Love Sailing

Elektra was aground 2hrs either side of low water now as the tides moved towards springs, when she floated again about 1400hrs on Saturday. I pulled up her anchor and motored her southwest back down though the moorings to Place for better shelter from the forecasted southeast vearing southwest force 5 gusting 7 for Saturday night and Sunday morning. Rain was also forecasted for Sunday morning. In Place Elektra would ground 3hrs either side of low water, which isn’t a bad thing during any blow, as your yacht can’t drag anchor if aground. Not that I had any problems with anchors draging since buying her 10kg Rocna anchor over the winter 2022-23. Elektra grounded about 2130hrs which was shortly before the wind started blowing.

When I awoke 0700hrs after the night of wind Elektra was swinging about, keen to get away but the anchor was holding well. Elektra grounded again at about 1000hrs and was completely dry about 1 hour either side of low water. The forecast was for the wind to vear into the northwest and die down, with little or no wind tomorrow. I decided I would leave Place when Elektra was afloat and go back to Gillan Harbour as the forecast for Tuesday-Thursday was wet and windy. While Elektra was dry, I climbed down her boarding ladder and went for a walk, to have a look at the sea conditions, across the beach, up the path in the field and though the gate. From there I could see part of Falmouth Bay and across the Carrick Roads into Falmouth, there wasn’t any white horses, but looking at a yacht exitinng the Carrick Roads still a southerly swell in Falmouth Bay, but the wind had already moved into the northwest. On my return to the beach, I thought I would say hello to the owner of another yacht anchored there, a Westerly Centaur. Over reasent years I had seen the yacht quite a lot but never seen the owner to say hi. I walked out to the Centaur, the bottom here was a bit like slow-quick sand! Lol. D was scrubbing off her yachts bottom in shorts and bear feet. I in resent days had changed from shorts to trowsers and wellies, if you stood still too long, you simply sunk into the bottom. D and I had a sort chat, but it wasn’t a place to linger long, so I headed back the way I had come, before I lost my wellies!

Back at Elektra on a more solid bottom, I could wash my wellies off in a puddle and then climb back aboard Elektra via the dinghy to avoid getting Elektra’s cockpit covered in mud. It looked as if D had climbed back aboard the Centaur coved in mud, then washed herself before washing out the cockpit. The joys of boating, come in many forms!

Soon the tide was returning, once high enough I pulled the dinghy back up on her davits and started getting Elektra ready to leave. She floated about 1500hrs, now with the wind blowing from almost the opposit direction, she lightly bounced from keel to keel across the bottom until she also was facing the opposit direction. I pulled her anchor up at 1515hrs and motored her slowly out of Place with 0.3m showing under her keels. Out though the moorings into St Mawes out harbour, the wind direction seemed more west-northwest and force 4 gusting 5. I set just about half her genoa, she was going into the in coming tide but still logging 4.5kts. I let out a little more sail only for her to brotch, so I had to pull it back in again! I think it took half the way across Falmouth Bay to get her sail right, but in the end it was, logging over 5kts, we turned into Gillan Harbour at 1630hrs having logged 6nm. From there I motored her into Carne Creek and dropped anchor at 1645hrs.

The Truro Harbour master used to allow local boats and yachts anchor for nothing in their area north of St Just in Roseland and Truro and Fal Rivers. But 2 years ago they changed to free first night for locals.

Last year Vicki and l didn’t visit even the once, l had been anchored a few nights this season and had been charged £7 for one night. But doesn’t, being charged discourage visits, since being charged l had stopped for an occasional night but made sure l didn’t stop two nights. And after one night in Channels Creek it was time to move on.

So, l planned to motor south to St Mawes and the Precuil River. Having planned to motor l didn’t bother unwrapping the mainsail but once south of Turnaware Point at 1020hrs there seemed enough wind to sail. So l set the genoa and was logging about 3.5kts in the southeast force 3. I was liking this sailing, minding my own business, but more the one other yacht decided to take Elektra on in some sort of race, of course they were all faster but had more sail up. I had tacked Elektra 7 times by the final tacked which took her from Pendennis Point into St Mawes Harbour, l sailed Elektra upto the moorings before starting the engine and rolling away her genoa.

I motored Elektra up the Precuil River though the moorings to anchor in the same area as we normally did. But this time l headed as close to the northest creek as possible before dropping anchor at 1250hrs having logged 9.5nm.

Next day at first light l motored Elektra into the creek and beached her to dry her out over low water. Something which hadn’t ever happened before was her anchor chain had got twisted this season. None of the yachts we had sailed had ever had an anchor swivel, but it hadn’t ever been a problem until this season. I think is was the 3 weeks anchored in  Carne Creek when Vicki was in hospital. With the tide coming and going and no swivel the chain had tangled.

Anyway being able to pull all her 40m of chain out of the locker, l was able to untwist it. It was surprising how twisted it was, so good job done. I’m looking into an anchor swivel for next season. When the tide came back later in the evening I motored Elektra back out into deeper water and re-anchored.

