Day sail 2026-10-04

Mark Rosenthal

Today’s crew: Mark Hernrie Matthias Kate Hall Helen Caine Richie We arrived at the club for 10:30 just before low water but as it was a neap tide the launch was still going from the groyne. All onboard and preparing to sail, we decided to stay on the mooring for 11:00 coffee break and discuss where we should sail and when we needed to be back. Agreement was reached for a sail to North Stack to review the situation and then sail back as appropriate. With consistent SW winds 14 - 21Kt we set off with 2 reefs in the main. There was no commercial traffic entering or departing the port. We gybed to turn to port to clear the end of the breakwater to head out to wind and head due West. Considering the strength of the wind the sea state was remarkably calm ven as we approached North Stack. Here with wind with tide there were a few choppy areas as we tacked to sail South to sail past South Stack, but the tide was forcing us back towards South Stack so we tacked again and sailed out further to get a better line to the south. It was clear that this was not going to work for us today and the decision was made to turn and go back to the mooring as the wind strength increased. As we sailed back to the end of the breakwater Port Control was busy with two ferries and the bunkering ship which was manoeuvring, with the assistance of the Pilot Vessel, to allow the incoming ferry to berth. This meant us keeping tight to the end of the breakwater and having to be very aware of the movements entering the New Harbour on our way to the mooring. Back on the mooring we had a late lunch before disembarking with Matt, Kate and myself going to the club for a beer.