Love Sailing

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.

Being in Place, l thought l could give Elektra a bottom scrub. But when l awoke Elektra was aground, down at the bow and lying to starboard. It was obvious where she was at anchor was too soft ground. So once she re-floated l would move her to solid ground.

I could see the harder patches of the bottom, but could l dry Elektra out on one? I waited until after high water and then moved her 76 meters according to the GPS, then all l had to do was to wait for her to dry out again.

She stopped swinging at 1330hrs, but she still didn’t seem very stable. I was doing other jobs in the cabin and it wasn’t until l looked up, that l realised that she was bow up! Elektra had landed on the side of a hard patch, it could have been worse, she could have been on the slope sideways. But there wasn’t anyway to move her now.

So when the tide had gone out a bit l got out in the dinghy and started scrubbing, realising the depth at the bow was now shallow enough to get out of the dinghy, that’s what I did. Scrubbing the bow first because the water was far to deep at the stern. The tide was falling and l could do more and more as it did.

It soon possible to see her bottom and l was horrified to see barnicals! I soon realised that my winter experiment had proven me wrong! I thought the antifouling l had been using for the last possibly 15 years wasn’t working anymore and so l didn’t buy any and l didn’t have enough to do all of Elektra. The places l hadn’t done had the barnicals! Well now l would have to scrape them off and the only way to do so was to climb in under her on the wet bottom. But l would let the tide go away properly first. With other jobs to do in the cabin l climbed back aboard.

About 3/4hr later l climbed back down to scrape off the barnicals, l had found a plastic bag for lying on, but soon found out it didn’t work very well as l was getting wet! But l kept on until l was finished and all the barnicals he’d been scraped off. Then l had to get back aboard, climbing onto the boarding ladder out of the mud isn’t ever a good idea! At the top of the ladder l kicked my Crocs off into the aft end of the cockpit an then climbed in myself. I pulled off my T-shirt and my shorts and found clean set. Then l boiled the kettle to have good wash myself before washing out the cockpit and my Crocs.

By the time l had finished it was 1700hrs and time for some dinner. Once Elektra was floating again, just before dark l moved her out into deeper water, to try to stop her from drying out on a funny angle during the night. And then l went to bed at 2130hrs.

Looking at the forecast l decided to move from Channels Creek to Place. On Wednesday the forecast said strong westerly wind and rain, Channels Creek would have been OK but Place would be a lot better. By the time l thought l would move it was really to late to do so before low water, so had to wait until the tide would be high enough to get into Place.

I had planned to leave Channels Creek at 1830hrs but like always, l can’t ever wait! Vicki was good at regulating me, holding me back until it was time to leave. I think of all sorts of reasons to leave early! I know l thought, l have dinner before we move, but of course l put dinner on early! Lol 😆 And l pulled up Elektra’s anchor at 1735hrs, l didn’t start her engine, thinking l would just sail her out, but with the tide stream running against, Elektra was only logging 1kt, and so l started her engine.

I motored her out past Turnaware Point and a bit down Carrick Roads before starting sailing again. We were early, so we didn’t have to be quick. Logging just 2-3kts SOG going into the tide, l was just using Elektra’s genoa, getting there slowly was fine. As we got a little further south the wind picked up a bit and speeded up to 4kt. By this time just west of Falmouth entrance, there was a yacht race coming from Falmouth. The first 4 yachts  turned round a buoy and ran parallel to my line. I wasn’t wanting to get involved in their race, so l moved over to hug the coast north of St Mawes Castle. The problem was l think the following yachts thought l was part of the race! So followed me, l got to the point l wasn’t going any closer to the rocks, so l’m not moving over any more! Of course they all overtook, but l was surprised how slowly. They all had full sail, obviously very light, some had 6 or 8 crew. I was alone, sailing on just Elektra’s genoa and heavy with stores l even a dinghy on davits!

Once the racing yacht to port of us got out the way, l cut across behind and between Castle Point and Lugo Rock to get totally out of their way! And once though the gap gibed Elektra onto a port tack. Sailing on into St Mawes, l started her engine and rolled away her genoa just before the moorings.

Then motoring in towards Place watching the depth. There were 3 other yachts already at anchor in Place, so motoring into Place between them slowly, l found there was just enough depth, l dropped anchor 0.3m under the keel at 1910hrs 2.5hrs before high water having logged 4.5nm. Here l wasted no time putting up Elektra’s cockpit enclosure which l hadn’t used since before Vicki got poorly.

Sorry, l always think in old measures! Elektra burns 2lts of diesel per hour, she can cover 5nm per hour, so dose about 11nm per gallon! If you had a car and it could only do 11 miles per gallon, you would sell and buy something else! But Elektra is a home really, she’s 3.5ton and carries another ton of gear and stores. I was talking to a friend who has a motor yacht, he said his fuel costs are £50 per hour! So l think myself lucky!

