We had a very settled night at anchor in Lower Town with the wind barely registering on the instruments. We took advantage of not having to set off too early the next morning to briefly walk the third mate around the pretty little harbour of Lower Town with its eccentric little yacht club.
A couple of yachts had already stolen a march on us by the time we got back to Sulaire and we readied for our trip north east to Pwllheli. As we prepared to lift the anchor it started raining. What! I don't think we had taken out our foul weather gear since we left Sanda Island off the Mull of Kintyre. On they went and up came the anchor and we headed out of Fishguard harbour. The wind had started to increase with the onset of rain and mainsail and jib were deployed. Contrary to what was forecast, the wind steadily increased from the south to 24 knots. Engine off we were skooting along at 7.5 knots with the following wind. And then the wind died completely in a matter of less than a minute. Away went the oilies as the sun came out, down went the sails and on went the engine. And it remained that way all the way north to Pwllheli some 9 hours later. During which time the crew rested and more dolphins came to play!
On entering Pwllheli Marina, we filled up the diesel tanks, the second time we had done so on our 4 week passage. After topping up the fuel tanks we reversed Sulaire into her finger berth which would allow easier access over the stern for carrying laundry and bags ashore. We spent the next day cleaning the boat, doing laundry, filling the water tanks and making notes of items that would useful for our next passage north. We would be leaving Sulaire for a couple of weeks to head home by train to attend to a few appointments that were in the diary.
We'll be back aboard Sulaire on the 29th June for the final return legs of our Scilly trip bound for her home berth on the Clyde.
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