Eddie and Me were Poled out and off to Aberystwyth. As we set off the wind sat on our stern and was forecast to follow us for the remainder of the day as it tracked from NNE to NNW. Making our way to the causeway buoy with our Genoa doing all the work we made a steady 5 knots keeping us on course and on time for an evening arrival, being a strange port so we counted on some daylight which later happened to be essential.

Rounding the causeway we altered our course for Aberystwyth and decided on getting to grips with poling out the Genoa (as per the picture) and placing a preventer on the main to hold it in place. After some lunch and a glass of wine we proceeded with our task which turned out to be more Laurel and Hardy than controlled technical execution, but hey you live and learn. With the main sail down we set about working on connecting the various ropes needed to hold the pole and connect it to both mast and sail. After a number of attempts we got it just right and sat back in the cockpit to raise the main and enjoy the rest of the trip, patting ourselves on the back more than once for our achievement. However we quickly found out that the boat has other plans, we really had no chance of raising the main set on our present course and could not change direction with our contraception intact. And so we set about dismantling the pole and packing things away, heading into the wind to raise the main, pulling up the sail, to poll the Jib out again!!! 15th time lucky and she's doing near to six knots over the ground and with the auto helm on fantastic!

Then just as we thought we could relax and before we set about our last minute navigation attempts the sail tore... it's never a dull moment this sailing malarkey! After a little jiggery pokery with the sail and a minor wrong turn at the fuel berth with some interesting attempts at coming along side thrown in which culminated in me jumping to the pontoon and quickly pulling her alongside we were on dry land. After making our pretty decent entrance in size rather than quality we chatted to our neighbours and obtained the material necessary to repair the Mainsail.

Repairs complete it was out for dinner and the delights of Aberystwyth... as usual after too much wine it was 06.10 and time much to my disgust to leave, I was roused to the chant that we are going to see the sunrise, viewing the thick clouds from by bunk I was nothing more than disgusted and nursing my head set about making way. Was it me, the booze or the time that constituted the poor exit from the birth but she just wouldn't reverse so after pulling into another birth we started again and left without hitch for home.

After a good trip home and with the wind on the bow we arrived early, very early and all maybe due to the 6.10 start! As a result it was low water but with dolphins by our side I called the harbour master and decided to risk it! On entering the channel Rebels sister ship emerged telling us that it was tight but OK so we pulled alongside with little room under the keel!

After a quick stop in port to pick up our new guests we set of to Hells Mouth for lunch and to wait for the tides to be in our favour. We had planned a weekend trip up the coast but on arrival at Hells Mouth we spotted what we thought was a dolphin, this quickly transpired to be a seal! A very acrobatic seal with no fear of the boat approaching as she clearly had other interests. As we got closer she appeared to have something in her mouth which happened to be a large ray. As we slowly crept closer she lost grasp of the ray and it fell towards the seabed, quickly swimming down at some speed she grasped the slick ray by the fin, appearing once again with her prize, then with some skill and precision removed its backbone in one tooth filled motion settling for lunch with us joining her alongside, the start of a wonderful afternoon of sunshine and wine.

Part Two - Friday & Saturday

Charlotte and Rob arrived for the night and after a night at the local Indian restaurant we got a good night sleep before showing them the ropes and getting out on the water. Laura arrived later with some provisions and a smile. The day started well and after explaining the basics we headed of to a small anchorage for lunch and to rendezvous with some friends. The sun was shinning yet again, summer in April! There were always going to be winners and losers in the global warming debate but we enjoyed the unusual weather and with our friends moored alongside took turns on there new jet ski scaring ourselves in the quest for speed.