Looking at the fuel costs, you can see why l only like to move Elektra elsewhere when there’s enough wind to sail!

After a rest day in my favourite anchorage, the forecast of west-northwest force 4 for Monday looked good for a nice sail. I decided to sail back to Gillan to order a new heads pump from ebay, l could do a few other things while at home and get a shower.

For some reason, l awoke very early and having got out for a pee decided to stay out and make breakfast, it wasn’t yet light but l was wide awake. Dawn broke as l was eating breakfast and once l had cleared the dishes, l went out into the cockpit and climbed into the dinghy, removed the engine and attached it to the pushpit, linked up the davit lines and climbed back into Elektra’s cockpit. Then lifted the dinghy onto her davits and genuinely got Elektra ready to leave.

I pulled up Elektra’s anchor at 0700hrs and motored her back down river, as l looked though the gap in the river, it looked like rain was coming in (we hadn’t seen much rain for almost 3 months) l would fetch my coat when l had the chance. Then the AIS alarm goes off!  Why do owners think their AIS needs to be on while in port and not aboard, l will never know? Now as a solo sailor, l have to go down into the cabin to turn the alarm off whilst motoring Elektra though the moorings! While l was in the cabin l got my coat.

My AIS comes on and turns off with the instruments, if Elektra is moored or anchored the instruments are off to save power.

Once out though the moorings and anchored yachts off St Mawes, l set up chart plotter for Gillan somewhere out there in the misty rain! I thought l was going to sail Elektra across Falmouth Bay but westerly force 2 wasn’t going to cut it! And so the engine went on again and l motored Elektra across to Gillan Harbour, where l dropped anchor at 0820hrs having logged 6.5nm.

Then l rowed the dinghy into St Anthony pontoon and drove home. Having done what l needed to do home l was back aboard by 1130hrs. I got Elektra ready to leave again and pulled up her anchor at 1150hrs.

Motoring her back out of Gillan l was hoping for a sail this time, but it was not to be, and so l started motoring her back across Falmouth Bay. At Black Rock way point she could be sailed again for a while, she was only making 2-2.5kts but l thought it was better than motoring. It was short lived, mainly because of south going tide and needing to go north, with tide heights also to think about! I started her engine again and motored her north over the shallows. I have a personal rule of 2hr either side of low water springs tides to stay in the channel. Apart from then go wherever you like. But this day l was pushing this limit, low water was 1540hrs and l was motoring Elektra north over the shallows at 1350hrs! It was OK as it happened, the least depth l saw under her keels was 1.2m. I dropped anchor in Channels Creek at 1405hrs having logged 15nm for the day.

Not able to keep my eyes open, l went for a sleep on the bunk and awoke again at 1700hrs, when l got out and put dinner in the oven.

With the forecast of northerly force 4-5 decreasing to force 4. I thought ideal weather to head back west. From here in Talland Bay the direction was more west-southwest. And so the northerly wind would make it a broad reach.

The wind seemed very strong when I first tried to pull up Elektra’s anchor, l just couldn’t so went back to the cockpit to get the winch handle to use Elektra’s manual windless. This pulled the chain back aboard no problem, just needed to continue to move the piles of chain from the deck into the anchor locker. Well the anchor was still dug in, Elektra stayed still, but once it broke free Elektra was being blown out to sea, as quickly as possible l pulled the rest of the chain aboard hand over hand and cleated the anchor off. Then went back to the cockpit and motored Elektra back into the cove. Once in close to the shore, l walked back onto the foredeck and stowed the anchor and the rest of the chain.

Once back to the cockpit again, Elektra was already halfway out of the cove again! I then engaged forward gear, turned her and headed out, unrolling the genoa as we went. I soon stopped her engine. And the wind let me know how strong it was blowing by rounding her up straight away! So l rolled away the genoa upto her second reef and no mainsail up, the wind instrument was telling me it was force 6!

It took a bit of adjusting of the sail before the tiller pilot could cope, but eventually l managed it and could go below to write in the log, over the next three hours the wind gently eased down to northerly force 3 and as it did l unrolled a bit more sail to keep her speed up. Arriving off the Dodman Point there seemed almost no wind but because of the tide stream running our way Elektra was still logging 3.5kts SOG. Then almost as quick as l had realised that, the wind died and the sail flops! So l rolled it away and started motoring on what was now a mill pond. Then within half an hour the wind picks up again from the northwest and l unrolled the genoa and started motor-sailing. Within half an hour the engine was off again and Elektra was logging over 6kts just on her genoa.

