Day 3: Things that go bump in the night: Greenfield to Porthdinllaen

I woke up with a jolt at 3am with a fleeting sensation of buoyancy followed by a juddering bump.  We had planned to rise at 4am, but the tide had already reclaimed the acres of sands on which we had been marooned.  

So with only 3 hours of fitful sleep, we were soon retracing yesterday's passage through the line of buoys out into Liverpool Bay; the first light of dawn casting a crimson wash beyond the Wirral.

Graig Fawr, the isolated Trust-owned limestone crag above Prestatyn, glowed in the early sun as we followed a course back past the Great Orme, with Parc farm, our most recent Neptune Coastline Campaign funded acquisition. 

Llandudno and the Great Orme, with Parc Farm at it's summit

It was then on to Point Lynas, Anglesey's north-east extremity and around the mostly-unspoilt and wild north coast, including a good view of Dinas Gynfor, the Trust's second Welsh property, donated in 1913.

Borth Wen brikworks & Dinas Gynfor

In an attempt to catch up with ourselves after our unplanned stop on the Dee, we motored on in an attempt steal a march over the contrary tide race around Trwyn Carmel, before its force increased beyond the capability of all but the most powerful boats.  

We only just made it, spending about an hour crawling forward at full revs at the rate of about half a knot per hour until we escaped the tide's clutches into the calmer waters of Porth Swtan, where a film crew from S4C Newyddion 9 were waiting for us.

Bryn Jones, Ynys Môn Ranger

Bryn Jones, the Trust's Ynys Môn Ranger for the last 25 years, joined us for the next section, through the shipping lanes around Holyhead, around the spectacular seacliffs of South Stack and onwards to the heavenly hidden sandy cove of Porth Dafarch. 

South Stack

Porth Dafarch - where we dropped off Bryn

With the evening sun lighting the Caernarfonshire hills we cut straight across Caernarfon Bay to Porthdinllaen, arriving at 10pm in a stiff breeze, all three of us too tired to take the dinghy the short distance to the front door of the Ty Coch Inn.

Gavin at the helm of Capercaille heading for Porthdinllaen

Go to Day 4

Day 2: Tide, time and dolphins - Trident safely delivered

The wind rose in the night and led to an uncomfortable anchorage alongside Ynys Seiriol.  I heroically delivered a live radio interview at 6:55am whilst trying to settle my stomach.  After a quick breakfast - which I'm pleased to say wasn't 'donated to Neptune' - we set sails and headed off in a brisk force 4-5, averaging 5.5 knots

The highlight of the trip so far awaited us as we rounded the Great Orme.  We were spotted by a pod of about a dozen bottlenose dolphins, who approached us to ride our bow wave, and performed spectacularly, leaping out of the water and crisscrossing the bows.

Five hours later we were standing on Greenfield dock slipway for photos and radio interviews: Bob proudly brandishing the trident; John casting anxious glances at the tide.  We'd already had to take some rapid decisions as we negotiated the shallow waters of the Dee estuary - including seeking the advice Mostyn Dock harbourmaster by phone -  which resulted in the change of landfall from Flint to the less risky Greenfield.  

John, Bob and Richard, at Greenfield.  Capercaille with Gaven on board in the distance

We knew we had minutes to spare before we missed the tide.  As soon as we were back onboard we weighed anchor and headed off only to ground on a sandbank half a mile down the estuary, by the more famous beached vessel, the rusting Duke of Lancaster at Aberkan.

  Ah well, time and tide wait for no man, not even the National Trust.  Log in tomorrow to see how we get on.

Nice place to park.  Waiting for the 4am tide.

Go to Day 3

Day 1: Castle, pier and hidden gem: Bangor to Ynys Seiriol

I'm writing this to the sound of thousands of seabirds calling from the nearby cliffs of Ynys Seiriol (Puffin Island), and every now and then the doleful moans of the seals drift over from the rocks.

We've anchored in the lee of the island and whilst Bob and Gavin chat up topside, John is cooking supper and I've a few minutes to reflect on the day.

After family farewells and a hectic hour ferrying provisions to Capercaille, we cast off from the mooring, unfurled the Genoa to 'cut a fine jib' for Richard the cameraman, who was positioned at the end of the pier.

