Late June 2021–Caernarfon to Milford Haven

23rd June – Wednesday

When we set off on our travels in 2014 we had a horrid trip from Arklow in Ireland to Milford Haven.  Fingers crossed for this one, hopefully we have got better at coping on longer passages.

The forecast was for very little wind, calm sea and a balmy 12C at night.  No one mentioned the fog.

We set off at a reasonable 08.30 to make the 123 miles to Milford Haven.  The weather was cool and overcast all day.  We had jackets on all day.

We had contacted Aberporth Firing range before departure and they picked us up on AIS and told us it was alright to proceed through the firing range as they had finished for the day.  Always good to hear!

The fog arrived at 21.00 and stayed for most of the journey.  Visibility was about half a mile, but reduced to a couple of boat lengths at times.

Mick took the first sleep from 10.00 til 01.00.  During my watch I was shocked by the arrival of a visitor, who first sat on the outboard motor.

He seemed to be quite young and could not be persuaded to leave.  During Mick’s night shift from 01.00 to 05.00 he stayed on the foredeck.  Mick slept again from 05.00 to 6.30.

The seagull repositioned himself at dawn onto the sprayhood and started to poop.  At this point he was again persuaded to move by wafting the boat hook.  We thought that had done the trick until we spotted him, up the mast sat on the Radar Reflector. How so much poop came from a young seagull I have no idea, but it was epic.  Splatted on the deck from a great height for added decoration.  In proper daylight he realised that if he flew from the boat he could float on the water, but seemed to prefer the boat.

We did hear later that there was some kind of magnetic anomaly at this time and racing pigeons had lost their way too.   ‘Bondie Seagull Tours’ parted company with him in unknown territory to him, near Skomer Island bird sanctuary, hopefully he made new friends.

When the fog it heavy, we are required to blow a fog horn.  One long blast every two minutes.  The asthmatic crew (above) proved a bit useless at this.  We have an air horn for big emergencies, but as there was no traffic on the AIS, tooting the horn we bought in France, French Horn, did the trick.  More like a Vuvuzela which Mick made a much better noise with.

I had made a container of sandwiches, but for the first time we cooked readymade Lasagne’s for tea that night.  Very welcome and warming.

I wore my thermal walking trousers, and used the hot water bottle on watch.  We listened to the radio with one earphone plugging into a phone, while the other person slept, to keep us company.  Sadly no stars but you can’t have everything.  No seasickness (we both took pills), no choruses of Jerusalem, light wind, calm sea.  We saw several Dolphins and puffins but they were camera shy.

As we approached Milton Haven via the middle channel, the mist was lifting and we could see the lighthouse on St Ann’s Head.

These huge lights are used for guiding ships into the channel.  The picture belies their size.

You may recall me describing our last entry into port as looking like a 70s disco.  In the daylight we could see why, and where all the lights were this time.

After a large ferry passed us in the channel we approached Milford Haven lock at 12.15.  Passing the huge ships feeding the Gas Holders, more of which later.

The harbourmaster then tried to send us to a very narrow berth B005, after 30 hours we did not need an extra test of manoeuvring skills right at the end.  The harbour was getting full and a kind lady pointed us to a berth next to her.  A friendly Lancashire face in our time of need.

All in all not a bad passage.  Sleep, showers and poop cleaning next.

Picture of Milford Haven lock emptying.  Picture taken the day after arrival.  Massive volumes of water are involved.

It is very deep and takes 10 minutes to fill and empty.

25th June – Friday

Mick completed a 100 hour service on the engine.  I went to restock at Tesco.

For the next few days we orientated, did cleaning jobs on the boat, filled the diesel cans, did the laundry (£2 wash and dry woohoo).

29th June – Tuesday

The marina welcome pack had two free tickets for the town Museum, located on the harbourside.

Open 10 til 4 every day, except Sunday.

Something we hadn’t seen was a petrol powered trolley, used on the docks for hauling fish.

70 women were employed on the dockside making and mending fishing nets, a very repetitive task.

Glad the life jackets have improved.

A full sized sea mine from during the war.  Milford Haven was a target as it was used as a port for Atlantic convoys.  I did not realise they were so big.

Upstairs is the story of the Nantucket Quaker Whalers who came here to live and start the whaling fleet in the 1700s.  This was followed by Fishing as the main employment of the town and then the Gas Companies arrived.

Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is condensed at minus 160C into Liquid Gas.  It reduces to 1/600th of it’s volume when in liquid form.  Just for this terminal the ‘Qatargas’ supply chain has 25 carrier tankers in permanent rotation bringing liquid gas from Qatar to Milford Haven.  5 massive tanks make up the South Hook terminal.  Each is bigger than the Albert Hall and took 15 days to pore the concrete continuously.  The roofs were elevated into place using gas.  This is one of 3 terminals in the UK, two are in Milford Haven.  They supply 20% of the nations gas supplies.  Mind blogging.

The museum is normally £4 to enter and donations are freely given, as it was a great way to pass an hour.

30th June – Wednesday

Hairdressing for us both.  A quiet day in preparation for our second overnight trip of the year to Padstow.

Sailors Info

Milford Haven marina is accessibility at most states of the tide, due to the huge lock.  It is best to be there 4 hours either side of high water.

5 nights for the price of 4.  Facilities were excellent and very clean.  A vanity room with hairdryer and plug sockets was the icing on the cake.  Laundry £2 per wash/dry.

Tesco and it’s associate retail park is a 10 minute walk from the marina.  The High St has a number of shops and an Original Factory Shop.  Lidl is a walk uphill.

There are cafes and restaurants all around the marina, which makes for a good atmosphere.  We tried ‘Foam’ at the end of the marina.  Great food and a conservatory overlooking the Haven.  Also the ‘Harbourmasters’ restaurant.  Both serving modern wholesome food.

Wifi was good.  Electricity Included.  Small but good chandlers.

Ironically, with our current location in Gas central, Calor Gas is in short supply, due to gas BBQs and the extra staycation campers this year.

Next stop Padstow.