I continued to sail as far as Zone Point before starting up her engine to avoid tack north into the Carrick Roads. Instead just motored north and then northeast inpast St Mawes and up the Precuil River to drop anchor.

I had been stopped 3 nights in Fowey this season, their visitor mooring charge this year for Elektra £26.46 per night, which l think is expensive. I understand that the water taxi is £3.50 each way. Makes Fowey a very expensive stop! I am always on the lookout for free anchorage near by ports to avoid being charged.

With nothing better to do, l decided to look for some in around St Austell Bay and east as far as Looe. Pulling up Elektra’s anchor at 1050hrs, we would have the same problem today with the tide running against but with not far to go did it matter? Sailing north-northeast from Black Head until reached the mussel farm, so then tacking west, when we got to the end of the mussels farm, l rolled away her genoa and started her engine. Then motoring slowly north looking at various possibilities for anchorages until arrived off Charlestown, being about 2hrs before low water, l didn’t venture in too close for fear of running aground. So turned away with 1.2m under the keels at 1156hrs. From here l could sail again and set off along the north coast of St Austell Bay. It was then l noticed a NCI station up on top of the cliff, l thought l bet they don’t see many yachts in here, so gave them a little wave.

Sailing on passed Gull Island, Carlyon Bay and Par Docks before turning south towards Little Gibbin. Then southeast to round Gibbin Head. With very little wind, sailing east off Gibbin Head, l cut though between the head and Cannis Rock about 1230hrs, an hour and a half before low water springs, l was fairly happy about doing so because l had do before but not this close to low water. But not to worry in any case as Elektra had 3.5m under her keels. From there l sailed her towards Polridmouth Cove, and when Elektra lost the wind, l rolled away the genoa and motored her in. I was interested here because the chart shows a Rock in the entrance. But now very near low water springs, it still wasn’t showing itself. I thought l am going to anchor here sometime soon, it was really a very nice spot.

Turning around, l motored Elektra back out and set sail along the coast towards Looe, sailing was slow but while Elektra was still making 2kts SOG, l was happy to let her sail which would save diesel. When the wind dropped off to a northwest force 2 and Elektra had slowed to 1.2kts, l started her engine and motored the last 1.5nm. Turning north into Talland Bay for the first time, it looked lovely but the depth swallowed quickly and not wanting to touch bottom at low water because of the underlying swell. I dropped anchor at 1615hrs having logged 15nm in 5m of depth with the tide set to make another 3m before high water. This left Elektra quite a long way off shore.

After tidying away Elektra, l put on my dinner and ate. Afterwards going ashore in the dinghy for a walk, this was Talland Bay and the village/hamlet was called Porthallow. I always fine it amazing how many times the same place name turns up in Cornwall. My engineer comes from the village of Porthallow on the Lizard.

Back aboard, the night forecast was blowy, they were giving northerly force 3 gusting force 6 and the wind had already picked up in the early evening. But having checked my transits a few times and again before dark, l was happy Elektra wasn’t dragging.

The night sounded blowy with the anchor chain clonking now and then, but didn’t really keep me awake as l was quite tired from the days activities.

I had gone home on Sunday, l had some washing which needed doing and some phone calls to make and arrange appointments. I needed diesel and to refill the water tank, all of which l could have done in just one day. But with east winds forecast, they made getting back aboard difficult.

And so it was Thursday, those 3 days at home had dragged and l needed to get back aboard. Originally l had planned to get back aboard at 1430 as the tide was coming back in, but at home after breakfast, l don’t want to wait, so looked at the tides. If l was going before the tide went out, l needed to be at St Anthony by 1030hrs. The time then was 0900hrs, so l got my skates on and packed up the remaining cool bag, loaded the bags into the car, checked the house one last time, locked up and drove to St Anthony. It’s only about 2 miles but on narrow lanes. Part way there l met a visitor in her BMW who couldn’t reverse, to begin with l wasn’t going back! But then l thought about the tide going out! So l stuck the car in reverse and went back 200 yards to a passing place because the visitor couldn’t go back 50 yards. I said a few words under my breath.

Down at St Anthony, l launched the dinghy and loaded the bags, then went and parked the car. I stopped and talked to Stewart on the beach briefly, both of us watching the tide.

Out at Elektra l transferred the bags to her cockpit and climbed aboard, it was going to take me a while before l would be ready to leave, to stow the stores and to remake the bed. But by 1200hrs, l was just about done. Out in the cockpit l saw that Stewart had already left on his day sail aboard his Sadler 26. It was then l looked at the tides, the stream wouldn’t be going east until 1640hrs. I’m not waiting that long l thought. So got Elektra ready to leave the mooring.

