Love Sailing

I needed to get off Elektra for a walk. I asked Sally for local advice about landing at Halton Quay, she said 3hrs either side of high water would be OK, but advised Cotehele Quay would be better for landing and walks.

Of course l didn’t think about the tide stream which was now in the 3rd hour of the ebb! Yes the outboard could go faster than the tide, but would be using a lot of fuel for not much progress. I didn’t think l would need extra fuel so left the can aboard. Just past Halton Quay and about halfway to Cotehele Quay, l thought l should look, the motor seemed to have used half a tank already and l still had to get back to Elektra and l didn’t want to row like last time! So l turned around and headed back to Elektra. But l had tested the engine with the new 2 stroke oil and it was running fine.

It teaches you something about rivers, you need to work with the flow not against it! A lot of the rivers l have used in the past haven’t been fast flowing like the Tamar River, which is running at 2-3kts most of the time, there’s not much in the way of slack water.

The evening and night before had been wet and windy, this is where cockpit enclosures come into there own. I had sailed Elektra though the lovely months of the summer, but now in September l was using her enclosure again.

Next morning with the tools needed, l had a look at the outboard and managed to start it. My problem now was lack of fuel, the tank was 3/4s full with the spare fuel can empty. I needed to get fuel somewhere.

Sally and Bill who l had met in Fowey back in June had been in contact the evening before because they had seen Elektra anchored in the Tamar when they motored their yacht upto Calstock to be pulled out for the winter. I had seen her being pressure washed on my return down river from Morewellham Quay.

Now with my petrol problem, l asked if there was a fuel station in Calstock as l needed a gallon of E5 petrol. Sally was more than willing to get me a gallon and a lt of 2 stroke oil and bring it to Wear Quay. Sally had worked out the tides and knew l would be able to get down stream to Wear Quay on the ebbing tide and would have the flood to go back to Elektra, if l set off right away! I don’t think l had thought that at the time l set off for Wear Quay, but the tide changed halfway there, and going south into the tide and wind was a interesting, but l got there.

Walking up the gangway to the boat yard cafe were we had agreed to meet. Sally and Bill hadn’t arrived yet, so l ordered a hot chocolate for myself and as l sat down to drink it, l saw Bill walk past the window, so went out to see him and met Sally walking in with the petrol. So we all went back in the cafe and l bought them a hot chocolate too. Sitting and chatting, it was nice to see them again.

When finish we went back outside to where the petrol was, l was going to pour it into my fuel can, but Bill and Sally insisted on me taking the can as well. And they wouldn’t take a payment either. I felt bad for not refunding them, it was a favour to get me the petrol, let alone give it to me. I thanked them and headed back to Elektra in the dinghy. I own them one next season.

Having given up on Salcombe yesterday, l decided to go north up the Tamar and explore some more of the upper reaches. I pulled up Elektra’s anchor at 0900hrs and said buy to Philip as l motored her past. I then set her genoa to sail to the bridge by Drakes Island but the sailing was short lived as the wind died away and so l started her engine. With the wind still northwest l had decided to go north against the tail end of the ebbing tide. So when l got to the Bridge there was a lot of tide against and Elektra slowed to 3kts SOG, once though into the main river the flow was less.

It took 1.5hrs to motor north to Sand Acre Bay in the entrance to the Lynher River where l dropped anchor. Leaving Elektra and going by dinghy to Saltash Sailing Club pontoon and from there to the co-op for a weeks shopping. Once back to Elektra l pulled up her anchor at 1300hrs and headed back out the Lynher and north up the Tamar now at the start of the flood. Elektra was now logging 6.5kts under engine, l watched the the sounder as l knew the tide was low but the least depth l saw was 2.8m under her keels. Past Cargreen and Wear Quay and on around the next bend to the anchorage which l used earlier in the summer, another 6nm in a hour.

I quite often anchor going forward, dropping the anchor backwards over the bow and lay the chain as Elektra continues forward over it, l tried the same here, which didn’t work well this time! I dropped her out of gear and walked forward, opened the anchor locker took out the bucket. I let go the anchor the tide was moving quickly now, the chain was running out and l had to stop it, which l managed but not before the anchor ball had got tangled in it and disappeared over the side! By this time Elektra had stopped and swung around to face the tide. I pulled the chain back in to grab the anchor ball, making the ball fast before untangle it. Once retrieved, l let out a little more chain, anchor snatch line and attached the anchor ball. Before walking back to the cockpit. One thing was for sure, the anchor was holding in the 3kts of flood tide!

It was a lovely sunny afternoon/evening, it didn’t take me long to think of exploring the upper reaches of the Tamar in the dinghy would a good idea this evening on the high water. High water Devonport was at 1726hrs, l wasn’t really sure of the difference in the upper reaches, but decided in the upper reaches by dinghy should be fine.

