Vortices thrown West by continental low

Three views of the bay before, having established a safe entry, we decided that the haven would not be comfortable in a Northerly. Even in the morning (forecast 3 to 4) we found ourselves making no progress on a starboard tack to the West; leeway took us South of 270 degrees and close to shingle before we found out and tacked back away from wrecking.

Waiting out the swell in harbour at lunch we ate and walked gently, feeling still the rocking motion of the boat on dry land. In shelter the day was warm and peaceful, but we had to return to the quay's banshee wailing from yacht rigging in wind. No respite on the anemometer and none forecast, so we sailed anyway for home.

Avoiding an incoming vessel, then waiting for the ferry to move off on engine, we swayed and bucked a little in a heady force 5. Second reef in and half the genoa set I aimed North on a starboard tack, knowing that the rising tide would cancel the leeway and allow us to progress back North. We dipped and swung, tasting and feeling spray when waves' slap threw the sea over. Even in the dampness the wind remained warm; at least not cold.

From half way, she turned up in gusts, forcing the tiller up to my ribs to hold off. Wind moved upto 30 degrees with these gusts, making balance difficult. Most of the way across and with the flow of tide reducing we tacked towards the first marks of the river entrance, but the Northerly kept us back; the contents of the saloon table fell off. Closer now, we tacked again, but without the flow were left moving near West and the gusts of six started to look more like seven. Finally a gust veered too far and blew the bow away as we lost speed and heeled. Enough. Letting the canvas go we started engine for the last three quarter mile to the river mouth and back to our lake.

On this Northerly shore the waves were attenuated and close to land the wind ameliorated. None the less mooring at the first attempt was a relief. Most remaining sailers had sails furled, skimming shores to minimise the waves. Maybe half a dozen souls braver (or further from home) than us. Nice to be out on a bank holiday without the usual crowding though.