Banjo Reefed down on Cardiff Bay

A friend took these while I was out on Cardiff Bay practicing reefing down, wind was fresh but not as strong as the sail area would suggest.Allways nice to get pictures of the boat especially with sails set.

Banjo is ours again :-)

After selling Banjo a couple of years back we have been sailing a little Voyager 14 trailer sailer. We had some fun but missed the Banjos comfortable cabin and ability to handle rough water.When the interim owner put her up for sale we decided to buy her back.

Gareth had made a few changes,the hull is painted blue which I think looks good and he has removed the large table and fitted a settee berth in its place which at first I planned to put back as before but now I quite like the new arrangement.

She was in Milford Haven Marina so with winter fast approaching I needed to fetch her the 90 or so miles back to Cardiff. I travelled down on the train a few tiomes to be thwarted first by strong winds then by fog.Finally the forecast was for fresh NW wind reducing to lightwinds and perfect visibility.

I arrived down in Milford in the afternoon to find the wind was still strong and gusty, stronger than forecast.Set off from Mil;ford to motor down to Dale which is still inside the Estuary but 5 miles closer to the entrance. With the wind howling I planned to moor on the floating pontoon there and potter about the boat then return to Milford the following day to go home by train.Cooked up an all in stew out of tinned meat and vegetables had a coffee then sat in the companionway watching a sailing school yacht with triple reefed main and tiny jib enjoying the strong wind and flat sea in the bay.

About 1800 I noticed the wind had dropped to very little, A quick re chexck of tide tables etc said it could still be on for the passage home, I gave it another 45 minutes and with the wind still much lighter I let go the pontoon just as it was getting dark, had to steer around the stern of a tanker coming in then set a course to round Linney head with just the genoa partly rolled out and no mainsail.

Off the headland the wind freshened again and Banjo surfed around the headland at full speed, my only reservation was that it would be difficult to get back against the wind and tide now should anything go wrong.

The wind gradually eased and I ended up under full sail then wind got really light after dawn so motored the last few hours arriving off Cardiff Sea locks at 1000 am.Really pleased with that(read delighted :-) ), Having more favourable tide than tide against me this works out to about an average of about 5 knots through the water.The very fast progress in the first few hours really helped.

Banjo is now back on her mooring in Cardiff Bay, we have sailed her a few times in the local area and will be looking forward to some cruises away in the New Year.

We have Sold Banjo

After a lot of thought we have sold banjo and wish her new owner as much fun as we had aboard her.

We plan to buy a smaller dropkeel boat that we can tow behind the car to visit places we would never have had time to reach aboard Banjo.

Completed the 100 mile Ride

I completed the ride.Had to detour due to A road closure on the Gwent Levels. Basic route was from Cardiff to Newport via the copast road Newport to Chepstow should have been via the Gwent Levels but had to backtrack to the main road due to a road closure. Over the Severn Bridge and along Severn Beach Towards Avonmouth. Had lunch looking out across the Estuary then rode back. 100.3 mIles at an average speed of 12.8mph which I was pleased with.

Many thanks to those who donated to Cancer Research.

Cancer Research.

Hi people.
I have lost a few sailing friends to cancer in recent years so will be doing a sponsored 100 mile cycle ride from Cardiff to Avonmouth and back via the old Severn Bridge.

If you would like to donate to Cancer Research please go to the "just giving "site here http://www.justgiving.com/Graham-Hodges/

Cancer affects most of us at some time .Cheers Graham

A few days in Swansea Marina

We had a few days in Swansea this week. Took about 9 hours to tack down against a fresh WNWly and less than 6 to come back with the wind astern,sunshine both ways :-)

Banjo Milford Haven Cruise

Set off from Cardiff in light winds for a trip westward with Lundy island and Padstow in mind.

A forecast of Strong NE winds made Milford Haven seem a better bet so after a night at anchor in blue Anchor Roads Somerset I set off early to sail back across to the Welsh side generally aiming for Swansea.

Had a good sail across and anchored in Oxwich Bay for a few hours before catching the next tide down to Milford Haven.Wind died so had to motor much of it .Sited several pods of dolphins and a few seals.No Basking sharks or Sunfish this time though.Arrived in the Haven about 2300 and anchored in Sandy Haven Bay for a well earned sleep.

Spent a few days wandering around the Haven anchoring in different Bays and spent a night in Milford Marina before setting off back heading for Swansea.The first few hours the wind blew hard and kicked up some uncomfortable seas off the headlands but then it moderated and the sun came out so had a great sail up to Swansea Marina.

Next day had a sail on Swansea Bay then returned to the marina to wait a more favourable wind direction for the next leg to Burnham on Sea where there is a small yacht club with friendly members.They have moorings and pontoons in the river Brue.

Finally set sail for Cardiff in a fresh Westerly for a fast sail back across the channel.

Banjo performed well in a variety of conditions from large seas and 30 mph gusts to light airs and flat calms.She also proved to be comfortable to live aboard for the 10 days.

Bristol Channel Cruising

Have recently visited the River Axe,home of Weston Bay Yacht Club. Spent the night perfectly level in the very soft mud at the Uphill Pontoons.

Also we sailed up to the Severn Bridges then spent a night at Portishead Marina.

Light Airs

It was a fluky sort of day. A friend of ours sailed all the way back from Porlock with a decent breeze. We managed to sail up to the Rumney River and back but all around where big areas of calm water with yachts becalmed or using their engines.

Sailing and Cycling

Another advantage of the large hatch on the C25 is you can get a full size bycycle below with no dismantling.

Had a short sail on the Bay followed by a Cycle up the Taff Trail to Castell Coch (Red Castle in English)and back. If sailing any distance it would go in the forepeak with wheels removed. Got a few funny looks sailing back across with it stood on deck and the boat going like a train in 25 knots of wind with just the genoa.

Total sail about 2 miles total cycling about 18.

Pictures from a daysail.

The weather is still very changeable but now and then a dry day with a good sailing breeze coincides with a day off work. This was one of them.

The other boat is a "Ishtar" a Cobra 850 finkeeler which belongs to Martin and Louise from Cardiff Yacht Club.