Across the Irish Sea to Wales - Eventually!

Dublin:  Forecast:  West F5 to 7, increasing 8 at times.  Outlook for the following 24 hours: North West F3 to 4. After that - windy again.  September 13th - as it wasn't a Friday, and there seemed to be enough of weather window to leave Dublin Bay, overnight in Arklow 40nm down the Irish Coast then cross the Irish Sea to Milford Haven the next day.

We waited for the tide and set off with 2 reefs in the Main and #4 Headsail - as we crossed Dublin Bay the wind disobeyed the forecast (again) and backed Southwest.  37kt gusts notwithstanding, time for reef #3.  After that it was a bit more comfortable, nothing broke and 5 hours later we arrived in Arklow - having had a maximum boat speed of 11.2kts.

We didn't really see Arklow, it was dusk when we arrived:

And only just light enough to avoid the minefield of welk pots outside the harbour as we left.



The Weather Gods were on our side as we crossed the Irish Sea - 10 to 20 kts of breeze, under spinnaker for about half the trip we made the 86nm crossing in 13 hours - a fantastic day's sail.



Just past St David's Head,  where the Irish Sea officially ends and the Bristol Channel begins.

St Anne's Channel Marker - leading us to Milford Haven

This area is well known for its Fuel Refineries - this one seemed to be making it's own clouds!

Milford by Night - by the time we had moored up it was dark, again.

Milford Haven is on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path - alledgedly offering some of the best coastal views in Britain - so it had to be seen.

First Stop:  The Marina in daylight.

A little bit of Refinery Engineering

Then on to something rather older - Stack Rock and rather splendid Fort - dating back to  Napoleonic Times when it was built to defend the River Haven.  It was kept fully gunned until 1929, it's a Grade II listed building and was for sale for  £150,000 in 2005 but with no where to sleep, no water, no power and no sewage it required a very special (would suit DIY enthusiast)  buyer!!

Sandy Haven Bay - they were right, it probably is one of the best coastal views in Britain!

There are however other moorings that are more convenient!

After all the walking, it was time to go back to the boat for a bit of supper.

Cooking 'Al Fresco' ?

We'd now spent two days in Milford Haven - one walking, and one fixing the shower pump, and were keen to move on.  Forecast:  W veering NW F5 to F7, sea state Moderate to Rough.  We had become a bit blase about the wind by now, so decided to leave and head for Swansea, further into the Bristol Channel.

We had no reason to question our judgement as we passed Thorn Island with its Napoleonic fort (in the Square Style) - this one was apparently converted into a Hotel in 1947 and sold in 1999 for £275,000.  Presumably with plumbing and bedrooms, just bring your own boat!  In 2001 there were plans to re-open the hotel with a cable car access - this didn't happen and it's again for sale for a mere £750,000.

We began to question our judgement as we left the relative shelter of The Haven - the waves looked closer to Rough than Moderate!

It didn't get any better, but we had started and so we were going to finish.

Should we be sailing in this?

Looking a little tense?

A wave goes by.

And Finally ...

It all calmed down, and this is the sight that greeted us as we arrived in Swansea.  A couple of days rest required to get over all the excitement before we move on further up the Bristol Channel.