It’s a first for Visa-gb! Way back in those pre covid days we agreed that we should run sailing trips across the UK. In 2021 our long delayed trip in Scotland took place and now in 2022 our first trip in Wales was upon us and what a trip it was!
We chartered three yachts from Pembrokeshire Cruising who are based at Neyland Marina, Milford Haven. By the way if you ever need a yacht do give Nikki or Roland a call they are great people to deal with.
So with three yachts booked all we needed were the good folk to sail them, and they came in fact we could have filled another boat!. The prize for the longest journey, and the best homemade, cakes goes to Elsie Wilcox who travelled all the way from Hastings, a tale of trains and missed connections!
So we had sailors and volunteers, arriving from different locations, trains to be met, journeys to be shared, we had a huge pile of provisions thanks to Pete & Jenny, you’ll need a bigger car. Our plucky travellers all converged at Neyland marina on Friday evening and became the expectant crew. Seventeen arrived and seventeen left a week later happy and completely bought in to the Visa-gb ethos of empowerment.
Picture shows the group at the end of the trip, gathered together on the quayside with Vijay and Anita holding the Visa-gb banner with everyone squeezed in behind.
On the first night we walked to the local Yacht club for supper, then back to the boats for an early night ready for the adventure to begin!
As we lay in our bunks early that Saturday all you could hear (apart from the snoring) was the wind howling through the rigging – and boy was it blowing. What a start, especially for our first time sailors! Did it stop us sailing – no it didn’t. The brave crews on boat Kalel, skippered by Rosie, and Wave Function, skippered by Simon were first out the blocks whilst the crew on yacht Otter, skippered by Tim, were, if you put it politely, cautious, leaving a little later. Kalel and Wave Function powered away towards the wind, reefs in, lee deck underwater, crockery sliding, crew working their socks off while Otter slipped up river under a handkerchief size jib and picked up a mooring buoy for tea and cake. What an opener! A great first experience and, for one boat, a great afternoon tea, we all returned safely to the marina and the evening cocktail party was held in the refined surroundings of the cockpit on Yacht Otter.
Picture shows all crew enjoying a drink onboard Otter at the end of day one.
Party in the Cockpit
It was still windy on Sunday morning but once again, Kalel and Wave Function got going early so they could get out of the marina before low tide. Otter, once again, took the relaxed approach as they were still deep into their breakfast when the others slipped their lines, they ended up going for a walk and did some shopping. Come on Otter – pull your socks up! And they did, ending up with a good session of tacking practice and getting ready for a more active day on Monday.
Monday morning came and everyone, including those people on Otter, were up early and away. Plenty of wind, reefs in but a cracking sail towards the entrance of Milford Haven.
Here’s a short film of Wave Function sailing close hauled, the film shows the crew of Wave Function taking pictures of Otter while Otter are filming Wave Function, work that one out! The Film shows Wave Function on starboard tack, the water is a greeny grey and in the background there is the green river bank, large white puffy clouds and patches of blue sky above.
We anchored in Dale Bay which is inside the entrance of Milford Haven. Dinghies were pumped up, outboards attached, and all crews got ashore for an ice cream or something stronger. A special note about swimming, Anita a first time sailor on Otter, along with crewmates Jenny and Adele swam, yes folks, I repeat swam, all the way back to the boats – a 1 mile swim in water cold enough to freeze the proverbial brass monkeys! Fantastic, well done, and no we won’t be joining you!
Tuesday, the weather was good and, much to the horror of one boat, no names mentioned, the decision from Rosie our fleet skipper was an early start to make our way to Barafundle Bay. Not unreasonably we had to avoid the live firing range so a five mile detour further out to sea to avoid direct hits from the large guns ashore! As the wind died away the water became glassy and the temperature rose, dolphin’s played alongside a couple of the boats and a grey seal lay back relaxing and watched us as we ghosted by.
Arriving in Barafundle Bay we could have been in the Caribbean, the water was clear, the sand was golden and the sun was shining. Dinghies loaded we slipped ashore to enjoy the sand between our toes and a dip in the briny – what a perfect evening. Picture shows crew grouped on the golden sand, the clear blue sea behind, the yachts laying at anchored in the bay and the blue sky above.
On Wednesday we had to start even earlier! But it was worth it because we made our way to the island of Skomer, a bird haven of world renown. Anchoring in a cove surrounded by high cliffs which were covered with nesting sea birds, Puffins, Razor Bills, Guillemots and more. The noise of birds calling rang out and echoed off the cliffs, they swooped, dived, and, as the plunged into the water, became amazing swimmers flying underwater. The cloud of birds in the sky was an awe inspiring sight for all. Mind you it was a good job we were wearing hats as all those birds flying overhead left their mark! Note: BBC country file did a recent feature on Skomer in their Spring Watch series, you’ll find it on iPlayer, better than any pictures I have.
We then set off back to Dale Bay for a night moored alongside the pontoon in the middle of the Bay. Dinghies out and off to the Dale yacht club for a couple of shandy’s and much chat on an amazing day. We were sent to sleep with the sound of Nathalie’s flute lulling us into dreams of the open seas and the thoughts of new adventures ahead.
The film below is of Nathalie playing her flute, she’s sitting in the cockpit of yacht Kalel, it’s a lovely still evening, the late evening sun is on her face, Martin is in the background, and the sound of the flute floated across the bay.
Thursday was our final day’s sailing – how quickly a group of strangers become a well drilled crew. We had some great sailing that day, everyone confident in how to tack and gybe the boats. Manoeuvres that seemed impossible just a few days earlier had become simple, steering a 12 ton boat, being driven by a steady wind, was now the easiest and most natural thing in the world.
And then it was back to Neyland, our last supper, a few drinks, lots of stories, the laughter of new friends enjoying themselves ringing around the marina.
But I think the last word should go to first time sailor Martin, he won’t mind me saying that when we met on day one he told me he was way outside his comfort zone, nervous and very apprehensive before the trip, should he be doing it? This is his what he said on the last day in his interview with first time sailor, and hardened swimmer, Anita.
So here’s to our next trip with our new friends in Wales, it was a huge pleasure to sail off your beautiful Pembrokeshire Coast. We must also thank our anonymous Cardiff based sponsor as without your sponsorship none of this would have happened.
And yes folks, funds willing, we really do want to do it all again next year – Empower – Encourage – Enjoy
The end
