Well, ever since I had a boat, Lundy was a place I wanted to visit - a close island that has enough about it that you feel like you're sailing to another country :-) and it really was worth it. So what did we do... We set off about 1 hour before high tide at Cardiff and headed directly for Combe Martin, not much wind I am sorry to say so a lot of the way we had to motor, but no stress / worries, a pretty easy trip with calm seas pretty much the whole way.
The trip was done by myself and two good friends, Tig and Captain Dan - I try and not go to new places without somebody on board who knows more than me - and as Captain Dan has been sailing for many, many years and who is currently second in charge on a large cargo ship - we were in very good hands. When we arrived at Combe Martin - a quick trip to the shore on the tender for a pint and some fish and chips :-) Followed by a slightly swaying night - but still peaceful enough to sleep.
0730 Saturday 15th May 2021 we left Combe Martin for Lundy Island.
The sea was best described as medium-rough - however Dione took most of it in her stride - we didn't feel unsafe or uncomfortable at all. (Head over to the video section and watch the playful visit we had half way across from two porpoise - absolutely brilliant made my day!)
Lundy was beautiful - with a vast array of wildlife and history to the island - very much worth a visit and a must to go into the church and read all about the history of the island - very, very good.
Some pictures....
What did I learn about this trip......
Firstly make sure you plan your times and pick your weather - but that said and done - just have the courage to go - there wasn't any point of the trip that we felt worried or in stress - although we did meet a fellow yacht leaving Combe Martin who was also heading for Lundy but who didn't make it - we feel that maybe the sea was slightly too rough for a smaller boat.
MAKE SURE you know which direction the wind is blowing - and choose your anchorage and side of the island in advance - where we dropped anchor it was perfect, mostly like a mill pond, however a walk across the top and to look down on the other side of the island was a different picture - it was like a white water rafting experience - the whole breadth of the coast! If we had tried to anchor on that side we would have been in some serious trouble - clear to see why so many wrecks have ended up around the island. Even though the wind was predicted to be mostly calm it became very windy as the wind whistled down off the island and bounced over our boat - it was slightly nerve racking as I lay awake most of the night with a very firm eye on the anchor alarm.
Anyway - will I go back - absolutely - should you go - absolutely! I try and keep these blogs as short and informative as I can - and hence I won't go into detail and bore you to death - but if you ever want to ask or know more about my little trips just use the contact options and get in touch - would be fantastic to hear from you :-) For now and until the next time... Over and Out!
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