Love Sailing

I had thought of going up the Tamar River to Calstock but having looked at Calstock boat yard website, l changed my mind. They needed to see a copy of my insurance before hiring a visitor mooring at £15 per night. The insurance had to be 3 million cover, you yacht had to be in good condition and it needed to have a clause cover for full salvage and disposal.

Elektra has 3 million cover and is in good repair, l didn’t know about the salvage and disposal clause and l didn’t have the insurance with me to send a copy. Apart from that, l am trying to avoid visitor charges where l can this season anyway. So decided just go north up the Tamar and find an anchorage.

I left Sand Acre Bay about 2hrs before high water and motoring east out of the Lynher there was quite a bit of tide against. But once around the point Elektra was logging over 6kts with the tide and got up to nearly 7kts off Saltash just before going under the bridge. Then as the Tamar opened out the stream slowed, still helping but not as quick.

It wad a lovely evening without any wind and l really like the country views, this is my sort of place. The moorings off Cargreen and Weirquay were nice. Around the next bend after Weirquay was a anchorage marked on the chart which l planned to use overnight. I slowed Elektra down and dropped her out of gear and lowered her anchor out over the bow just using the last of the tide to dig it in. Elektra stopped and swung around into the stream, she was holding. It had taken just an hour to cover the 6nm. What a lovely place.

Not true really. Since Vicki became ill at the end of April, l have massively reduced the amount of alcohol which l was drinking back then.

Drinking alcohol is a social thing and being alone now, l don’t have them same need for it, but that’s not saying l’m now tea total either.

Anchored in the entrance of the Lynher River, l had decided to explore the river by dinghy as Vicki and l had done so many times on other rivers in the southwest.

Even fin keel yachts can lie at anchor in Dandy Hole 2nm west if where Elektra was at anchor, although swinging room has been serious reduced by a sunken yacht in the middle of the pool which sunk there 2-3 years ago. But l decided to leave Elektra at anchor in Sand Acre Bay and explore the upper river by dinghy.

I like to explore the rivers at low water if possible or just as the tide is flooding into them, so l can see first hand exactly where the deep channel is. The upper reaches of the Lynher are perfect to navigate by dinghy at low water and it wouldn’t worry taking Elektra in there now having seen for myself at low water.

I read on my old (2006) chart the channel was marked by red poles to port from Dandy Hole all the way to St German’s. But not finding any poles, l looked at the chart for the position of the channel from west of Dandy Hole. This is where local knowledge is a bonus and l didn’t have any! I came to a part of the river where there didn’t seem to be any definite way to go! And only the outboard grounding told me l was wrong! I stopped the motor and rowed, working my way into deeper water to port, only then could l see a red can buoy further on to port. I started the motor again and headed for it. From there the channel was marked by port and starboard buoys all the way to St German’s

Now low water most of the yachts at St German’s were aground and the water level wasn’t deep enough to proceed any further upstream than the railway viaduct. So l made the dinghy off to a pontoon and climbed the ladder onto the quay.

Having had a little walk on the quay and up the road, l went back to my dinghy and headed back out the channel into the in coming tide.

Once back down stream to where the Lynher goes north, l explored in there too, the channel is well marked from here with poles and port and starboard buoys at the entrance as part way in here is a big boat yard built on the spoil heap from an old quarry. With quarries here up until the 1930s the river had been used to transport the stone out and old quays can be seen all the way into the upper reaches, certainly quite big vessels would have come in here, and apparently still do.

Motoring the dinghy back out into the increasing flow, l continued to check the outboard as l had realised the cooling water flow from the motor wasn’t flowing well, just dripping out, but the motor wasn’t seeming to hot! Back down river and passed Dandy Hole, although not run out l had refilled the fuel tank twice since leaving Elektra!

Now heading east-northeast in open water of the main Lynher River into the incoming stream, the wind about force 4 from the southwest kicked up the surface, we hadn’t gone far before the dinghy started surfing, at which point l sat further back so not to risk digging the bow in while surfing!

Having got back to Elektra, l lifted the outboard off the dinghy and onto the pushpit, from there once aboard l disassembled the engine to clean the water jet. The engine hadn’t got too hot, but better for the water to run though properly. Checking via the chart l could see l had logged over 10nm in the dinghy today and burnt about 2.5lts of petrol.

I was woken up early before day break because of the anchor chain grinding on the bow roller. The forecast wind for the day before was here now here and Elektra was swinging to and throw in the gusts, making a lot of clonking from the bow roller. There wasn’t  anything l could do about it, but listen! Having woke, l got out as soon as it was light and from looking out the cabin windows, l could see Elektra hadn’t dragged her anchor.

So l boiled the kettle and made tea for breakfast. Then after that the morning dragged. I was going to move Elektra up the Tamar River to Lynher River, but when should l leave? I couldn’t decide and it was blowing hard! In the past l would have discussed with Vicki and we would have decided what to do!

