Jack and Ramsay; Great Sounds and Fishguard

 Some Wikipedia quotes -

Jack Sound is a treacherous body of water about 80 metres wide between the island of Skomer and the Pembrokeshire mainland that contains numerous reefs and a tidal race of up to 6 knots.  It is used by boats to avoid a three mile detour around the island and has its share of sunken shipwrecks.

Leaving Dale

The Bitches are a tidal race and set of rocks between Ramsay Island and the Welsh coastline near St Davids..

and I have to read this sort of stuff before going to sea through Jack Sound, Ramsay Sound and past The Bitches

However; I woke early while at the pontoon at Dale Anchorage probably as the last couple of days weather had set up a swell in Milford Haven Water and Tzu was snatching at her lines every time a wave came through.  The day started misty and cold but the sun came out as we left the anchorage at 11:30, an hour and half before local low tide.  It is important to get to Jack Sound at either slack low water or just before if going north as the tidal races and confused waters can be dangerous.  We had timed it just about perfectly, maybe a little early, as although we saw plenty of whirlpool effects and standing waves in the main flow of the tide was fairly easy.   Not quite so easy that I dared leave the tiller pilot in charge of maintaining our course though.

I'd earlier been listening to radio two on the internet via BBC Iplayer but the signal had dropped some time before we got to Jack Sound.  It chose to re-appear as I was busy trying to disconnect the tiller pilot to take control of the steering.  The sudden onslaught of an unexpected Claudia Winkelman nearly knocked me out of the boat

Well before I reached Jack Sound I had seen a small Cruise Ship, the MV Sea Spirit, entering the sound.  I had earlier read online that this ship had spent the previous day anchored off Llandudno, my home town

Having carefully navigated through Jack Sound, passing and using for navigation fearsome rocks such as Blackstones, Crabstones and Tusker Rock  we settled in, in the sunshine and on the engine, for the seven mile crossing of Saint Bride's Bay to Ramsay Sound and to pass The Bitches.  I needn't have worried as our timing and the weather conditions made it a very relaxing passage and I was able to leave the tiller pilot in charge while I went to the foredeck to take photographs

The Bitches, on their best behaviour

Leaving Ramsay behind we continued North East past St Davids Head and fifteen miles later Strumble Head with its very visible lighthouse and around into Fishguard Harbour.  We anchored around six o'clock in 6 meters of water quite close in to the very nice harbour at Old Fishguard.  As I write this the sun is setting, it is very quiet and still and there are another five boats now anchored nearby.

Tomorrows objective is Porthmadog but may be weather dependant as in order to get in on a necessary high tide I will be fighting the tide as I start.

Leg: 37.7nm
Trip: 375.1nm


Fishguard Harbour, viewed from anchored Tzu



Sunset at Fishguard


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