Cruise in Holyhead bay

Mark Rosenthal

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.