Night Sail to Anglesey

Our first night sail.

July  2011

The forecast was for very little wind and a calm sunny weekend so we thought it was the ideal opportunity for our first night sail on Nomad. We left the marina at 11.30pm while the horizon was still glowing a deep orange and  there was still enough light to see the Beacons and the Perch in silhouette. Once in the channel and  looking back towards the coastal street lights, it was truly night time with some of the unlit channel buoys only visible by torch light.

It was a stress-free trip along the channel as we now know it so well and once we reached the Fairway, we took shifts for an hour each on route  to Lynas Point. I took the first shift from 12.30 Saturday morning. Strangely, there was still a faint glow along a short stretch of the horizon. In fact, it never did go completely dark all night. There was always a sense that the sun had  just ‘dipped’ out of sight and would soon be back.

On route to Puffin, the lighthouse at Trwyn Du and the buoys along the North Passage were clearly visible, blinking their coded lights in the darkness. Lynas lighthouse was outstandingly bright, so much so that it was hard to believe it was so far away. By the end of Graham’s shift at 2.30am  it was already getting lighter as the orange glow on the horizon intensified and, by the time we arrived at Porth Wen at around 4am, it was clearly daylight. We anchored quietly so as not to wake crews on the other boats in the bay and got to bed before seeing the sunrise.

Waking up in Porth Wen is always a delight but especially this beautifully sunny morning. Somewhat  jaded, we spent the morning sunbathing and fixing our new sail bag which we collected yesterday. On the next tide we left for the tidal gate at South Stack and then beyond to Llanddwyn Island.

 

Waking up in Porth Wen, Anglesey as these yachts left on the outgoing tide.

To anchor overnight at Llanddwyn, conditions need to be perfect. Consequently, this was  the first time since having Nomad that we had  been able to visit. The bay was already busy when we arrived at 7pm with motor boats and yachts alike. We took a BBQ ashore and enjoyed the evening cooking and watching another crimson sunset.

The following morning was glorious. With the spray hood up to keep out the breeze and the blazing sunshine beaming down on us, it was like being in the Mediterranean. No better! They don’t get these views. It was simply stunning; majestic mountains in the background, Newborough’s white shifting sands in the foreground and the peacefulness of Pilot’s Cove. Most of the overnight vessels left to cross the bar mid morning and we enjoyed another quiet morning sunbathing and  relaxing. We really couldn’t believe our luck with the weather.

 

 

 

Day trippers began to arrive on foot and by sea. Throughout the day there were at least 30 boats coming and going, from luxurious motor yachts to sailing boats and ribs, all enjoying the marvellous weather. We went ashore to admire the landscape at close quarters, and  to get away from  some of the hustle and  bustle on the water.

 It has been a while since I was last on  Llanddwyn. Previously I was on foot. The pilot’s cottages are now a museum and the paths are laid out with cockle shells which crunch under foot. I loved the newly carved gates with their patterned  posts and hand made hinges. Wild flowers were blossoming everywhere with many butterflies and ladybirds flying among them. We stumbled across a nest containing two speckled eggs, simply lying among the driftwood and  seaweed-covered  sea wall. I think they belonged to an Oyster Catcher we saw the previous evening scurrying about and squawking in the area.

After a delightful day spent at Llanddwyn we crossed the bar at 8.30pm that evening. Once again the sunset was dramatic, leaving the old lighthouse and rocky outcrops in stark silhouette. I felt privileged to see it.

 

Monday was spent getting back to Conwy via the Swellies and the Swatch, returning to the marina by 5pm  that evening. This weekend was just marvellous, incorporating such wonderfully warm and sunny weather with the most fantastic views that can be found anywhere in the Uk and beyond. The only thing it lacked was wind! Next time!!