2025 June 21st, Day 84. To Dale.

My Facebook post says why:

Another change of plan. I thought it might happen when I saw the models last evening but was tired so left it till this morning to run the numbers.

The ecmwf and ukmo agree that the only days in the next week without 15 knots or more of SW winds are today (before evening) and probably Wednesday with a gale Thursday/ Friday.

That would be at best uncomfortable getting south so I am heading for Milford today and will sort out the marina issue later, possibly going into Nayland for the gale, sounds daft but cheaper than loosing my discount.

Ramsey Sound this morning then either outside Skomer or wait till this evening to go through Jack Sound this evening, probably the former as F5 is forecast this evening or overnight. The bad news is mist or fog ahead [and rain], but that should clear before it’s a problem, also there will probably be some rain c mid day.

Going round in 15 + knots of wind would also take 2 - 3 times as long due to "stopping" seas, having to take a longer route as short cuts would likely be dangerous and not being able to get round in one tide.

I was away at 07:20 having checked the tides etc. There was a bit of mist, no wind, calm sea and the prospect of rain but with the following tide I made very quick progress past Strumble Head.

Unusually Strumble Head light flashes all day.

Ramsey Sound needs care but is not difficult even at half tide when it is strongest - providing it is with you! One day after neaps I had time to take some videos whilst the autopilot and plotter did the hard work using my pre-planned route from the last time I went through.

St Davids Head and the entrance to the Sound.

Entering The Sound, "The Bitches" reef ahead.

Ramsey Sound, with the neap tide there was only 
1-2 knots of tide most of the way through and
only briefly 3 - 4 knots near "the Bitches".

It had started to rain as I exited the sound and the new oilskins and boots got a test, they kept me completely dry. The rain was patchy until Skomer then it was a straight forward sail down Broad Sound and although I missed the tide at St Ann's Head the adverse tide was only a little over a knot so no big deal in the calm water. This time there were no pot buoys to contend with so I was able to go close in and anchored at 14:00.

28 miles in six and a half hours.

Well I guess that is the official end of the years first cruise, back where I left from at the end of March, 1,602.1 nautical miles over the ground. And 8 years to the day since I launched Sancerre the day after assuming ownership.

And as a birthday present I just found Diesel bug in a fuel can, my Facebook Post:

Diesel Bug! Earlier I decanted some diesel into the tank and in the can were the remains of diesel bug. Hopefully dead as I always put a double dose of Fuelset in with it. I haven’t had any red diesel in it since Kirkwall and only once before this year at Howth outbound, so unless it has been lurking there since and I have not seen it, then it has come from a roadside fuel station.

It’s in a new yellow plastic can and the crud was easily visible so I don’t think it’s been there long.

I have put a precautionary massive dose of Fuelset into the tank (you can’t overdose) but I am going to have to get 40+ litres of fuel out of the tank, open it up and clean the whole system which will be a big and very awkward job but at least it is possible with the new stainless tank, unlike the previous bladder tank, and I’m close to base and not 500 miles away.

Again

I suspect there will be a post or two about that after I have frittered away the time before going on to my berth. 

This Cruise:

• 1,602.1 nautical miles over the ground (1,843.7 statute).
• 43 stops.
• 26 locations visited for the first time.
• 44 days sailing out of 84.
• 28 days weather bound.
• 38 days in a marina or on a buoy.

Poor weather and generally strong winds meant there was little incentive for local cruising and I stayed where I was except for an excursion up the Haven to Hobbs Point for shopping. 

I went onto my berth as planned during free flow on the 1st and got a train at 11:00, like the last trip home there was significant disruption to rail services, this time knock-ons from points problems near Reading but by changing trains 5 times rather than three and going via Bristol Parkway, Swindon and Didcot rather than Reading I ended up at Oxford earlier than planned only to find the next 2 trains to Bicester cancelled because of problems at High Wycombe!

Just as I was contemplating getting a bus they announced a "special train" had been put on that would get me home and the masses of people waiting on the platform who were presumably heading for London Marylebone headed off to Reading and Paddington so I was able to get on the short train and was home by six thirty.

Click  here is the first post of two on the fuel bug.