Richie Lord

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!

The crew ran through the essential checks before going up on deck to ready Flair IV to leave her mooring. With the brisk winds we put in a reef while hoisting the main and with the engine running but not driving we came off the mooring on port tack quickly turning to port and sailing between the adjacent moored yachts. Once clear of the moorings we deployed the jib and contacted Holyhead Port Control for clearance to sail out of the New Harbour across the TSZ. We were informed of the inbound Stena Ferry but as we were making 8kt boatspeed I stated that we intended to sail on to Clipera ahead of the approaching ferry, which we were monitoring on the ChartPlotter. The wind conditions outside the harbour were stronger than predicted and we turned to windward to put a second reef in the main. Our plan was to sail towards North Stack but as the tide was now turned we decided to sail to Langdon Ridge cardinal mark and then head back to our mooring for lunch as it was too choppy with wind over tide to be comfortable out in the open waters. With three well executed tacks in the conditions we made it back to the New Harbour and the crew managed the furling of the jib and the dropping of the main while I helmed under motor back to the mooring. Conditions on the mooring were ideal for a calm lunch although there was a bit of wind chill with the strong winds.

We had a delayed start as the engine switch alarm did not work. After searching and cleaning terminals we finally got the engine started and left had a significant battle our mooring under sail anyway. Winds in the harbour were southerly F3 allowing us to make good progress out and across the TSZ to Clipera Buoy. We then headed out towards Langdon Ridge as the tide was now beginning to flood. From Langdon we set up the cockpit table and had our lunch then, having left it a bit late we turned to sail back to the harbour but as the wind was dropping around Carmel head we had a significant battle to break free of the tide race, now at mid tide. We noticed a double canoe too close in to the shore for us to assist. As the paddlers were struggling and going backwards we decided to call the coastguard. Helen kept a lookout for them until we saw the lifeboat arrive at the scene to rescue them. We continued on into the harbour and back onto the mooring and were overtaken by the inshore RNLI lifeboat on thir way back to base.

FlairIV launched at Porth Penrhyn in F4-F5 north north wester winds. We motor sailed NE along the Menai Strait and through Puffin Sound where the sea state got rough. Engine off as we sailed NW to Trwyn Dimnor before tacking to clear the shallows. Once on a suitable bearing to Point Lynas we tacked and put in one reef, passing a number of ships waiting for access to Liverpool Docks. To pass Point Lynas we had to put in another two tacks standing off to a lay line to Middle Mouse. Here the sea state started to quieten down although we were still seeing wind speeds of up to 25kt in the gusts. Gannet were flying around diving on the tidal currents over the rocks along with guillimots flying low and level through the choppy seas. our track ran very close to the coast through between .Middle Mouse and the coast being carried by the current. Another tack was necessary to pass Harry Furlong mark then we had a clear leg straight to Carmel Head. Rounding Carmel Head was relatively carm at an hour before the tide turned and with the wind moderating we removed the reef and sailed directly to the New Harbour entrance, checking for port traffic on Channel 14. once in the shelter of the breakwater the engine was started main sail dropped and jib furled away to motor to our swinging mooring where we were met by the Holyhead Launch.

With an intention of sailing on the ebb tide round the Stacks and back we were preparing the boat as the strong wind weather warning came on the radio. With Sam’s 10 year old son onboard and the weather warning I made the decision to just go for a sail in Holyhead Bay. The rain held off and the winds remained around 18kt gusting 20kt so we had a good sail and a good introduction to sailing for young Nathan.

After a very pleasant relax at the mooring we watched a group of seals calling and lying on the rocks as they emerged with the ebbing tide. In order to make safe passage out we prepared to leave the mooring and motor out of the lagoon. With Becca back on the helm we raised the main once clear of the island as we drifted south with the tidal flow. Next Becca handed the helm over to give Sean some helming experience, Her training included all the main sail settings which is why our track has several changes in course over the ground. Our peek wind gust was 18kt on the return with around 16kt most of the trip back. We worked through some examples of using the Chart Plotter data such as setting waypoints and the ‘SailSteer’ view on the B&G Zeus. Back into the New Harbour we sailed onto our mooring and then chilled with another cup of tea before clearing up. While Sean and I did some more jobs, Becca and Richie caught the launch as they needed to get back quickly. Having removed the hull log transducer and cleaned it I was expecting to pump out the bilges but I discovered that the main bilge pump was not creating enough suction so I had to clear out the starboard cockpit locker to gain access to the pump and strip it out for a rebuild back at home. Album Link https://photos.app.goo.gl/qkueXur83fX9GKTi7

The conditions were almost flat calm as I arrived at the launch to get out to FlairIV. This gave me an opportunity to reconnect the flexible solar panel ontop of the ply and hardwood support. The crew, Becca, Richie and Sean arrived on two separate trips with launch driver Kim due to the requirements of the Squibs for their regatta racing. After a briefing we hoisted the main and left the mooring with Becca at the helm. After checking with Port Control for clearance to leave the New Harbour we got approached by Cogger on a rib warning us of the Squibs course from Spit, the mark just off the end of the breakwater, back into the New Harbour. The winds had now increased from the south so our passage to The Skerries was downwind with us sailing goose winged for much of the way. The entrance to the lagoon in The Skerries is not that easy to see as the leading line paintwork has faded. We furled the jib in the wind shadow of the main and then headed into wind to drop the main sail. I took over the helm to navigate with Becca’s visual assistance into the narrow entrance. There were two ribs, one just left straight away and the other, already on the mooring, very kindly moved off. We tied up to the buoy and thanked them as they motored away to navigate further round the island. Please don’t tell anyone but it is a beautiful place to anchor for lunch watching the birds and the seals!

2025-08 Race 3 Winds F4 - F5 North easterly Dawn Russell OOD selected course 2: giving us a different approach to Penrhos mark then a good upwind leg to Meath before rounding Clipera and back to the finish line. With a reduced crew from the expected 7 we welcomed Helen back on board for the first time in ages. However this meant that the decision, without Sean and Matt, we would not fly the spinnaker; just using the jib and the Code Zero. As the start was a beat to round the end of the Old Aluminium Pier we held off getting the jib and preparing to get the Code Zero unfurled. Houdini had a much better start than us this time and was flying her symmetrical kite as they headed down to Penrhos. Flair IV took an earlier tack on the way back to Clipera to try and regain some of the gap to Houdini but she was clear by a couple of minutes as she rounded the mark and headed back into the New Harbour. Tonight there were 4 entries, Houdini, Flair IV, Aquilibre and Hellhound. Series results: https://halsail-1e484.kxcdn.com/Result/Public/90891