So l attached the outboard on the dinghy and filled the tank. I left the fuel can in the dinghy for the return trip. Locked up Elektra and set off up river at 1500hrs.

It was about 6.5nm as far as l went and another 1.5nm to the Weir Head. Having gone up river, l had 6.5nm back to Elektra. I should of thought about refilling the engine but it ran out of fuel before l did! I still had fuel but l couldn’t restart the outboard, so just south of Cotehele Quay l started rowing, at least the tide was now going out. I think it was about 2.5nm l had left to row. I tried a few times on the way to restart the outboard without any luck. I wasn’t sure if it was flooded or the fuel hadn’t got through yet. I got back to Elektra at 1900hrs and put my dinner on, before putting up her cockpit enclosure.

The forecast overnight was southwest force 5-6 vearing northwest 5-6 during the day. I had planned to head off to Salcombe in the afternoon but as the wind veared into the northwest, l wasn’t certain it was a good idea and l couldn’t see a good forecast for getting back west during the week. So in the end l stayed put.

Philip anchored ahead of me was worried he was too close to the cliff. I trying telling him he was 5-6 boat lengths away but he didn’t believe me. So he moved outside of Elektra and dropped anchor again. I just let another 10m of chain out and then went for some shopping in King’sands Spar Shop for Philip and myself.

After my return, Philip offered me a cuppa, so l climbed aboard, after tea and a lot of chat, Philip is very good company, l went back to Elektra. The wind was still blowing hard as the day was coming to an end. I was doing stuff in the cabin, when l next looked out Philip yacht had dragged, so l called him to tell him. He decided to re-anchor before dark and she held this time though the night.

I had arrived in Fowey on Thursday, l had expected a fast passage because of the forecast but it hadn’t happened, two other yachts had arrived same day from the opposite direction later, complaining of the strong winds, either the wind had increased or l had been going down wind and it seemed a lot less. On Friday in similar conditions only 2 other yachts arrived out of the 4 which had set out from Plymouth. 2 of them turned back with seasick crew. Then on Saturday another arrived from Falmouth area making a total of 7 at the rally, with 10 sailor’s aboard. On Thursday evening the 5 sailor’s who were there gathered in Elektra’s cabin for drinks and chat after we had all eaten our own dinner. On Friday we did our own things and in the evening gathered on the pontoon for drinks and music/singing in the evening. Again on Saturday evening more drinking aboard Suzie and Mike’s Sadler 34 “Cornish Gold” Then on Sunday the rally was meant to be over but 4 yachts were still there so we gathered in Elektra’s cabin in the evening for more drink and chat

After a lovely weekend with sailing friends in Fowey, on Monday it was time to leave. The forecast was westerly force 4. Mike and Suzie left first about 1/2hr before Philip and me leaving the pontoon straight after each other, Kevin had decided to stay another day. Being lone sailor’s with Philip and l spent 15-20mins just dodaling about while we packed away our fenders and lines. I followed Philip down river in Elektra once everything was stowed. Philip only has a little engine which he was motoring slowly down river, l think l would of past him on the way to the sea but the hollow sound of Elektra’s engine worried me so l didn’t push it. As soon as we exited Fowey l was glad to turn it off at 1220hrs.

I just set Elektra’s genoa as it was a dead run to Udder Rock Cardinal Buoy and then Rame Head afterwards. Philip seemed to head more out to sea on a parallel route, he had full sail but his genoa seemed to be collapsing every time l looked over his way. In the main Elektra’s sail continued to work but l had to change it’s side a few times as the wind changed direction. Logging anywhere between 2.5-4.5kts while on passage. The tiller pilot was coping with her, so l left it in charge of the helm while l went to investigate the engine. It had seemed the water wasn’t cooling the engine but the water impeller case was cold. So l turned off the water and and removed the strainer to find it jammed full of eel grass! It was easy to clear, once done l checked the flow by opening the stop and the flow was good, then replaced the cap and tightened down before sponging out the water into a bucket. Once done l started her engine to check and all seemed good.

By this time Philip had dropped off behind, there were 2 other yachts which seemed to be catching up Elektra, one a cat was tacking down wind and leaving all others including Elektra standing, only proving that if you spend enough money you can have the fastest yacht on the water! Looking on the AIS the other yacht which looked like it was catching Elektra was 17m almost twice Elektra’s length, so should have done! But going down wind any yacht can only go as fast as the wind. She seemed to change tactics after the cat went by, and tack down wind but she lost ground to Elektra by doing so and before we got to Rame Head started motoring instead. I continued to sail Elektra because l wasn’t 100% sure of the engine and l would need it to get into Cawsands when we arrived. We slowly passed Rame Head, the wind seemed to pick up again afterwards and Elektra logged 4kts until Daystone Buoy, then turning into Plymouth Sound with wind now from port, she speeded up to 5-5.5kts until getting into the shelter of Cawsands, when l started her engine and motored in to drop anchor at at 1730hrs having logged 20nm.