In the end, l decided to leave the anchorage at the beginning of the incoming tide. Not a good idea as it turned out, but l have to make my own mistakes now! At 1145hrs l pulled up her anchor and headed for the Tamar River.

At the Bridge (a marked channel through the rocks between land and Drakes Island) it was quite obviously wind against tide! And not very nice to head into! But Elektra ploughed on though it none the less. Approaching the narrows, l thought,l don’t think this is a good idea and turned into Barn Pool where l dropped anchor at 1210hrs having logged 2nm.

I stayed for 3hrs until nearing high water the sea looked like it had calmed down quite a bit.  So l pulled up her anchor again at 1510hrs and headed out into the narrows and on up the Tamar River, it still wasn’t nice but with the wind blowing northwest force 5 to 6, it wasn’t surprising. Negotiating the Torpoint Ferry’s was another hazard, but got passed without getting run down!

The nearer we got to the Lynher entrance the easier the wind became. Having turned the corner into the Lynher River the shelter was apparent and it seemed Sand Acre Bay was the place to be. So l motored Elektra in between the anchored yachts and found a place,dropping anchor at 1610hrs having logged 6nm for the day.

After the previous week at anchor in the Precuil River, l was keen to start sailing again. The forecast for the weekend looked good for getting up to Plymouth. The weather app l was using gave north-west force 3-4 backing to west north-west 4 increasing westerly force 5, with possibly stronger winds for Sunday.

It looked good to me, and l planned to get aboard on Friday, stowed up and ready to go first thing on Saturday. The tide stream wasn’t with me until 1250hrs but being neeps wouldn’t be a strong stream in any case

Up early and had breakfast, l cast off at 0705hrs, leaving outside Carcroc Cardinal Buoy, l set the chart plotter up for the way point  of Daystone off Plymouth Sound 37.5nm in a east-northeast direction. About 0715 the CG shipping forecast was giving northwest force 4-5 backing west 5-6. With little or no wind l continued to motor Elektra towards Plymouth. At 0745hrs, l stopped her engine and sailed, but by 0814hrs we were motor-sailing again. By 1017hrs the wind had picked up to a northwest force 4 and Elektra was sailing. But by 1044hrs the wind had eased to northwest force 2-3 and l had rolled away her sails and was motoring.

With a bit more wind we were motor-sailing by 1205hrs having logged 23.5nm. Then with the wind increasing we sailed for the next 2hrs. But with the wind dropped off to northwest force 3 we started motor-sailing again. We passed the Daystone way point at 1530hrs and we’re anchored just north of Cawsands by 1545hrs having logged 39.5nm. Today had been a disappointment for sailing, but l think the wind which was forecasted came in overnight and during Sunday.

The next morning l took Peter in my dinghy down to St Mawes for us both to get some shopping. In the co-op at the checkout Peter remarked about what l had bought, it did look a bit funny, 4 pints of milk, 4 cans of draft Stout and a tub of crisps. The milk l needed, the crisps were because l was there, and the stout was a piece offering.

I dropped Peter back at his yacht and went on back to Elektra to get the milk in the fridge. Then l had a text communication with Philip for about one and quarter hours. During which l had also contacted Adrian who was also anchored near by to ask if he fancied a drink and chat? After Philip and stopped texting each other, he phoned me on messenger and we talked for another hour. At the end of the call Philip thanks me for calling him, l said “you phoned me” lol 😆.

In the meantime Adrian had text me back to say he was getting thirsty! I explained about the call and said “coming now” And got in the dinghy and motored over to Adrian aboard Swallow Tail his cat, or as Adrian likes to call it, his bungalow! We had been friends with Adrian for probably 15-17 years. When we first met he was living abroad having sold his house and bought Swallow Tail. It seemed to have worked well for him until his mother died and he had no land address anymore, in the eyes of the law he was of “no fixed abode” and even just having a bank account was difficult. So Adrian bought a place just for a land address which he used to just go to, to pick up the mail and cut the grass. In more resent years, he goes back to during the coldest part of the winter.

I had seen Adrian earlier in the week, but we hadn’t come over to chat and l wondered if he was avoiding me because of Vicki passing away? Which as it turns out he was because he thought l wanted to be on my own. The stout was my way of reastablishing our friendship. And from now on l think things will be better between us. But somewhere during our chat l did say “when l am alone, l’m not lonely” Which Adrian agreed with totally.

I also had another friend contact me to say Adam and Christine were anchored in St Mawes. So l went via dinghy down river to see them after leaving Adrian. But Adam and Christine were gone ashore, so we didn’t meet. But they were just back in the UK having crossed the Atlantic, spent 2 seasons in the Caribbean and then sailed back.

After that l went back to Elektra and fell asleep and didn’t wake up until 1800hrs, so l put my dinner on.

