On 12 April, the Welsh lockdown rules were amended to allow travel in from England. LILLEBOLERO had been stuck in Milford Haven since December 2020 when a lockdown commenced a week after arriving. Fortunately, I had set the de-humidifier before leaving the boat.
On Saturday 17 April, my father dropped me off at Wrexham station for a near seven-hour train journey to Milford Haven. I arrived in the late afternoon, did a quick shop for provisions, and then motored round to the fuel berth to stem diesel and a new gas bottle. At 1744 hours, I locked out of Milford Haven and made the five-mile passage to Dale Bay where I secured to the offshore pontoon. It was constantly moving which meant the fenders were not quiet.
At 0508 hours, 18 April, I slipped from the pontoon and rounded the Pembroke peninsula, passing through the Jack and Ramsey Sounds, passing the ‘The Bitches’ at 0754 hours before anchoring at Fishguard at 1104 hours. It was all engine as the wind was light. I spent the afternoon working and chilling while watching stand-up paddleboarders, amateur fishermen on the rocks and boats, including a man cruising his sailing dinghy around the harbour.
Monday was another early start to catch the tide with the anchor aweigh at 0430 hours. The wind was again light; so, it was a near eight-hour passage motoring on a calm sea. I arrived in Aberystwyth at lunchtime. In the afternoon sun, I was feeling enthused so I walked up the two hills overlooking the town giving great views. With such a busy day and being in a university town, I felt justified in having one of my old student meals: a Fray Bentos pie with potatoes and mushrooms. The pie alone is 1,000 calories!
I departed my berth at Aberystwyth at 1055 hours and headed for Aberdaron Bay. Again, there was no wind which meant more motoring. I anchored in the Bay at 1637 hours.
At 1021 hours, on the Wednesday, I weighed anchor and motored through Bardsey Sound before setting my sails for the first time of this trip and had a lovely along the northern Llyn Peninsula. As I approached Caernafon Bar the wind died and the engine was on again. I passed the bar at 1522 hours, commencing my Menai Straits passage, the castle was passed at 1605 hours, the suspension bridge at 1710 hours, and Beaumaris at 1751 hours. At 1815 hours, after passing buoy ‘B6’ I turned to starboard and crossed Conwy Bay’s Lavan Sands and into the Penmaen Swatch before heading to Conwy marina where I secured at 2010 hours. It was a busy and enjoyable passage, especially as it had been probably over 25 years since I had last passed through the Menai Straits.
Subsequently, the boat was a month in Conwy waiting for the Liverpool Marina lock gates to be repaired; fortunately, it is a great marina.
Words and Pictures by Alistair Roaf