With a SSOA rally arranged in Fowey over the weekend. I was looking for the weather to go. Thursday was showing southwest force 4 gusting 6, then southwest 4 gusting 5 in the middle of the day until it picked up again later. I went to bed the night before wondering what it would be like next morning. The tide was running my way from 0700 to 1300hrs.

Next morning, having got out before dawn and had breakfast before Elektra wasn’t floating, she didn’t lift off until 0630hrs and l readied Elektra for moving and pulled up her anchor at 0710hrs and motored her slowly out towards the mooring, just before the AIS alarm goes off, l knocked her out of gear and go into the cabin to turn it off. Narrowly missing a moored yacht l my return to the cockpit, l still have no idea why owners think it’s a good idea to leave their AIS on when they aren’t aboard 😕 maybe they want their yachts to be hit on the mooring?

Motoring on out of the moorings and south out of the Carrick Roads and round Zone Point before setting sail. Visibility was poor, about 3nm, could see the Roseland but no other land so followed the chart plotter line into the gloom, with drizzle blowing from behind l needed to have the wash boards in. I set up the tiller pilot and it seemed to be coping well. There wasn’t as much wind as l was expecting, but Elektra was logging a steady 4.5kts, the wind instrument was telling me force 4, 12-13kts, of course going down wind felt more like 8-9kts. But Elektra was sailing so not burning any diesel, so slow but sure. I had my log sheet in the cockpit for hourly records, so l didn’t have to keep taking the wet into the cabin.

Keeping up the same sort of speed over ground for most of the passage until 1030hrs when the wind died away to force 3 and over the next 3/4hr Elektra only logged 1.75nm, which is when l started her engine, rolled away the genoa and motored, coming in Fowey entrance at 1200hrs having logged 21.5nm. By 1230hrs Elektra was moored on a visitor pontoon up river and a total of 23nm for the day. It hadn’t been the fast passage to Fowey l was expecting, but at least l didn’t have to motor Elektra all the way.

With 4 of the rally yachts arrived before the end of the day, after we had all sorted ourselves out and had dinner, they all came over to Elektra for a chat in the evening.

After a night at anchor, l woke early and having looked at the weather apps decided to move Elektra the 3/4 mile down stream to Place on the then high water. So once dressed, l started her engine, switched on her instruments and untied her tiller before walking up onto the bow to pull up her anchor. Today’s forecast was for little or no wind but Wednesday and Thursday was showing strong southwest winds.

I motored Elektra down river quite slowly though the moorings, l wasn’t in any hurry. Motoring into Place, l was looking for a level hard bottom to dry Elektra out on. Once happy l dropped anchor with 1.4m under her keels. Then a light breakfast to take my tablets. I hadn’t noticed Elektra’s touchdown until l got up from breakfast, hard ground yes but not level, she was listening to port on the bottom part of the beach. Not a problem but not comfortable either. Anyway clearing away the dishes and doing some other jobs during the morning before locking up and getting down into the dinghy before the tide had completely gone.

I had found a new use for my broken telescopic boat hook. I had by then replaced it with a nice new one, having lost the hook and the end section of the pole in the Exe River earlier in  the season. But while l was home having taken the outboard back to reclean the water system. And the broken boat hook was sitting there on the bench! I used to have a while plastic waste pipe doing the same job but that was lost in the Yealm River during the gales of September 2025 when the dinghy was spinning on the end of the painter and ended upside down more than once. So carefully removing the clamps, nuts and bolts   for spares, l used the handle section as the extension outboard handle. Trying out my new handle on the way across the river to St Mawes. I came into the free harbour steps (lots of visitors use the pontoon and get charged a fee).

I went into the Rising Sun for a pub lunch, l do enjoy a Men-dhu stout. The last time l had a pub lunch here was with my wife Vicki just days before she was rushed to hospital. I had avoided going back in here for lunch because of it, all season. Having a pub lunch here was a little luxury we allowed ourselves a few times during our sailing seasons, normally we would eat aboard.

After lunch, l was going for a walk but having only walked a few hundred yards, l looked at the tides and thought l could get back to Elektra before it goes completely out, so turned around and pulled the dinghy down to the water. Motoring back out across the river l had timed it very well, just landing on the bottom of the beach before the tide disappeared over the level mud/stone.

