Top Cat Irish Cruise 2003

SE Ireland Summer Cruise on Top Cat 2003

	Irish Sea 30 August 2003 1716z
	A pod of about forty dolphins began to follow us from Ireland. They regularly swam between the hulls and enjoyed the broken water.
		Although we do see dolphins regularly when we sail, this pod stayed with us right across the Irish Sea. They were close enough, well literately rubbing along the boat that we could hear them singing to each other. Strangely after a few hours this actually started to become annoying, the autopilot regularly have to correct our heading after a larger dolphin pushed the bows off course when he back flipped. One thing we did see, that I have never experienced before was dolphins lit up by the phosphorescence in the water at night. Ten feet down you could see a perfect green outline of a dolphin in the pitch black water, I wonder if this is what sailors of old took to be mermaids. Unfortunately none of the night pictures came out, so I will have to keep that one in my memory.



	Milford Haven 31 August 2003 0929z Crossing time 18:07 hrs Average speed 4.28 kts Weather NW 3-4 then calm

		After a long night we made it to Milford Haven. Predictably for this trip the wind fell to calm over night and we had to motor over the Irish Sea. September is usually windy! We were held up for a couple of hours in the middle of the Irish Sea when I spotted distress flares north of Tuskar Rock, I know it was north as I was at the time staring at the plough and the North Star, oh yes and Mars reflecting on the water.

	I stood on which was not difficult as the Irish sea was as a millpond. For two hours I waited to see if any more flares were fired. After Rosslare Coastguard called close-by ferries and nothing more was seen or heard I requested that I could move on. I was stopped pointing at the heading the flares had been seen, I was too far to help, but was the only one who had seen the flares. Upon returning home I e-mailed the Irish coastguard to see if anything had turned up and they responded to my letter;
		The incident you refer to occurred on 30/08/03 at 2307 utc (local time minus 1 hour). MRCC Dublin did initiate a response and eventually attributed your report to a party held on the Balinesker Beach near Curracloe in County Wexford (north of Rosslare Harbour) where fireworks were discharged. MRCC was in contact with persons on the shore and other vessels at sea. On behalf of the Irish Coast Guard and MRCC Dublin I would like to thank you for reporting the sightings of red para flares and for standing by whilst the matter was investigated. I do hope that your passage was not unduly delayed. Please rest assured that you took the correct action and that you could have been of no further assistance under the circumstances. Regards and best wishes SAR Operations Manager IRCG HQ

		Milford Haven is the fifth largest port in the UK, and set in the heart of the only Coastal National Park in Great Britain. The Old Red Sandstone is one of the most distinctive rocks of South Pembrokeshire, and is widely exposed in the cliffs, especially around the entrance to and along the cliffs of Milford Haven. It is always quite a visually stunning approach to the Haven. As you travel up into the Haven you can see history unfolding with every yard covered. The forts, prisons, strong holds, old jetties etc. Milford's history has been up and down through the ages and a visit to the area has to be on everyone's list.




	Milford Haven Marina We stayed one night in Milford, and only one as they chose to charge us double rates for daring to enter with a catamaran, we have no more beam than some modern powerboats. It is an ugly marina anyway. In usual style, they also berth us on the furthest pontoon from the offices and showers, when I pay extra I expect the best berth. There are not many marinas who do this anymore.


	Bristol Channel

		We picked up another pod of about thirty dolphins on our way across the Bristol Channel towards Padstow. This time though, they seemed to be more mature and larger than the pods we had seen before.

	Padstow 02 Sep 2003 1150z Distance 90 nm Wind SSE 3-4 then calm

	Because of the wind direction I had sailed quite wide and was hoping that near Lundy we would turn and tack into Padstow. Just approaching the turn the wind chose to drop. This meant the final leg would take longer than the previous, even though it was the same distance. To help matters we also picked up a lobster pot, in 178ft of water, mid channel. The line from our port prop to the pot was bar tight, I had to launch the dinghy and saw through the 25mm line and pick up line which had tangled nice and tight around the shaft. On arrival to the River we ran Top Cat up the beach at Daymer Bay. Then stood in waste high water it still took me an hour to remove the bundle of cords wrapped around the propeller.

		I love staying in Padstow, the holiday atmosphere and happy people. The weather for our stay here was glorious, I look forward to our next visit. I will never though attempt to enter the river in the dark, across the entrance you can pretty much hop from lobster pot to lobster pot without getting wet, turn to avoid one and another is further along in front.

	Images from Padstow

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	Dale 05 Sep 2003 0917z. Dale Early Morning.
	We left Padstow the afternoon before. We arrived at Milford Haven at about 0100z and I was not happy about travelling through Ramsey Sound at night so we anchored over night at Dale.
		There is a visitors pontoon set out by Dale sailing club, but we as many of the overnight visitors chose to lay to our own anchor, I do not know if the pontoon is used more mid season. We had to travel back to Milford Marina again for fuel, but just popped in and out while they were running free flow through the dock. We left the River for home about 1600z.

	We had a great sail back to Pwllheli, though it did rain 'A LOT' through the night, we maintained a sailing average a little under 7 knots, arriving the next morning to slip back onto our mooring. I hope you have enjoyed this log, please take time to sign our guest book. END….