Royal St George Yacht Club Cruising Group – June bank holiday cruise in company.
Five boats departed Dun Laoghaire at 7am on Friday 29th May with two crews spending the Thursday night at the club pontoon.
The boats were Peter Bowring on Terra Nova, Brian Darcy on Margaux, Carl Fagan on Beleal, Peter Richardson on Dehliverence and Derek Ryan on Brizo. We were joined on the Saturday night at anchor by John White on Northern Soul.
We motor sailed to East Kish between the Kish and Bray banks led by Terra Nova and Margaux before turning off the engines and setting a course of 95 degrees for the Caernarfon safe water mark. The breeze filled in to a steady 12 to 16 knots from south southwest and we sailed at a steady 7 knots on a single tack across the Irish sea, arriving at Pilots Cove about 17.45. We waited until 7pm to cross the Caernarfon bar and the five boats rafted up in Victoria Dock marina about 5 miles up the Menai.
A hearty dinner was arranged in the Black Boy Inn with a couple of pints before retiring at a civilised hour.
High water of 10.10 on Saturday meant an early departure with the harbour master Ffion recommending we go at slack water so we departed at 9.30. Dehliverence, having had an issue with their anchor decided to remain at Caernarfon for the Saturday.
We had agreed to rendezvous with boats from the National Yacht Club ably led by Frank Cassidy at Porth Dinllaen at anchor for Saturday night.
Once back over the bar, Porth Dinllaen was 12 miles to the south across Caernarfon bay and while the wind was on the nose, it was a pleasant 10 to 12 knots and all but one boat chose to sail.
All four boats were at anchor by 2pm and the dinghy’s were inflated to go ashore. The Ty Coch Inn (Red House) bar is right on the beach and with the sun splitting the stones there was a fine crowd with families enjoying the sunshine. We settled into a few beers and food and awaited the National Yacht club boats that departed Dun Laoghaire that morning. The next boat to arrive was George member John White on Northern Soul at 3pm
Between 5pm and 6pm the National boats started to arrive with Jascah, Wave Dancer, The Blondie, BOD, and White Pearl. We also had Olga from the Irish.
Porth Dinllaen is a beautiful anchorage with good holding and despite 20 knots plus over night everyone had a comfortable night aboard because of the sheltered aspect.
Given the strong winds forecast for bank holiday Monday a decision was made early that we would return on the Sunday morning. Between 8am and 10.30am the boats gradually departed back across the Irish sea with everyone home by 8pm. It was a close reach, again on a single tack with average boat speed of 6.5 to 7 knots. The National boats convened in their Club while Terra Nova, Margaux and Brizo tied up on the Club pontoon. With the evening capped off with a few pints in McKennas.
For details as to who parked on a sandbank in the Menai or whose dinghy was recovered drifting in the dark by a National YC member attendance at the next cruise in company will be required.
A particular commendation to Carl Fagan on Beleal who did his first offshore passage two handed and acquitted himself with some distinction.
Until the next time.