I had decided to have a few more days aboard before the weather forecasters were suggesting bad weather from Tuesday next week.

I had set off from Gillan Harbour at 1315hrs aboard Elektra with her genoa set into a northerly wind, only force 3 as it turned out. So l pulled up her mainsail with one reef, then she was logging 4.5kt, about halfway across Falmouth Bay a DFC message from Falmouth CG announced the presence of an unexploded 2nd WW bomb off the Falmouth water works, the bomb was going to be moved out into Falmouth Bay (with a DFC message comes an alarm which needs to be turned off at the set, in my case inside the cabin).

Almost straight after the message the wind increased to force 4 and then the tiller pilot couldn’t cope, so l couldn’t leave the helm! So l reefed the genoa and set the tiller pilot to auto before going into the cabin to turn off the alarm! It wouldn’t have been so bad, if it was just once but every 15mins or so the same message with the same alarm to turn off in the cabin. After the forth time, l was getting mad and threatened to turn the set off altogether! By the time of the forth message l was over the site of where the bomb had been discovered and been moved from but Falmouth CG broadcasting the same message.

What followed was one of the best sails l had had this season aboard Elektra as l tacked her north up the Carrick Roads to Turnaware Buoy where l motored her into Channels Creek and dropped anchor at 1645hrs having logged 12.5nm. It would have been a lot faster if l hadn’t had to avoid the bomb!

This weekend had been the southwest section CAs second Fowey Rally and although the numbers at the beginning of the weekend seemed disappointing, it was in quite a few ways a lot better than last years rally. We were a smaller group but this allowed us all to make good friends with all who were there.

In the last week 2 owners had contacted to say they couldn’t bring their yacht but one couple would still come to the RFYC meal on Saturday evening. But another owner had asked to come. So 5 yachts with 9 members aboard had arrived by Friday evening. We gathered on Richard’s Starlight for social gathering with drinks and nibbles.

On Saturday Richard guided us on a circuit walk around the Fowey river. This provided us with more time to get to know each other.

In the evening we all went to the Royal Fowey Yacht Club for an evening meal.

The next morning it was time to return to our own ports. For those going east the tide would be running their way, but since now neap tide and only 1.6m range the stream wasn’t going to be fast. The forecast was showing little or light northwest winds. We pushed off about 1000hrs and milled around in the harbour pulling up our mainsails before motoring out Fowey entrance and southwest towards Cannis Buoy for Susan and Elektra. The others headed east for Udder Cardinal Buoy.

I tried to sail Elektra but her mainsail was taking the genoas wind so l pulled the mainsail down. The genoa set well then but the SOG was only 2.5kts, it wasn’t long before l had started Elektra’s engine again and motoring. It seemed that David was still sailing Susan as l passed her to port.

I mainly motor-sailed Elektra across St Austell Bay and 3nm west of Dodman Point which probably increased her SOG by 0.5kt, after that the wind died away, so l rolled away her genoa. Then as we started to cross Falmouth Bay the wind picked up to a southwest force 3, but l continued to motor her towards Gillan Harbour getting into Gillan 4.5hrs after leaving Fowey having logged 24nm.

After 2 days chilling out at anchor in the Precuil River, it was time to head back to Fowey again for the CA rally.

The forecast of west-northwest force 4 increasing west-southwest force 5-6, seemed to suggest a fast passage, and the tide would be heading my way from 0730hrs. I awoke at 0530hrs, so go out and had breakfast. I pulled up Elektra’s anchor at 0700hrs and with navigation lights on motored down though the moorings and out past St Mawes.

There didn’t seem to be much wind, so l continued to motor Elektra out around Sr Anthony light house, Zone Point and onto course for Dodman Point. Another yacht had followed us out of the Carrick Roads motoring with reefed mainsail, but it’s course being quite a bit south, l decided she was heading for Plymouth or Salcombe.

Off Gull Rock the wind seemed to increase enough to sail, and so l set the genoa and shut down the engine. Elektra was only logging 3.5kts in the west-southwest force 3, but l was thinking at least l saving the diesel. The wind did increase a little on passage, to a force 4 and 4.5kts SOG by the Dodman Point. I think l did see 5.5kts across St Austell Bay when it was blowing force 5 for a short while.

The other yacht which looked like it was going to Plymouth or Salcombe either changed their mind or was just staying well offshore as they they went into Fowey about 0.5nm in front of Elektra, 22nm in 5hrs, but quite a pleasant passage. Unlike other rally skippers coming from Plymouth who had to beat the 20nm. Richard said he logged 35nm on 7hrs having set off at the same time as me.

With a free night on a mooring in Fowey, l had considered staying in Fowey for the next 3 nights until a CA rally. But at almost £80! l also considered going out and anchoring in St Austell Bay somewhere to wait until the rally.

In the end l decided to sail back the 20nm to the Precuil River and come back to Fowey again on Friday. The forecast was showing northwest force 4-5. The tide wasn’t going my way until 1230hrs. So l put the outboard on the dinghy and went for a shower at the yacht club.

