I intended going to this meet, I’d even bought the charts but when I saw the TV weather forecast when I arrived home from work on Friday I was beginning to change my mind. I had almost convinced myself not to go when Roger Barnes telephoned. Now we all know that ‘Bailer’ Barnes is an honest man; why, he has written articles for the DCA journal. So when he assured me that his latest weather fax had predicted nothing but sun dappled days and tropical nights I believed him. Never mind those lows out on the Atlantic. “Yes Roger, I’ll be there Roger, see you on Saturday Roger.” With the first flush of the Barnes’ enthusiasm over, I did what I should have done in the first place and called Marine Weather Line. Winds SW Force 4 to 5 occasional 6, rain and possibly thunder. Too late, I had committed myself.

Saturday — Arrived at Dale two hours late after a drive of six hours from Shropshire. Roger’s Baggywrinkle already launched but he’d only arrived an hour before me having also been delayed. The place was absolutely packed with sailboarders, no room in the car park and certainly no room to swing my West Wight Potter. Roger remembered that there was a slip onto the beach about half a mile north of Dale and I launched there. Roger brought his car and trailer round and then sailed to join me. Good job I had the land rover as a car would have bogged down. We finally set off at 1600. Out of Dale Bay course 112° magnetic into Dale Roads. Before we reached the Dakotian Cardinal we were feeling the effect of an Atlantic fetch being squeezed between St Ann’s Head and East Blockhouse Point. Roger was reefed and under main only so I could just about keep up on full main. We were heading for Angle Bay the entrance to which was just over four nautical miles away. I now had it confirmed that I’d made a big mistake when the top of Roger’s mast disappeared in the swell. Water Mouse surfed down the waves — Roger said it looked quite spectacular — with me hanging on to the tiller and wishing I were somewhere else. Barnes must be a 14 carat genuine unadulterated nutter, I’ll swear he was enjoying himself in his little Tideway. We met the pilot boat going out, pitching up on the waves and crashing down in sheets of spray. I fixed a smile of sheer enjoyment on my face and gave them a wave. Once past Thorn Island the wave height diminished and we flew past the lifeboat station, round Angle Point and into Angle Bay, ah the relief. Still very windy but calm water. Roger dodged about here and there, sometime stopped and peering over the side, finally dropping his anchor. I dropped my hook nearby, we had arrived. Later we rowed ashore somewhat precariously in Roger’s little plastic dinghy and walked up to the pub on Angle Point for a meal and a pint. We had little sleep that night. The wind rose even in our sheltered spot and regular anchor checks were irresistible — our anchors held.

Sunday — Low water at 10am so we had to move into deeper water well before that so we were up early and re-anchored. Later we sailed into Milford Haven, still under mainsails only to follow the flood east, past the tanker jetties with a lumpy following sea. Six nautical miles of real interest to Neyland and the Pembroke Ferry road bridge. Then the sun came out and the countryside simultaneously became delightful. We were now in the River Cleddau, north up Castle Reach then Beggars Reach to Llangwm where we landed for lunch, four nautical miles from the bridge. We investigated this as a possible launch/recovery site as there is an excellent slip and a car park nearby. Launching is free although there is an honesty box for small contributions. After lunch we were off again in glorious sunshine towards Picton Point where the river divides into West Cleddau leading to Haverfordwest and Eastern Cleddau going… well east. We chose, or rather Roger chose and I followed, the Eastern Cleddau. It proved an inspired choice delightfully reminiscent of the Fal. We sailed to Slebech, three and a half nautical miles from Llangwm. We landed here and explored the ancient ruined church. The tide turned and it was time for us to go. It was a beat out so I decided to motor. The weather forecast for Monday was poor and we decided to go back to Llangwm slip, moor up for the night, and pull out there Monday. We tied up to the trees but allowed the boats to fall back with the tide so that we were not left having to wait for the top of the tide on Monday. We dined on board before taking a very pleasant walk into the village in search of the pub. When we returned to the boats the tide was out and Baggywrinkle had settled into a depression well below Water Mouse. My boat was lying perfectly but about a foot from the stern was a ten foot drop of vertical rock. Earlier in the evening we had been assured by a local sailor that the weather forecast for Monday was nigh perfect for sailing back to Dale and this we decided to do.

Monday — I was up at 5am. No sign of life from Baggywrinkle. Underway under full sail by 6am - HW 0442. A magnificent sunrise sail in light wind back to Pembroke Ferry by which time Roger had caught me up. En route I listened to Milford Haven coastguard weather forecast on VHF, it was not good. By this time the wind had risen to F4 or thereabouts and tacking the Potter became time consuming making back tiding a distinct possibility later. I decided to motor. Out in Milford Haven it was wind over tide and rough. Past Pembroke Dock I decided that the fetch at the entrance was going to be very difficult and made the decision to go into the marina at Neyland to pull out. I motored over to Roger, rolling like mad, to tell him. He agreed, more out of consideration of tide times than the weather. We moored up in the marina, the first time I have been inside one, feeling very scruffy and small, I was tied up next to a Fisher 37. The marina staff could not have been more considerate. The lady in the office rang for a taxi for us and it cost us £5 each to be taken back to our vehicles. The marina staff advised us to use the sailing club slip round the corner at Neyland Point. The slip is free, very wide and shallow sloping; in fact perfect except that it is exposed. We left our vehicles and trailers at the top of the slip and walked back to the marina. We had lunch in the cafe, looked round the chandlers and returned to our boats. We were not charged for the time we spent tied up at the pontoon. We were soon round the corner and had pulled out and were on our way home by 1600.

It was for me a mixed weekend of excitement, trepidation and sheer enjoyment. I will enjoy it more next time, familiarity being a great adrenalin settler. Slips are abundant and there are many more creeks to explore. We had sailed 26 nautical miles.

Charts Admiralty 3274 St Ann’s Head to Picton Point 3275 Milford Dock to Newton Noyes Pier Map OS Landranger 157 St David’s and Haverfordwest Almanac Macmillan & Silk Cut 1996