Escape from Pwllheli

Finally got on my way again and shot out of Pwllheli Marina into heavy sea and strong wind. Sailed for 3hrs in the knowledge that, if my plan didn't work, Id have to sail all the way back because there is no where else to go on this coastline. The wind blows towards this south facing shore so anchoring is too risky. There are 2 ways to get through Bardsey Sound ( the dodgy bit I need to get around). You either go at Low Water or High Water because, in both cases, the entire Irish Sea, pauses for 15 minutes before shooting north or south, through this narrow gap, with great gusto ( a lot faster than my boat can go). The basic idea is that, during this 'golden 15 mins' the sea is not like Victoria Falls. If going north, which I am, you go at Low Water then, once through 'the gap' the tide pushes you on your merry way. Because I didn't want to do this manoeuvre at night (like I would) my cunning plan meant trying my luck at High Water. Timing is everything because I could have got pushed back. I got through by the skin of my teeth, all sails up and engine about to explode. Now Im anchored in a one pub bay, hopeful of reaching the outpost of Holyhead by tomorrow afternoon.

 

  

Got here at 4pm and had a little nap before rowing ashore to see what 'people' look and sound like. It's important that I am mindful of my eventual rehabilitation back into the Guildford community. It's  also important that I practice speaking in preparation for my sons eventual arrival if / when I get to Scotland. Actually, scrub that. He'll probably feel more at ease if, in fact, I do just grunt ( joke, mate ! ). Actually, during my row ashore, my old mate Keith rang. Despite his Liverpool origins the call gave me some basic speaking practice.  It was also.however, a slightly sad reminder that 'Thursday night is pub night' and Im not at The Kings Head. Oh we'll, can't do everything. To keep the tradition going, Keith, I've found a pub !  Its on the beach and there's bloody sand everywhere. Can't stand the stuff. Has interesting name but suspect, in English, it's called The Sheep Shearer's Arms. Hope that's not racist. 

Hopefully, tomorrows edition of Stone Around the UK will be presented from Holyhead, the gateway to The Isle of Man and beyond. Here's a link of the start of today's dodgy bit. Be assured that it got A LOT worse but, having already drowned an iPhone, I'm wary of filming when the water comes over. https://www.dropbox.com/s/sloi7tgvoh7067e/Video%2026-07-2013%2013%2002%2025.mov