Land's End in the Mist

We spent Saturday around Penzance ready to set off on Sunday morning. During the night the wind got up and the rain poured down. In the middle of the night I felt the boat's motion to be somewhat different and on looking it became clear that our stern warp had become undone. I decided not to rush out clad only in pyjamas and sensibly put on my foulies (foul weather gear) on top  before venturing out and tying up securely.
Sunday morning dawned grey wet and raining - so we set off!  We had to beat into the wind for a couple of hours before we would be able to round Land's End and head north for Wales. it was a hard slog for the first three hours. I asked David how he was and got the reply 'cold, wet, and miserable, but fine!' I think we all felt the same.  However thanks to the GPS and careful scrutiny of the chart, we were relieved when the correct buoys appeared out of the mist and eventually the lighthouse and rocks of Longships came into dim view and we knew we had rounded the point. We had been motor sailing with both engine and sail as this helps progress while bashing intolarge seas.  As the wind was now behind we were able to stop the engine and sail at speed on half the genoa. The seas were quite impressive and it was sometmes better not to look as the walls of water approached the stern. However Ad Infinitum did not let us down and continued to sail up and over even the largest. As day turned to night we took turns on the helm, usually in two hour stretches to allow others to rest or sleep. It was a lively night and quite an experience to be alone in the cockpit while the boat coped and drove down the seas. Earle morning I had my first pod of dolphins racing beside us and jumping in front of the bow. The others had each experienced this as well.
As morning grew so the rain and showers stopped and the sun came up. It turned into a beautiful day with blue sky and a fair wind behind us. At times we were able to use 'Kevin' the autopilot and had our meals together round the saloon table.
We had arranged to meet a friend of John who might be able to pilot us through the Menai Straits which are notoriously complicated and narrow. The marina for the Monday night was Pwhelli ,pronounced ? and we arrived there just as it was getting dark. Finding the way into strange harbours is rarely simple but we managed. The marina officer on duty was a young lad on his first day and he didn't know how to work the VHF so we could not get any advice - but he did appear and help us to find a berth for the n ight, apologising for his not responding to our calls.  We have been able to shower and wash clothes and will continue possibly to Carnaervon tomorrow with Derek as our pilot. The sun is shining and David and John have donned their shortsfor the first time this holiday. I have the trousers which can lose the bottom part of the leg so am keeping my options open!  We are now off to shop and explore Pwlleli.