Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins

We left Padstow harbour just after the harbour gate opened at 5:45 and made our way down the Camel Estuary and out into the Bristol Channel.  The sea was flat calm and there was very little wind, I hoisted the main in anticipation of some wind but after an hour of useless flapping I took it down again and settled into a relaxing motor crossing.

At 9:30 we were joined by a few dolphins, which was great and livened up the passage. We motored on and passed another yacht coming in the opposite direction and then entered a patch of fog. The fog became thicker and thicker until we could only see a few feet beyond Bathia in any direction. We slowed to a crawl and fetched up the fog horn. The fog persisted for about an hour and we neither saw or heard any other vessels and saw nothing on the AIS or Radar, it was a bit eerie but eventually we made it though and out into clear blue sky.

Then we were joined by more dolphins by the dozen, the sea was alive with dorsal fins in all directions. As the sea was so flat you could see them coming in and swooping past Bathia's bow. At one point there were 20 or 30 in a huge group just off our bow. They stayed with us for over an hour, it was like being in a natural history programme, the water was clear and still and you could watch them and hear them squeak and breath.  Fantastic!

Click above to see a video of the Dolphins!

We finally arrived at Milford Haven at about 7.45pm ready for some hot food and an early night.  It felt good to get another milestone under our belt, crossing the Bristol Channel.  The next one seems more daunting, crossing the Irish Sea.  Hopefully we will have a smooth passage but it would be good to go at least some of the way under sail rather than motor.

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