The force 7 winds and strong tides at Lawrenny had abated to some extent by Saturday and, in bright sunshine, we set the main and jib for a sail down the Cleddeau River to the entrance to Milford Haven.
The wind was in the SW around F4 and forecast to persist for 48 hours before turning westerly and near gale by Wednesday. There was considerable swell in Dale Bay, so, despite the brilliant sunshine, the decision was taken to carry on back across the Bristol; Channel while we could.
Dodging various ships and ferries we returned through the east entrance passing the spectacular cliffs and pointed towards Lands End.
We soon discovered that this was going to be considerably harder than coming the other way. The combination of west and southwest swells and close hauled into the south west wind, was taking us nowhere near Lands End. In order to make progress the engine was used to enable us to sail about 30 degrees under reefed mainsail alone and punch through the messy waves. Being constantly stopped by the waves, meant we were hand steering on a, mainly, one hour rotation for the first 36 hours.
By sunset the clouds over Lundy were visible and the Island's lights remained visible on the port bow until well after dawn, by which time Hartland point was also visible. Padstow was considered as a rest stop, but lack of a pilot book, unlikely coordination of tides and the risk of being unable to leave when the wind increased from the NW, put us off.
Many schools of dolphins approached us, possibly because there were no other vessels around. The sandwiches and meals prepared in advance, were supplemented by many cups of tea and even tinned soup to supplement the packets! It took the whole day to slowly creep towards Cornwall, making our closest approach at St. Ives, at dusk, fortuitously coinciding with the west and south tidal stream.
By midnight we were still motor sailing as close as possible to the wind, squeezing between a remarkably full shipping lane and the Longships. While the expected lights from the chart were all found there were many smaller lit marks which confused us. However as we bore away for the Runnel Stone, with the wind on our quarter, the engine was stopped for a well earned rest and we gently sailed, staysail poled out and with "Raymond" the auto helm in charge, across Mount's Bay. We arrived at the Lizard after dawn, gybed around and close reached in a strengthening westerly and heavy rain showers, back to our mooring.
Not our pleasantest passage but reassuring that we can survive more than 24 hours at sea. It does confirm , however, "that gentlemen shouldn't sail to windward"!
The next day, sparkling sunshine and near infinite visibility enabled a rapid sail to Falmouth for 72 l of diesel, water and provisions, in the realisation that we now had time to make a late entry to the Brixham Heritage Regatta, after Wednesday's strong winds and rain pass!