John Whitley (Skipper), me, Bob Smith and Gavin Foulks

As soon as we were under sail, John cut the engine and we picked up speed, heading for our first sail-past property, Penrhyn Castle. Excited conversation lulled and stopped, leaving just the satisfying slap of waves and flap of canvas.  After a while, a smile spread across John's face and he muttered, "I can't believe that we've actually started."  It's been a busy few weeks for us all.

Heading onto Capercaille with the last of the provisions

Gavin waves as we motor past Bangor pier

But we'd only gone about half a mile when we suddenly lurched to a halt.  Our course to get a view of the castle was taking us over the sandbanks of Traeth Lafan and we realised that with barely a mile behind us, we'd actually run aground.  John reassured us that we'd just 'kissed the sand' and that we were on a rising tide.  Sure enough, a few minutes later we were buoyant again and phoning Sarah at Penrhyn Castle to get a photo of us.

Sails Around Wales yacht hoves into view, with Pen y Gogarth, the Great Orme, in the background

Back in the deep water channel, we headed for Ynys Seiriol, then past the familiar lighthouse and onwards to our second NT coastal property, Fedw Fawr, on the limestone of Anglesey's east coast. Bob dropped anchor and we went ashore with the dinghy.  It seemed appropriate that this most overlooked of the Trust's coastal places was our first visit. In my experience, the harder to find the place is, the more wonderful it is once you get there.  And Fedw Fawr is one of the best examples of this principle.

Bob ready to drop anchor, with White Beach, Fedw Fawr ahead.

Bob and John with Capercaille at anchor

So with the sound of seabirds and seals drifting over from the cliffs of Ynys Seiriol, and the far off Orme glowing in the evening sun, we round off the beginning of our adventure with a hearty meal.

Go to Day 2

We're Off!

We set sail at about 12:30pm from near Bangor Pier and are now sailing off Penrhyn Castle.

Thanks to Sarah Johnson for dashing out to get this photo of us as we tack on our way towards Ynys Seiriol / Puffin Island.  I'll post photos of the launch later.

Gales change plans for launch

This was meant to be the scene tomorrow (Sunday).  Capercaille sailing past Plas Newydd, the first of over a hundred special NT places on the Welsh coast, as we were being saluted by our colleagues from the font lawn.
 
But alas it's not to be.  This photo will have to suffice for now.  With gusts approaching a full gale, John wisely decided not to attempt the passage through the Menai Strait's treacherous Swellies to an uncertain anchorage at Felinheli.  Conditions must have been bad, as I have it on good authority that John is sometimes seen going out into a choppy sea when less courageous yachtsmen are heading for port.

So tomorrow's launch will be at Siliwen, by Bangor Pier at about midday.  Why not head to the end of the pier to wave us off on our Sails Around Wales adventure? 

A Happy Coincidence

Little did we know when we set the date of 8 June for our celebratory circuit of the Welsh coast, it would by happy coincidence be World Oceans Day.  This United Nations-recognised world-wide day of ocean celebration and action is a great opportunity to do something to show your love of our seas and concern for their future.

So if you're still not sure what to do to help our seas and coast, why not show your support for our Trident Trek and Sails Around Wales.  Both events will be highlighting our achiements on the Welsh coast and raising awareness for people to help with its better protection.

The arrival of the yacht Capercaille at Flint, North Wales at 4pm will signal the start of the both events.  Coast path walker, Bob Smith and sailor-ranger John Whitley will be waved off by well-wishers before posing briefly for media photos and starting on their respective epic journeys.

If you live in the North Wales & Mersyside areas, why not make a date to see us off at the dock at Flint?

If you can't make it, don't worry, go to the Trident Trek tab to book another section, or follow this blog to find out how we go on.

Training with our coastal heroes

Preparations for our Trident Trek are well advanced, with less than three weeks to go before we start.

Our coastal supremo Bob Smith has been in training for a few weeks now, making sure that he can put in the miles on his epic trek along the Welsh coast without too many blisters.

The other morning he was joined by the creator of the trident, fellow-volunteer George Smith on the shores of the Menai Strait to put in a few miles in between conservation tasks at Glan Faenol.

Watch this space for more news, and go to the Trident Trek tab on this blog to find out more about how to get involved.