EXQUISITE and HEAVENLY DAY AT CEFN


The infamous Dave Shaw resplendent with his "classic" racing helmet complete with rear mirror appendage, takes time out at Cefn Sidan to fill his pipe. Today (Thurs, December 14) Dave was the missing member of the Free Welsh Landsailing Society, leaving it up to Andy Parr and Chris Wright to "hoon it around Cefn Sidan on their own.

From: "Andrew Parr" arp@evansroach.fsnet.co.uk Subject: AHHH, I NEEDED THAT Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2000 21:36:44 Hello Everyone The 90mph winds have gone and the forecasts were unanimous - 12-15 mph NW, i.e. straight down the beach. Chris Wright (CW) and I duly met up, rigged and set out to tack up to the range mark, beyond which one cannot venture during midweek åcos the RAF fly in and shoot the sht out of something in the dunes thereabouts. We only had a 50 yard wide strip of dry sand to play with and I got really cheesed off with the softer bits close to the dunes - they didn't seem to affect CW (featherweight, and 26" wheels compared to my 19s) - and he duly shot off back downwind while I floundered about trying to get it going. We met up again at the south end where we got stuck in a wind shadow while trying to explore the old harbour area. CW then punctured so it was back to base for a team beer, but not before we'd established that the southern banks looked in good condition and were worth exploring. Phase 2 of the day was exquisite. The big bank nearest the beach is normally soft but wasn't, but we didn't bother with that, opting instead to cross two more channels and head out to the water's edge, the tide being as out as it ever gets and our timing being perfect. I've done that run a couple of times before and it's a real challenge to pick your way round lakes, gulleys, areas of moon country etc and by the time to reach the water's edge, thee miles away, you've invariably forgotten the safe way back. But this time it was a heavenly flat pan area, a good mile long, and we had a lovely thrasharound on that - but all good things come to an end - and the sky upwind turned ominously black. We figured it might just miss us if we stayed right out on the banks and it did - for long enough for us to have a lovely 10 minutes or so charging about in bright sunshine whilst it chucked it down back on the beach with a couple of rainbows against the black sky. It was like sailing with a spotlight shining down on you. We stopped to congratulate ourselves on an astute bit of judgement when three things happened - CW realised his time was up and had to go, the first drops of rain began to fall as the wind vanished and I discovered it was my turn to have a puncture... Old smugsy CW was wearing his dry suit and I'm not too sure quite how it all came about but it felt as if the wind suddenly blew up from the opposite direction and brought the rain back with it, the upshot being that I was able to sail back on a flat tyre through what seemed to be sea, emerging relieved but totally soaked and in time for CW not to be too late. He's off back up north tonight via a meal with Dave Shaw. No sign of Dave - got home to an ansaphone message that he couldn't make it, and SoC (Mark Lloyd) is in Patagonia chasing Prince William. A thoro'ly worthwhile day off. Worth it for that spell on the southern banks alone - and that van of mine simply does not stand a chance - filled with wet sandy gear! I took the yacht out at home and hosed it down to evict a fair weight of sand, and filled the garage with wet gear drying out. I've sealed vaguely round the ply lining in the van so hopefully the salty water will be soaking into the ply and will dry out next summer... Looks like we're in for a spell of calm, dry sunny but cold weather - crap for sailing but great for the spirit - and we've got our office stuffout at the Dru (The Druidstone) on Saturday night, which should be fun. We've another stuffout at The Georges (that delightful pub in Haverford West) next week sometime. Right, time to toddle off. Cheers Andy Parr K445*



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