The aim was to take part in the JESTER challenge which was a single-handed trip down to Baltimore in southern Ireland (approx 250 miles).
The start was from Pwllheli on 18 June. I left Conwy on Thursday 15th, carried the tide out of the river then across the banks and down the Menai Strait. I picked up a mooring at Menai Bridge to wait for the tide through the Swellies. When the tide turned in my favour I left intending to get as far as possible on that tide. I managed to get over the Caernarfon Bar and anchored on the west side of Anglesey at 21.00. I left the anchorage in the morning with the south-going tide. The wind was light from the SW for a time then dropped off so I had to motor down to Bardsey Sound. The tide was slacking off as I went through, and the wind picked up slightly so I could sail down to Pwllheli. I called the marina and they told me where to moor with the other JESTER boats.
On Saturday I topped up with water and food and checked the boat over. On Saturday evening there was a dinner in the sailing club for the skippers.
Sunday 18th a 12.00 start from outside the marina, after breakfast in the sailing club and getting the latest forecast. Light winds from the SW until Thursday then 30 knots SW!
I motored out to the start, the engine stopped 3 times! I got to the start line and 9 boats set off slowly, most going SE before tacking back and forth to get past Bardsey Island to starboard, and the reef which runs halfway across Caernarfon Bay. It took 14 hours to pass Bardsey Island and get out into the open sea. The wind picked up slightly and I had an enjoyable sail overnight, with not too many ships to avoid. I sighted Tuscan Rock lighthouse in the south-east of Ireland on Monday evening. I managed to clear it before it got dark and the tide changed.
The next mark to get past was the big buoy marking the end of the Saltee Islands and the rocks that stick out 8 miles offshore. The winds were still light so making slow progress, having to tack along the coast avoiding the TSS offshore. I didn’t get much sleep overnight.
When it got light in the morning I could see that the headsail appeared to be split and either side of the shrouds. As I was coming up to Hook Head I decided to go down the river and look for an anchorage or mooring to sort out the sail and engine. I started the engine and motored up to near Dunmore East and picked up a mooring. The engine stopped but re-started. I had something to eat and fell asleep for 4 hours.
Refreshed, I had a look at the sail. Not as bad as it looked. About 12 ft (4 mt) of the UV strip had come loose and that’s what was around the rigging. I spent 3 hours sewing it back on as best I could. Then I looked at the engine. This was the linkage to the throttle that had come loose. After some fiddling around I managed to sort it out.
It was 16.00 on Tuesday evening so I motored out to where I had started the engine and set sail. The wind was still light, gone more westerly, so was on the nose for Baltimore. Had some long, slow tacks overnight. The wind was very light then dropped away and I was just wallowing around. I considered my options as to the weather, as there was a strong wind warning for Thursday.
The Fastnet Rock was the next mark to round, 90 miles to windward. I decided to go to Crosshaven (Cork Harbour). I tied up in the marina at 15.00 Wednesday afternoon, had a pint of Guinness and some food in the sailing clubhouse, and then got an up-to-date weather forecast.
F7 Thursday evening from SW! After another pint of Guinness, I decided to head back down the coast on the Thursday morning tide.
I left at 09.00 with the tide, to see how far I could get before the weather deteriorated. The wind started light but slowly picked up during the day but was behind me, so I made good time.
I arrived back at Dunmore East at 21.00 and tied up on the visitors’ pontoon, rafted alongside a boat from Dublin who had heard the forecast.
By midnight the winds were 30 knots and had been uprated to an F8 gale. I spent 3 nights in Dunmore East waiting for a better forecast. No fishing boats went out and a cruise ship visit was cancelled because of the weather. I spent Friday looking around the town, pubs and chip shop. Saturday I spent some more time sewing the headsail and preparing to leave on Sunday morning. Still a strong wind warning out for Sunday but it would be behind me.
I left at 07.00 on Sunday morning with a good breeze behind me (20 knots). I was goose-winged for the next 24 hours, heading back to Wales.
I dropped anchor in Porthdinllaen at 07.30 on Monday morning, and had something to eat and a rest, waiting for the tide over the Caernarfon Bar. I left the anchorage at 11.30 and carried the tide down to the Bar. It was still blowing 20 knots so it was interesting! Over the Bar then down to Caernarfon for the night, arrived at 15.30.
Tuesday morning I left as soon as they opened the sill to get out. I carried the tide as far as possible, then over the banks to get back into Conwy, a little after HW. I spent the rest of Tuesday sorting out the boat and stayed on board before travelling home on Wednesday, returning the following week for the LaLa Rally.
I will have another go at getting to Baltimore in 2025
Bob Angell