12 May 2019 – Mumbles to Ilfracombe

In the shadow of the Swansea Lifeboat station (very handy) we spent a very  good night at anchor. The wind from the north is diverted by the hills and the tide is high but offshore so you are rarely on a dreaded ‘Lee Shore’.

The anchor alarm did no off several times but it was just us swaying within the scope of the anchor chain.  The tidal range of the Bristol channel is quite large so lots fo chain is advised.

After a long day yesterday, in some relatively heavy seas and strong winds, the morning brought us light airs and calm water.

Breakfast was followed by some boat repairs. The Log is now working with the wind instruments are still unserviceable.

Engine checks revealed a fuel line value that had moved slightly but now fully open the engine runs perfectly. Its still noisy and I have concerns about the vibration in the shaft, but it was aligned by the Yard so I have assumed it is ok and monitor it over the next few days.

The Yard advised the use of a stopper bolt to hold the mainsail guides in the track rather than replacing the plate covering the gap where the runners are inserted. This failed fairly early in the previous day’s sailing and so I have tapped a small piece of wood in the track to keep the mailsail running in place. This is important when I am reefing as I don’t want to constantly re-thread the mainsail just to raise and lower the sail a little.

My plan is to look for a replacement plate as per the original on the Kemp Mast and as a temporary fix, I will drill the drill and fit a split pin across the bottom of the track to stop the track guides dropping out.

Flat seas made the perfect playground for Man Overboard Drills. Some with sails up but mostly with the engine running and the main to act as a break and wind vane.

A short and really pleasant sail from the Mumbles down to Ilfracombe.  The wind had moved from Northerly to South Easterly and so Ilfracombe offered great shelter for another night ‘on the pick’.

 

The entry to Ilfracombe is very clear from a distance and with significant tide from the East, we were being assisted on close reach from Wales.

 

The headwork is 

The anchorage itself is just outside the main harbour. I tucked in as close as I dared to avoid both the wind from the SE and the influence of the tide.

It was a beautiful little anchorage and a little underling to see the yachts in the outer harbour come to rest and then reveal more of their hulls until they where dry…The benefit of a bilge keel!

Anchor alarm on but no need for anchor watch as the tide times meant we had a good look across the full range and saw no problems.

The plan was for an early start the next day and a push towards Padstow. The pilot guides suggested an anchorage in the lee of ‘The Mouls’ so that was Plan A.

Ilfracombe at dusk