Pembroke Haven Yacht Club

Thursday 2nd May

Light winds and more sun forecast for today so the gate opened at around 10am and promptly saw a mass exodus of boats out of the harbour. Leonore was towing a ferrow cement gaffer round to face the gate and by the time they let the line go poor old Alan had missed the gate but the gaffer motored straight out. Having spun himself back round Alan followed on. Peter George and Barry Kingston have all headed off to so even less boats in the harbour. Have run some reefing lines in the main ready for tonight's departure. Plan to leave on tonight's gate and sail overnight back home. Hopefully make the club for a pint at 5pm depending on tiredness. Rob doing breakfast as I scribble this whilst Doug and Chris chat to our new neighbours for the day Bob and Ruth Keys. They plan to leave on Saturday so at some point will have to swap places with us as we are inside boat. Doug, Chris and I went on Jaws 11 for a high speed trip round the bay. The driver stopped off at the place the old MFV Courageous was lost on Monday morning. Work boat gone up there to try and recover the engines. Those that have been to Padstow for May Day will know Courageous as the boat in the corner by the Shipwright. Been coming here for 25 years apparently, darn shame she came to such an end. All persons were ok tho. Looks like power nap time again judging by my return from a stroll and Rob being the only awake soul. Popped up the Shipwright to check the tables were back and that Rack of Ribs was still on the menu for our last supper before tonight's departure. There was a group of local old boys having a sing song in the beer garden which was very entertaining. Supper done and a little snooze before departing gate at 2215hrs. Very light winds from the south west so motor sailing to make some headway. Cleared Newlands island at 2300hrs and set George the task of keeping us on course home. Dolphins with us almost immediately and were a source of company most of the night. Very clear sky although the moon was hiding till mine and Robs watch at 0200hrs. We unfurled the headsail and turn engine off at half 4 cos the wind was up to 12knts by then. Been sailing ever since and now directly opposite Milford at 1031hrs. Been a cracking sail with slight seas and the forecast SW 14-17knt wind. Safely on Hobbs point pontoon and just the sorting personal stuff out to do.

Thanks to James for uploading these blogs and hope anyone who has read it has enjoyed. This is me signing off till next time. Take care all and enjoy your sailing.

Paul.

Wednesday 1st May (Mayday)

We woke up to another stunning blue sky after our slightly later night. The drums are banging and the OSS has been sighted at the other side of the harbour. Hopefully will get a photo or 2 later as it passes to post with the blog. Had a very short look at the radio speaker this morning but once we took the front off it was obvious it wasn't going to be a wiring issue but a new speaker. Anyone who has ever been to the so called chandlery here knows that means a job for when we get back. Lol. Breakfast done and washing up sorted we have been joined by Alan and Andy to check weather forecast. We advised them to follow our lead of looking at several and picking the best. No point in picking a bad forecast if another site give a nicer trip home. Crowds are building around the harbour now, so sitting here in the cockpit gives you that feeling of animals in a zoo. No adverse comments on that please!!

Done worrying about weather now and been over to Rock but unfortunately the yacht club was shut so ended up over the road at the Mariners. Lovely group of drunk, loud Essex types there. Luckily they popped off to get the ferry so we had a 2nd pint and let them go. Back on board now eating crisps and nuts left over from Scotland. Still surprisingly fresh. Pasties warming in oven then I may need a power nap.

Lovely and warm today so ideal mayday weather. There we are sitting quietly and all of a sudden there seems to be a jamming session going on on Leonore ( Alan Pritchard's boat with) some guy filming it. Not sure what that was all about, will have to ask Alan later. Power nap done now. Nice to go to sleep warm and wake up warm cos for all the daytime sunshine the nights are a bit brisk.

Whilst Paul was power napping, Doug and Chris went to reinforce the wine cellar and stopped off at the Harbour Inn to imbibe some local libation, as you do. came back to see some of the locals jumping into the Harbour, obviously drink was having an effect as some guy grabbed his girlfriend so that both ended up in the water.

Evening meal done on the boat. Curry and rice with red wine. Oh and 2 tins of stewing steak thrown in for extra meat. Blue OSS has just passed by. Not seen much of the parade today. Doesn't seem to be about as much as other years, maybe it being midweek has something to do with that.

