onto the mooring.

Race night 5 yachts prepared for the race starting at 18:00, with the same course as last week: start, Clipera (s), Penrhos (p), Meath (p), Finish. Winds were SW 12kt gusting 19kt with some ferry movements and a small cruise liner on the Aluminium Jetty. FlairIV started to prepare the code 0 for the start but there was a twist in the halyard so it had to be dropped and reset, which made us 35 seconds late over the start line. However we soon overtook the 2 yachts in front of us and made for Clipera. With one tack on the unwind leg to Penrhos we made excellent speed and after rounding the mark made for Meath. By the time we rounded Meath the rest of the fleet were only just getting to Penrhos! one tack once we had rounded Meath to clear the breakwater and then one last tack by the end of the Aluminium Jetty to make it all the way to the finish. Results: YTC https://halsail-1e484.kxcdn.com/Result/Public/98464

Light wsw breeze as we prepared the code 0 and made adjustments to the beefing line for racing. The start was delayed while the 2nd cruise ship, anchored in the New Harbour was cleared for departing. We circled around under the mainsail as we waited for the starting sequence and at the 1 minute signal deployed the code 0 getting FlairIV over the line in 1st place. With all the shipping movements and the light winds on our stern quarter it was challenging trying to keep the heads sail filled but we had a significant lead by the time we cleared Clipera to Starboard and headed upwind to Penrhos. Rounding to port we tacked and deployed the code 0 for the leg to Meath. This leg was very interesting as it was more or less a dead run but complicated by the traffic movements, with the bunkering ship, the pilot boat, the departing Irish ferry and the Stena ferry arriving. However with communications over Ch 14 all went well as we cleared Meath and sailed towards the stern of Stena Estrid then tacked to sail back into the New Harbour with 1 final tack close to the Viking Cruise ship birthed on the Aluminium Jetty. The wind freshened on our last leg to the finish close the the Breakwater end of the line.

late afternoon sail winds Northerly 10 - 15kt, sunshine. great to finally get the main sail back up!

2026-06-21 Helen Michael Tess Mark I arrived onboard just after 11:00 with the other crew already in the cockpit. We agreed to have a hot drink before leaving the mooring. We followed Soulmate out of the New Harbour and started to sail towards the Skerries until we had a Helen HOB (hat over board) moment which accounts for the deviation on the track! After several attempts we managed to capture the cap and returned to our northerly course towards the Skerries. With the moderate NE winds we made an average of 8.5kt and arrived at the Skerries too early. We hove to and drifted north of The Skerries while we had lunch. In 20 minutes of steady drifting the tide took us well to the East of The Skerries and had to battle against the currents to get round the West Coast of The Skerries before turning on a broad reach to head for Clipera. After several attempts we managed to capture the cap and returned to a northerly course towards the Skerries. With the moderate NE winds we made an average of 8.5kt and arrived at the Skerries too early. We hove to and drifted north of The Skerries while we had lunch. In 20 minutes of steady drifting the tide took us well to the East of The Skerries and had to battle against the currents to get round the West Coast of The Skerries before turning on a broad reach to head for Clipera. As there were no ferry movements due we headed directly for the end of the breakwater having informed Port Control of our intentions and observations of the James Joyce, still 15 minutes from Point Victor. Back on our mooring for 16:00hrs we cleared up and waited for the launch to come alongside to take us to the groyne.

For preparation for racing on board for 17:15 with Eric. Remainder of the crew arrived in good time so we left the mooring before 18:00 to familiarise the crew, sailing off on the main. At the 5 minute warning we unfurled the jib carefully planning our approach to the start line. Flair crossed the start line about 7 seconds late on the downwind leg but soon was leading the field out of the New Harbour. Race officer Dawn had set course 1 which gave us a long downwind leg around the end of the breakwater then a tight reach to Penrhos, a broad reach to Clipera and a windward leg back to the finish. On the leg from Penrhos we were informed that the James Joyce ferry would be departing in 15 minutes and the Stenna ferry was inbound shortly after. We notified Port Control of our intention to cross the TSZ before the ferry movements and were given clearance. A great evening sail with FlairIV first over the line by a long way!