In Memory Of The Lifeboat Gem 13/10/2010

Today was the centenary of the wrecking of the St Davids Lifeboat Gem and the loss of 3 of her crew. The Gem had been launched in the early hours of October 13th 1910 following the sighting of distress flares in Ramsey Sound.

The 12 man crew of the Gem took an hour to row the mile across the Sound in a NE gale and very rough seas to the Ketch Democrat. With great effort the 3 man crew of the Democrat were taken on board the Gem.

The crew of the Gem were unable to row against the wind and tide  as a result the lifeboat was subsequently swept onto the Bitches and wrecked. Fifteen men managed to clamber onto the Bitches where they clung on for 12 hours before being rescued by 2 local boats. Sadly 3 of the lifeboat crew Henry Rowlands, James Price and the Coxswain John Stephens were drowned.

There were a number of events to mark the anniversary with both St Davids Lifeboats laying a wreath at the bitches reef, a service was held at St Davids Cathedral and the above plaque being unveiled in the Cross Square.

A very poignant reminder of the tremendous work that the RNLI have done and still do today.

Back In The Nordkapp ....At Last! 28/05/2010

After an absence of a month and a half due to work commitments I was back down West Wales and finally going to get back in my Nordkapp. Porthsele was deserted and during my time away someone had planted a rather large tree!
I had no paddling plan in mind, I was just glad to get back on the sea. I turned left or should I say port after paddling out of Porthsele and into Ramsey Sound where the 6.6 metre flooding Spring tide was starting to pick up speed.

I paddled quite close to the mainland to stay out of the adverse tide up to Pen dal-adeyrn the southerly point of Ramsey Sound, where I paddle out into the main tide race and let it take me back northward and out toward the Bitches.
The tide takes me past the Bitches but paddling into an eddy I am taken back up to the nearest Bitch (rock) to the mainland.

I work my way across the line of jagged rocks towards Ramsey Island being taken away from the Bitches by the flow and then taken back towards the reef by eddies.

Sheltering in the calm water behind the Bitch which the playboaters climb onto to get above the main surfing wave, I watch the clear water pouring over the rocks and look back across from where I have just come, the Bitches in full flow, a pretty impressive sight.
I make my way across the largest gap between the rocks where the main wave is, which is looking nice and glassy today.
Again sheltering this time behind the nearest Bitch to Ramsey I watch the flooding tide being forced through the gaps between the jagged reef of rock and it is easy to see why so many ships have come to grief here. One of these being the St David's Lifeboat Gem which in 1910 was swept onto the reef with the loss of 3 crew.
After watching the spectacle of the Bitches in full flow for a while I start to make my way back northward through Ramsey Sound which is very easy to say the least with the flow in my favour. As I paddle across towards the mainland the present day St David's Lifeboat Garside has been launched.
They are obviously on a jolly and seem to be having great fun playing around in the tide race. The twin 6 cylinder diesel engines sound pretty awesome especially when motoring against the flow.
Returning to Porthsele, the beach is still deserted, don't know how long it will stay that way! A great paddle of only 5.5 nautical miles (10km), good to get the feel of the Nordkapp again especially in the turbulent waters of Ramsey Sound.
Before it got dark the boys and I went back down the beach to take advantage of the peace before the hordes arrive tonight and tomorrow. I wonder how long the tree trunk will be vertical!

RNLB Garside 47-026 31/10/2009

Yet again the forecast was not looking too promising and with no plan for a paddle as yet today I was soon spurred into action when I heard the familiar sound of the St David's Lifeboat's engines. When she came round the point and cruised into the bay, I donned my drysuit and paddled out in pursuit.

Luckily they were practising hauling the anchor so I soon caught up with the Garside. The Garside was donated to the RNLI by Thomas Garside and his sister Dorothy and allocated to St Davids in 1988.
Garside is a 47' long Tyne class steel hulled lifeboat powered by Twin 6 cylinder General Motors diesel engines each producing 425 hp with a maximum speed of 17 and a half knots with a range of 240 nautical miles.

I have a quick chat with the Coxswain who tells me to make the most of it as a possible Force 10 is on the way!

The Garside then speeds back into Ramsey Sound with me in hot pursuit around to St Justinian.

When I finally get to St Justinian the Garside has been joined by the ILB Myrtle and Trevor Gurr which is the second St David's ILB, replacing the first Dewi Sant in December 2008.

I watch them practice for a while and then paddle the short distance back to Porthsele before the wind rises too much.

It was good to see both boats so close in the water, it makes you realise what a fantastic job they do, lets hope I never need them to get any closer for any other reason!

Ramsey Sound, Caves, Bitches and a broken Lifeboat....03/05/2009

Paddling out from Porthsele on another glorious sunny day with not too much wind and not as large a swell as yesterday. I didn't have any route planned but on spotting the overfalls to the west of Carreg Gafeilliog it seemed a bit rude not to go and have a play!

After an exhiliarating 45 minutes spent surfing and playing about in the standing waves I paddled over to Penrhyn Dalar where I had to stay close to the cliff and surf against the tide flow to get around the point.

Passing Porth Cadnaw and Porth Brag on the way to St Justinian there is numerous evidence of the cliffs losing their battle against the forces of nature from erosion .

On reaching St Justinian the St David's Lifeboat, Garside, is moored after yesterday's incident whilst trying to rehouse in the boat house. For a full report CLICK HERE and scroll to 02/05/2009.

After taking a few photos I paddle back over to the cliffs and to Ogof Mary where the water from the spring above the cave entrance is pouring down onto the ?algae? covered rock below.

Opposite the entrance is the natural arch through the purple coloured rock which is pictured looking back towards Ogof Mary (can you spot the pixie?!)

Paddling on further southward I again explore the numerous caves around Maen Bachau. Still staying close to the cliffs I paddle to Pen Dal-aderyn passing a Herring Gull totally oblivious to me and the quite fast flowing tide.

Paddling out into the north flowing tide I let it take me down and across to the Bitches where a large eddy takes me into calmer water behind the most easterly rock. Again it seems rude not to stop and have a play on the Bitches, great fun!

Paddling over to Rhod Isaf I stop in one of the sheltered little beaches for a rest and then over to a large cave where today the tide is just right to paddle right through into Rhod Uchaf.

I continue paddling northward up to Trwyn Ogof Hen, the NE point of Ramsey Island and out to Gwahan where I let the last of the flood tide take me across to St David's Head.

I spot two dolphins quickly heading down into Ramsey Sound but to far away and to quick to take any photos.

On reaching the head it is an easy paddle into Whitesands Bay and across to Porthsele.

A paddle of just over 10.5 nautical miles (just over 12 miles or 19.5km) exploring the numerous attractions of Ramsey Sound.