Once back aboard and Elektra made ready for passage, l cast off at 1155hrs, motoring out of Fowey slowly. Once clear of the entrance l set all the genoa, but having Elektra knocked over, a reef was needed, l pulled it back in to the second reef and set course for Cannis Buoy, getting there St Austell Bay was covered with white horses. The wind instrument was telling force 5, but at 20-21kts it was nearly a force 6! But Elektra was handling it well, l let out 2 rolls of the genoa and Elektra was logging 5-6kts.

The 2nd entry in my log wasn’t until 1310hrs when we passed Yaw Buoy having logged 7nm. About the same time a bigger yacht passed Elektra as if she was standing still.

Elektra slowed as we got closer to the Dodman Point, but l knew once past the wind would be blowing again, so l used the slower speed to get a drink and biscuits.

Once past the Dodman Point, as l thought the wind was just the same as St Austell Bay and the sea was very lumpy and seeing that l couldn’t sail the course anymore. At which point l decided to motor her towards the shore for better sheltered waters. Heading towards Porth Loe for 3nm and calmer seas. Then l started sailing again, over Falmouth l could see there was a squall coming. During the squall the wind instrument was showing force 6, 24-25kts, Elektra was flying along at over 6kts on her ear, she slowed again when the squall cleared away but still doing over 5kts. When Elektra got back to the GPS track at 1500hrs and 4nm east of Zone Point l started her engine again and motored across the waves and avoid motoring into the waves nearer Falmouth.

It had been much more wind than the forecast and l was happy just to arrive safely, there had been some great sailing on passage but l would have dinner to cook after arrival. The sun was difficult at Zone Point shining off the sea, trying to see the pot markers, l was really glad to turn north around St Anthony light house. I motored her into the Precuil River and dropped anchor at 1630hrs having logged 22nm

I set the alarm for 0600hrs, got out and had breakfast, at 0720hrs l pulled up Elektra’s anchor and headed down river in the tail end of the flood and dropped anchor in Sand Acre Bay at 0845hrs having logged 6nm. From here l went by dinghy to Saltash Sailing Club and from there to the co-op for shopping.

Once back from Saltash,l lifted the outboard onto the pushpit, lifted the dinghy onto her davits, and got Elektra ready for passage, pulling up her anchor again at 1050hrs. Motoring Elektra back out of the Tamar River,  l took her though the bridge by Drakes Island at 1125hrs. It wad looking foggy and by the time l got to Daystone Buoy at 1150hrs, it had closed right in! I might not have gone but knew Monday was the only reasonable day this week for heading west. Watching the chart plotter and keeping well off Rame Head. The sea was quite lumpy off the Daystone until about 3nm west of Rame Head. In the few miles between Daystone and Rame Head, l saw five yachts heading towards Plymouth.

I was motor-sailing Elektra west, logging 5.5kts SOG. Since the Daystone Buoy, l didn’t see land again until Looe Island about 2nm north. From there l could see the cliff all the way to Fowey. This passage was very tiring, with the misty fog, l had to continue wipe my spectacles, just to see! And with the fog, l couldn’t see very far anyway, the risk of collision or running over a pot marker was very real, so continued lookout was eventual.

I got into Fowey exhausted at 1550hrs, when the harbour master came for his money, l passed over a fee night card, telling him l might only stay one night.

I had gone up the Tamar River on Wednesday, been down to Wear Quay on Thursday to pick up fuel from Sally and Bill. I should have had a walk ashore then but had come straight back to Elektra. I had an aborted etempt to go for a walk on Friday but since then stayed aboard. On Sunday l arranged with family to meet up for a walk and lunch at Wear Quay, by now l was desperate for exercise and a good walk wood do it.

We had agreed to meet at 1100hrs, l had been up since 0700, had breakfast, done the washing up and was steadily getting ready, so when Patti contacted me at 1020hrs to say they were running late and can we make it 1130hrs, l said yes OK and carried on with my original plan. On the way down to Wear Quay in the dinghy the tide was falling and l wondered how much of the corner l could cut off, over the mud flats, the water looking like is covered all the mud but how deep is it? A gig had set off down river just before me and they were sticking to the deep water channel. It didn’t take long to feel the engine was struggling, the prop was possibly just touching the bottom, so l turned the dinghy back towards the channel and arrived at Wear Quay at 1100hrs. I pulled the dinghy out onto the pontoon and emptied the rainwater from last night, then relaunched and made the painter off to the end of the pontoon leaving the outside face available for anyone else who might want to moor up.

Wear Quay is a boat yard and had a small cafe, l have always liked boats and looking at the boats and yachts in the yard wasn’t any hardship whilst I waited for the family to arrive. Once l had a good nose around l went and had a hot chocolate in the cafe. Patti Pete and Max arrived just as l finished it and l went out and to meet them. We walked south along the road against the river and up over the hill and back. Then a snack in the cafe. It wad lovely to see them and to chat about things.

Afterwards we parted company and l went for a longer walk, which l truly needed having been almost stuck aboard for days.

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.