With the forecast of little or no wind forecast Monday, l had decided to go for another walk on the Roseland. After breakfast, l motored the dinghy over to the corner bank of the river to where l knew there was a way up to the Nat Trust footpath. This is a great area for walkers.

I walked along the wooded pathway over the hill and onto the coast path and headed in the direction of St Anthony light house. Having walked around the point, l then joined the road again and headed for Place

As you can see from the photos, it’s been very dry here, the farmers are desperate for rain! By the time l got back to the woods again l was thankful for the shade, it was going to be another hot day.

Out on the water again was lovely once l got back to Elektra, a sea breeze had developed and it was cooling 😎 And with Elektra pointing into the out going tide, the breeze was blowing through the cockpit, so it was very pleasant to sit outside in the cockpit for a change 😀

Later in the afternoon Paul turned up in his Hawk 20, Jay and Mairi, swam over and Jay interduced herself as Paul’s new girlfriend, Paul had hinted at before he had before.

I put my dinner on about 1800hrs and listened to the radio in the evening.

Later in the evening Peter arrived in his Sadler 290 and dropped anchor near by and about 2030hrs l went over in my dinghy with some drinks and we chatted until l came away at 2300hrs.

I may have arrived back late the evening before, but l saw my friends Robert and Mandy had anchored their yacht off St Mawes harbour.

So next morning, l asked if they were going for a walk and could l join them? They were surprised that l was back from Polkerris, because we had been in contact the day before. But yes was the reply. Robert suggested 1100hrs, l said I’ll come down to you. The dinghy was still on it’s davits, so l lowered it into the water and refilled and refitted the outboard. And set off down river to St Mawes when ready. Taking Robert and Mandy ashore in my dinghy to the harbour steps.

I needed the exercise and enjoyed the chat, they are great company and l had been alone for about 5 days. Having walked the St Mawes road circuit, we arrived back in the town at stopped at the Rising Sun for a beer, or two. Then it was back to their yacht for a drink and sandwich and to watch the Falmouth working boats racing.

Once l left and went back to Elektra, l unlocked and fell asleep for the afternoon and woke again at 1730hrs. So it was time to put my dinner in the oven, sitting down to eat just after 1800hrs, l listened to the radio in the evening going to bed as it got dark.

Having been in the Precuil River for 4 nights, l was wanting to move somewhere else but the forecasters just couldn’t make up their mind, on Thursday they said light northerly for Saturday but by Friday morning it was looking like strong northerly becoming an easterly. But by evening back to the previous forecast.

I think l was just fed up waiting, so decided to set off and go to Polkerris early on Saturday. And so l pulled up the dinghy onto the davits and when l went to bed set the alarm for 0430hrs. It made me think of Vicki, she would have hated to get out so early.

When the alarm went off in the morning, l got out and had my normal breakfast of pot of tea and dish of muesli, watching the dawn coming. With the updated forecast of north force 4-5 decreasing north force 2-3 later. I pulled up the anchor 0610hrs and raised the main before motoring Elektra down river to St Mawes.

Out off St Mawes harbour l stopped her engine and sailing just on her mainsail out around Zone Point, after the main gibed over l pulled out the genoa and we set off at over 5kts towards Dodman Point 10nm away. The wind was variable northwest then north and some of the time force 4 and some force 3, it wasn’t easy sailing as one minute not enough wind and the next too much wind, kept reefing and then letting it out again and then reefing again! Then when we arrived at the Dodman Point, it dies away altogether! Next minute it’s a head wind a northeast force 4, at which point l got fed up and started Elektra’s engine and motored on into it! I continued to motor her across St Austell Bay and has the sea eased getting closer to shelter, l let her mainsail down and roughly tied it to the boom. Motoring into Polkerris anchorage  and dropped her anchor at 1030hrs having logged 21nm.

Having done the jobs, l retired to the cabin and went fast asleep 😴 until 1230hrs.

When l arrived Elektra was the only boat, by 1500hrs there were 11 boats anchored around and hundreds of people on the beach!

I was still looking at the forecast, it was now saying, strong northerly from from 1600hrs, then about 3 days of little or no wind. I thought l could just go back today. But the wind didn’t change until 1730hrs, but l waisted no time lifting the dinghy back on your it’s davits and quickly pulled up Elektra’s anchor and headed back out of Polkerris. It was a great sail across St Austell Bay to Yaw buoy but as Elektra slowed near the Dodman Point, l started her engine for additional speed, and once past the Dodman Point continued to motor sail because by then l was worried about it getting dark and not seeing the many pot markers in and around Zone Point just before turning into the Carrick Roads. At Zone Point l rolled away her genoa and motored her into the Precuil River, dropping anchor at 2200hrs having again logged 21nm. In some ways it gad been a stupid day, but at least l had my fix in the form if some very good sailing.

Grab something to eat, and then bed! Tomorrow l am going to sleep in!