SAILORS arrived at Sully Sailing Club on Sunday morning looking forward to the club's annual cruise to Wales' most Southerly point, Flat Holm, in the Bristol Channel.

Strong winds led to last year's cruise being cancelled in favour of a replacement inshore cruise to Lavernock Point. With safety always being paramount, conditions were assessed and determined as favourable for this year's cruise to proceed.

Sailing dinghies and catamarans were rigged and at 10am a small flotilla headed out of the relative calm of Sully Bay into the Bristol Channel escorted by three motorised safety crafts. With fog obscuring visibility of Flat Holm and the wind blowing from the west, a southerly heading was set on a starboard tack. As the boats entered the channel the domineering outline of a Cardinal Buoy loomed large out of the fog.

As the fog cleared Steep Holm appeared dead ahead and an inviting broad reach was taken down the port side of Flat Holm to land on the beach on the north side of the island. The Sully sailors were rewarded with time to appreciate the flora and fauna, wildlife and historical building that Flat Holm offers.

After a short rest the boats returned to the sea for the return trip and the prospect of a more gruelling return beat into the wind. The tide had turned and the now the wind was whipping up large waves against the outgoing tide. An exciting return leg ensued with sailors arriving safely back on the club slipway by 1.30pm following a thoroughly enjoyable Sunday morning cruise.