Feeling a little trepidation setting in as we set off on our longest passage of the trip so far at 12.5 hours - this was added to by another yacht’s crew asking where we were going as we were readying for the off. “Really” came the reply when I said Milford Haven. This was followed up with “we’re going on the next high tide to avoid the 30 knot plus winds forecast for the late evening at Milford…but I’m sure you’ll be fine in your yacht”. Mmmm…we were expecting gusts of up to 28 knots as we approached St Anne’s Head but I’d checked the tidal gates and we would make it through Ramsey Island on a fair tide and it would mostly be fair passing to the west of Skomer Island. Also we would be in the lee of the land after that which should take some of the bite out of the gusts.
We had a beam reach most of the way down and after a lull early afternoon the winds did build as we headed south but died away as we approached Ramsay Sound. The tides carried us through at 9 knots and we headed to round Skomer Island scattering the rafts of puffins that were eagerly plucking sand eels out of the nutrient rich waters.
The winds built again, as forecast, surging to a 30 knot gust between Skomer and Ramsey Islands but Sulaire was well reefed and took it in her stride.
We finally turned into the entrance to the Haven and made for a large, well protected anchorage at Dale and dropped the hook by the cliffs at the north side of the bay - keeping well clear of the sea grass beds that have been reestablished here by the university - as the sun went down casting the anchorage in a golden glow.
Despite the strong gusts of winds the anchorage was pretty well protected and we jumped in the dinghy to stretch our legs and let the fluffy 2nd mate do her poo.
Passage time 11 hours…not bad…night, night!
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