All ships broadcast on the DSC !

If you browse boats on the internet brokerages you may, like us, be curious as to why so many otherwise patently sea worthy vessels are equipped with radio equipment so antiquated it's on a par with a cocoa tin and a peace of string - especially when a modern VHF set equipped with DSC can be had for less than a hundred quid.
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Why bother to upgrade ? Isn't it just more un-necessary tech that you'll never understand or master and just another selling ploy by the manufacturers ?
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Well, yesterday's events convinced me otherwise....
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We set out from Pw at around 1100 on passage for Arklow which we thought would take around 18 hours. The wind was a Force 4 from the south west, so we planned in a series of big tacks to make progress against the wind. Although we didn't seem to be making much western progress, and the seas were quite lumpy to begin with, the track showed the plan was working. At about 1500 UT we came up to Bardsey Sound. We though we were perfectly lined up for one long port tack which would get us through the sound at just the right time and land us at the north cardinal to Arklow Bank, with a bit of motor assistance, at around 0400 this morning.
Literally, when we were heading south to get the transit through the sound the DSC alarm sounded.!
Now this is not an unusual occurrence around there as unfortunately there has been a spate of dive clubs providing some impromptu DSC training with a flood of false alarms - so there is a temptation to ignore it out of hand.
Good move not to ! I've never heard an ALL SHIPS broadcast before, but this was from Hollyhead Coastgaurd {thanks guys} - so we turned up the volume and listened in. GALE WARNING -  F8 right in front of us  and LATER, right when we would be there.

The track show right where we turned around. At about the time we got back to the fairway buoy the wind suddenly rose to over 20kn, adding extra interest to getting back onto our piled mooring !
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Moral - if you haven't go a DSC radio, get one and listen to them messages.
We'll see you in Arklow before too long, mine's a pint in the Bridge Hotel.

Gasp as we enter the technological age!

On the passage back to Pwllheli from Arklow the wind dropped and the sea became flat. So we decided it was time to try out the autopilot.

Look at the awe on the faces of the crew ! These simple fellows have never seen anything as advanced!
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The continuous, minor adjustments made the autopilot straightened our course and we were back on the berth more than an hour earleir than expected.

Where to eat in Arklow...

We recommend it...

Arklow - visit #3 - 2016

I now think of Arklow as Irish Sea passage #101, as it's closest to our current home port, a very easy arrival and always a warm welcome. Overall, just less than 80nm over the ground.

The riverside  pontoons in Arklow offer an easy arrival.

The view down river, from the bridge. Pontoons can be seen on the right

The crew enjoy themselves...

The Seal of Approval

We're off on our way to Arklow, passing the isolated danger mark to the south St Tudwall's islands (the old "Bell Buoy").
This chap doesn't look too tricky though, does he? 

Arklow - landfall in Ireland

Arklow - entrance to the commercial harbour

The first stage of our cruise to Ireland. A very early arrival (0130) on the town pontoon. A great start with a genuinely helpful marina and some great and seriously witty people. Celebrated with Guiness at the bridge inn later.

A small courtesy

Just before we set of for Ireland, I popped in the (other) chandlery and bought ourselves a courtesy flag...

As you can see, its the right flag, has a toggle on the top and a loop on the bottom and is made of nice quality fabric. The more observant of you will have guessed that we do not specialise in over large pencils on Annabella. They say civilised life is made up of small courtesies, but I did feel rather embarassed...