Anyway off now to have a few pints before bed is called for. Bed had to wait a bit. Chris, Angela & Liz just arrived on Sol Quest and on the wall by the Customs house. Apparently they are down as a B&B for Amanda and Jack on Friday. Met up with Leonore and Sol Quest for a beer in the Shipwright for a pint before Chris etc headed back to their boat. We invited Alan & Andy back for a nightcap and had a good evening swapping stories. Apparently the group were called Black Friday and it was a charity performance for Air Ambulance to be screen on You Tube. Will have to look out for that. Nearly half one now so time for bed. Hope you all sleep well. We will. Night night.

Paul

Monday 29th April 2013

Good morning all and a glorious morning it is too. Sun is shining in between the clouds so the boat now resembles a huge washing line with all wet weather gear, various hats and towels getting dried. Breakfast is on courtesy of head chef Rob whilst Chris and I tighten the rigging a tad. Nothing major planned for today except some boat maintenance and possibly a lunch time pint. We will need to provision at some point because what we seem to have stocked up most on is Diesel and we haven't used much of that. Another breakfast of fruit juice and muesli with natural yogurt was rejected in favour of the full fry up, tea & toast. Damn nice it was too. Washing up all done and onto the greasing of all Maelstroms winches. Peter George from Milford is rafted outside us and made some comment on how generous it was for our skipper to let us do boat maintenance so that obvious boredom, until he arrived, could be avoided. We agreed, but did decline his reasonable offer of work on his boat to help us further pass our time. Instead it was noted by the ships clock that the sun had in fact managed to get itself over the yard arm, so not being a crew that wants to break any traditions we reluctantly dragged ourselves over to the Old Customs House for a pint. An afternoon power snooze was next on the agenda, then later I put the kettle on for tea and Welsh cakes. The sky is all blue and not a cloud in site this late afternoon, just a shame that the breeze and cold generally are keeping it not sun bathing but more coat type weather.

Next on the list is an evening meal possibly at the Custom House, as two years ago Chris and I had a fantastic rack of ribs which was just about all we could handle. Well that was a bit of a disappointment no ribs on menu. Darn. Still, was funny to watch the over zealous football fans watching Aston Villa and Sunderland. Don't suppose its anything like that when Wales are being supported down the club. Off for a quick one in the Golden Lion and then an early night. Got to be looking our best when the skipper arrives. Night all.

Sunday 28th April 2013

The skipper thought it would be a jolly good idea if the boat was waiting for him in Padstow harbour when he got back from his holiday to Maderia. He had, with much husbandly persuasion, managed to get Jennie to pop him down to Padstow on the way back from Bristol airport. The obvious harbour between Bristol and East Williamston.

Anyway a motley crew consisting of the 3 stooges was assembled and sworn in to deliver Maelstrom safely to Padstow (missing any submerged rocks on the way). Much discussion was had on safety issues, supplies and command before Chris, Paul and Rob were hand picked for the job. Every one else apparently was busy.

Boat was fuelled and watered by Chris and Paul on Friday afternoon just in time to get to the club bar and liase with Rob on food and drink supplies. This is all going too smoothly we thought. Stilll, the plan was to meet at Hobbs Point at 6am on Sunday morning to enable a 7am getaway to catch the evening gate at Padstow. So amazingly, as planned, we were all there and finally left at 0625. What could possibly go wrong. Well almost nothing as it seems. Passed thro St Anne's head at 8am, passed a sleepy Autonomy over in Castle Bay. Motor sailed to Rat buoy then unfurled Doug's new genoa and started sailing. Turned off the engine (well Rob said have you seen the price of diesel these days) and had a very nice sail for 10 hours before the forcast Westerly going North Westerly 12-15knts actually went Southwesterly to Southerly 18-24knts so had to motor sail the last 2 hours in against the tide. Darn. Still can't complain cos we were in early, tied up and boat sorted ready for the Skippers arrival on Tuesday, Unusual for Maelstrom, and possibly cos the Skipper wasn't here to instil discipline, we wandered aimlessly about till we found somewhere warm to sit down and discuss the trip. Fortunately and completely unplanned the place we chose to get warm actually sold beer. Stroke of luck really. Hope the skipper doesn't find out about our slight lapse in discipline.

Saw lots of dolphins on the way but only in small groups. Still helps to pass the time and even old people like us enjoy seeing them. Well I have just about had enough of writing this now so gonna stop. Have just eaten my home made curry as supplied by Chris and desert of Pecan nut slice thingy, very tasty both of them were too. All washed down with some cheap Asda stubby beers. Night all.