Although Elektra was listing, she was solid on the ground, and safe to move about her as needed. So l did a few job and then started cleaning her freeboard, Elektra had been a bit neglected since the winter 2024-25 when l had her polished up lovely. Until the fire of that year when she had been towed three times and her freeboard had suffered fender marks which l hadn’t removed last winter because it rained almost nonstop from being November to end February.

Then as the incoming tide allowed, l moved the dinghy over and tied to Elektra’s stern and climbed aboard. Later once floating again l moved her out a little to land next tide on level ground. Then l settled down for the evening and listened to the radio.

Having been home for 11 days, l was looking forward to being aboard again, but the weather was still looking unsettled. With Monday strong north westerly followed by a calmer Tuesday and then strong southwest winds.

I liked the idea of strong winds to sail across Falmouth Bay, but once there l would need sheltered anchorage. Then over the following weekend l have a SSOA rally in Fowey. Then l was planning to try for Salcombe for a few days following that if weather permitted.

My plan had been to get away from home early, but l didn’t sleep in the night between 0100-0400hrs, so having gone back to sleep l then didn’t wake up until 0830hrs, so l didn’t get down to St Anthony until 1030hrs. I launched the dinghy and transferred the stores from car to dinghy, before parking the car.

Pushing off the dinghy and motoring out heavily loaded to Elektra, there didn’t seem much wind as l transferred the stores to Elektra’s cockpit, removed the outboard to pushpit and attached the dinghy to the davit lines and climbed aboard myself. I felt like it might rain so l moved all the stores into the cabin as quickly as possible. Spending the next half hour stowing everything away.

Then it was time to get Elektra ready to leave. Just before leaving l took the mooring strop off the bow roller and moved the anchor from the locker to the bow roller ready for later. Then back to the cockpit to to start the engine, switch on the instruments and untie the tiller. Back to the bow to let the mooring go, once back in the cockpit l motored her away from the moorings. I would have cut though between Carcroc and Dennis Head but another yacht was coming in though the gap, so l went out around the Cardinal Buoy.

As l approached the Cardinal, l started to set her genoa to starboard and rounded the buoy and stopped the engine. With the full genoa deployed she was too much for the tiller pilot to handle. So having set the sail, l took the helm and Elektra set off across Helford River entrance at over 5kts on her ear, this was exciting l thought until Elektra rounded up and l had to pull in the first reef. According to the wind instrument, it was the top end of force 5, Elektra was certainly tough to handle, but l did let out a couple more rolls of genoa just to keep her going.

Falmouth Bay was a little cluttered with anchored shipping and a little detour was needed to go around the bow of 2 of them, before bearing away in towards St Mawes. We covered the 5nm to the way point in under an hour, it had been a great sail. Sailing into St Mawes l needed to know the engine would start before getting in, to close! So reached into the cabin and started it. Then rolled away the genoa and motored into the Precuil River, it was 1.5hrs before low water, Place was already dry so l continued up river to our favourite anchorage and dropped anchor with 0.4m under the keel.

After the packing away jobs, l went to sleep in the cockpit. It’s a fact of any extreme sport without a GoPro or similar, when it gets exciting no photos are taken!

After the day scrubbing and cleaning Elektra’s bottom. I had looked at the forecast and decided to head back home a bit. They were giving west or northwest force 5 for today and northerly force 4 tomorrow with little to no wind for the weekend and strong east winds for Monday, followed by a week of rain!

I wanted to get back by Monday anyway and l wanted to have a sail! So decided Thursday was looking like a nice sail. Because of the east wind on Monday l wanted to get Elektra up in Carne Creek and with high water being aboard 1000hrs, l needed to leave Place by 0830hrs. As it happened l awoke early and l rowed over to the beach in the dinghy about 0600hrs, had left a wood chisel yesterday lying by one if Elektra’s keels, when l was scrapping the barnicals off. I had realised yesterday but didn’t want to go get it then because of the mess l would make of Elektra’s cockpit again! I knew just where to look and found it easily.

I was happier now, l had visions of someone injuring themselves somehow. Once back aboard Elektra, l made breakfast and did the washing up. Then got Elektra ready to leave. l pulled up Elektra’s anchor at 0845hrs and motored her out of St Mawes into the wind. Once out of of Mawes, l set the genoa with one reef and stopped her engine. The wind was strong but variable and Elektra was logging between 4 and 6kts crossing Falmouth Bay hard on the wind so more westerly than northwest, it was certainly blowing west out of Helford River. As we passed Carcroc Cardinal Buoy, l started her engine and rolled away the genoa, motoring in though the moorings now bang on 1000hrs, l dropped anchor in Carne Creek at 1010hrs having logged 6.5nm.

I then packed up her gear and got ready to leave for home.