An Easter cruise along the North Wales coast
Good Friday morning was a family sail over high tide on the river followed by a meal in Lark Lane and a walk around Sefton Park. On Saturday my son and his girlfriend headed back to the Midlands. I jumped aboard Lillebolero and made ready to start my cruise by topping up the water – only to see the deck filling cap fall overboard! They don’t float. One of my emergency wooden bungs then became a filling cap replacement for the cruise.
I set off out the Rock channel and once clear hoisted my sails which were filled by a southerly force 4 breeze as the boat headed west. An hour later, the wind died, and the engine was on. Half an hour later the wind was from the northwest which allowed me to stop the engine for another hour’s sailing before it disappeared again. I motored into Llandudno Bay and anchored. While the wind was calm the boat continued to wobble with the swell waves. A feature of Llandudno which was noted in one of the pilot books.
On Sunday morning, I motored around Great Orme and a southerly force 4 to 5 blew-up. The sails were set, and I reached west across Conwy Bay only for the wind to totally disappear an hour later; so, the engine was back on. I anchored off Dulas beach and had a shower. There was plenty of hot water with the engine being on for most of the passage. I did intend to dry out on the beach, but a swell started rolling in. Instead, I weighed anchor and motored round to Moelfre to shelter from that evening’s forecast wind. Later, it was up to force 7. I had 40 metres of chain out plus a kedge on a short cable to dampen the yawing. It seemed to do the trick as the anchor did not drag in the wind and spring tide.
Monday was a south-westerly veering round to a westerly wind force 3 to 4 which was perfect for me heading back east. I weighed anchor at 0539 hours and was later anchored off Rhyl, waiting for the tide, at 1057 hours. My first, and only, passage of the cruise all under sail. At lunchtime, I weighed anchor and headed into Rhyl to be met by the friendly duty Harbour Master who took my lines. I secured to the north pontoon just inside the breakwater. As I was only going to be there for only 12 hours the Harbour Master decided not to charge me mooring fees – happy days. I went for a walk along Rhyl’s see front which was busy with holiday makers from the nearby caravan sites. The Sun Centre is still there from my childhood days.
Rhyl is a drying harbour and a few hours after berthing Lillebolero was sitting on the mud. I had been advised to leave my lines slack as the pontoon sits lower than its floating height once the water has gone. I went for another stroll, bought and ate fish and chips, and returned on board for an evening snooze.
At 2300 hours, I was up and around with the boat afloat again and the flood tide rushing in. First job was to turn the boat around on the berth so that she was pointing out to sea. With the fast tide, it was easy enough to release the stern lines and hold on with the bow lines. The tide caught the stern and quickly whipped the boat around 180 degrees, meaning I could just let go and motor straight out. This I did at 2342 hours.
I motored out of Rhyl, along the Welsh Channel, into the Dee, past Mostyn before turning towards West Kirby and Hilbre Island. At 0225 hours, I anchored off Little Hilbre Island and went to bed. When I awoke the boat was sitting on the sand; so, I took the opportunity to walk to Hilbre Island before returning and cooking a fry-up breakfast.
At 1012 hours, the boat was afloat, I weighed anchor and motored back to Liverpool in the calm sea with seals popping up around the boat. By 1241 hours, I was secured to my berth in the marina with another Lillebolero cruise completed.
Alistair Roaf
