Pwellheli

A week out of a industrial hanger better known as Pwellheli Sailing Club. Another cruise co-inciding with the GP Nationals. Strange place for cruising in that winds/tides will dicate your days direction, for us it was always turn right! Beach launching and recovery can be an absolute nightmare. Generally the club was well organised and facilities (once you have got used to the strange building) was very good particulary the bar and eating area.

Pwllheli is the principal town of the Llŷn Peninsula which lies on the north-west corner of Wales, dividing Cardigan Bay (to the south) and Caernarfon Bay (to the north). I am sorry but the town is a mess and in much need of regeneration.
Being three sides surrounded by the sea, you are never short of a sheltered beach but out in the main sailing area there are few interesting places to sail too.

We all really wanted to sail down to Criccieth but tides were always agaist us however, I mention it here because thats where Dylans Resturant is and I highly recommend it - superb seafood selection - Pwllheli, take note!

The peninsula stretches out around 30 miles into the Irish Sea and is only around 8 miles wide for much of it's length. Being west of the Welsh mountains and in the Gulf Stream, Llŷn enjoys a mild, drier climate than that of the rest of Wales. During the winter there are few or no frosts, but the snow on the mountains in the distance is a beautiful sight.

Our Thursday day cruise was probably the most memerable in my cruising years. We knew it was windy and only us and one other went out. Relaively calm in the bay area hid the 'storm' that was hitting the pennisula. It was straight in our faces after. It was clearly horrendous and unforgiving. No hesitation in making the decision to turn round and head back. That decision was the easy bit - to do a 180 degree turn in what was quite big waves was going to require massive concentration and a large bit of luck. Both of us knew there was one chance to do this and it had to be right. No choice - 'ready about'. Turning round OK but by now the waves behind us we picking up the boat from the stern and rushing us along at a great rate of knots. I could see the monster waves rushing towards us and they were lifting us 5 -6 feet in the air before rushing underneath the boat. It was scary and a massive relief to be back in the realative calm of the bay. My crew immediately jump off and lay gasping on the beach. After a short break i went out and had a great sail at speed up and down the bay.