Marica goes clockwise

I woke at 5 before the alarm, but dropped off again before I caught the shipping forecast. I eventually was ready to depart around 7, two of the other boats had already departed. Although the wind was light and against in the bay I could see a flag pole on the crest of a hill which showed a slightly stronger more southerly wind that boded well. I headed out of the bay and raised the mainsail. With both sails up the boat was making reasonable progress.
The wind came and went during the day and I was running the outboard a lot. I was slowing it down or stopping it when the oil pressure dropped off, which was quite frequently. I'd tried to start the Evinrude 2 stroke the day before without success. I took it apart and cleaned the spark plugs. That seemed to do the trick, so I now had a backup.
The wind had been promising so I'd been making for Milford Haven. It had dropped off and Tenby would be closer. However, I was keen on MH to get the ferry and for access to chandlers and the comforts of a marina (showers, laundry, electrickery). So I pressed on.
I decided to make a short cut out of the main shipping lane that suited the wind direction better. The chart showed a large discussed explosives dumping ground. I decided to make a dump myself. Coming back on deck I saw a boat approaching me at speed. Coastguard, sports fishing boat or maybe boarder patrol? I had put the Red Duster (Union flag) up earlier to show I was a local.
As they got closer one of the occupants was waving a radio out of the window. I turned on my hand held VHF. They said they had been trying to call me for the last 10 minutes. Was I aware of my position? Certainly. Apparently some live firing was due, and I was heading straight for the area. I'd heard nothing on the radio. They escorted Marica at close proximity around the dumping ground. It was a painfully slow couple of miles.
It had been warm and sunny and I'd had my top off earlier. As the Pembrokeshire coastline got closer, in came the Welsh rain.
A very slow and wet approach into MH, 1 knot across the ground at times.
Coming into the harbour the first starboard mark is called Sheep - welcome to Wales! The harbour is huge. I called up the closest marina, although it is some distance from the ferry terminal. I'd just put the mainsail away when the Honka stopped. I was very close to a large moored ship and drifting towards it. I got the Genoa out to try and get some steerage. I'd forgotten to top the fuel tank up for the outboard. I quickly got out one of my many petrol cans and a funnel. I started the Honka with a small gap between Marica and the tall steel sides of the tanker.
I parked on a pontoon to wait for the lock to be opened for free flow. I spoke to a couple of other yachtsmen also waiting. One was a single handed man also travelling round GB. He was going the wrong way and had started back in March. I was the first person he had met also attempting a circumnavigation.
Coming into the berth there was no room to turn with the outboard (it does not really do reverse). I made a mess of trying to turn and slow at the same time and hit the rudder of a Konsort. No real damage but I've left my details with the Marina to pass on. A Konsort of the same name, Cygnus, belonged to a couple in Mill Ruth, near Emsworth in 2011, according to my old yearbook.
Today's photo is of Marica's escort boat.