I had been in contact with Crusader Sails about the mainsail and Paul the boss had given me a few pointers, so l planned to try some and also get a video of the sail in use to send to Paul at Crusader. With little or no wind, l thought it was an opportunity not to miss.

So casting off at 1300hrs having pulled up her mainsail, l motored her out slowly between Carcroc and Dennis Head, set the genoa and turned off the engine. Sailing north-northeast across Helford River entrance to pass behind another yacht coming out of Helford River, once we had past l set the chart plotter up for the Dodman Point 14nm away. This line would take Elektra though the racing yachts during Falmouth week. With the wind picking up, it pushed Elektra over and the sail luff started backing. It was at this point l realised the luff only backed when she was hard pressed and when reefed it didn’t. With it showing force 4 on the wind instrument, l pulled the first reef into the mainsail.

The wind was blowing northwest force 3 sometimes 4 and Elektra was making good progress into the tide stream going in the opposite direction. My main problem was balancing the sails so the tiller pilot could cope. Elektra was ploughing forward regardless. I hadn’t used the mainsail much this season because the luff backs but I feel maybe l had given up with it too early and with a bit of practice l could get it to work well.

By the end of the day l had sailed Elektra from Gillan to Polgwyn Cove almost entirely, only started the engine to get away from her mooring and to anchor in Polgwyn Cove. Elektra had averaged 3.8kts into the tide which was probably doing about 1kt in the opposite direction.

My sleep pattern has gone wrong! Having gone to bed early, l was hoping to sleep better, but l woke at 1130hrs and was awake until 0300hrs. Then l slept until 0940hrs! By the time l finished breakfast it was 1120hrs, this was crazy it was messing up the days!

I was lazy today, never went for a walk, just did a little cleaning and relaxing in the sunshine, with the day drifting on by. I felt peckish again quite early, so put my dinner on at 1700hrs. After dinner l relaxed in the cabin until dark when l closed up the companion way hatch, closed the curtains and switched on the cabin light. I wasn’t going to bed to early because that hadn’t worked last night!

Then a similar awake period durring the next night, but I didn’t wake up again in the morning until 0940hrs! Now Sunday I was going home today for new stores, diesel, water. I also had some phone called and apointments to make. There wasn’t any hurry to get going. The forecast gave no wind in the morning but picking up to a west-northwest force 4 in the afternoon, so I slowly got Elektra ready to leave.

Pulling up here anchor at 1200hrs, I motored her down river to St Mawes and set sail in a west-northwest force 2 at 1230hrs. Elektra covered the next 5nm to Gillan Harbour in 1hr 40mins, at times almost felt like she was at a standstill but having done so much motoring this season, I didn’t want to start her engine.

We bought Elektra (our Sadler 29 which was built in 1984) in November 2016, her sails had been replaced in 2003 by Jeckels, so were 13 years old. I knew in time they would need to be replaced again but there were other jobs which needed doing first.

We had ordered a new stack pack from Jeckels soon after the delivery passage in March 2017, it had taken Jeckels until August to delivery it and because of the delay the company had fallen out of favour with me.

Back in 2007 with our last yacht, l had Crusader Sails make a new mainsail for her and because of that great service l probably favored them. In 2022 l got quotes from 3 sail makers for a new set of sails. The quotes were very similar on price, and only because of the great service in the past did l go with Crusader Sails. The new Sails arrived the same day as Elektra was pulled out for the winter. The warranty was for 6 months, which they agreed to extend to 6 months from beginning of 2023 season.

During the winter 2022-23 Elektra had a major refit, new water tank, new black water tank, new solar frame and panels etc. So after Elektra was launched in 2023, with so much new to get used to, it took a while to properly look at the Sails, adding to this we quite often sail on just her genoa.

But l wasn’t impressed with the shape of the new mainsail, and said so to the chap in charge of sales. The modern computer designs put a wing shape into the sail, in principle it sounds great. But on our Sadler 29, the traveler is only as long as the companion way is wide. And heading into wind, the sail was so baggy, that the luff backs and there was no way of stopping it!

I tried to communicate this with Crusader Sails but they weren’t really interested in helping me to solve the problem. I don’t really complain, but l expect company’s to give good service but Crusader Sails didn’t.

Over the years, l have found don’t like looking at the sail, so much so, l almost never use it! As yacht owners we buy new Sails to replace old baggy Sails, but what Crusader Sails made a baggy sail to replace the old mainsail, which l think was better than the new one!

This season l have experimented and think l have found a way to make the sail work better, but this shouldn’t be needed!

It’s interesting that the Sadler 32s and 34s have travelers which are as wide as the cockpit

I was later in contact with Paul at Crusader Sails and he gave me some pointers and l used the sail some more. I would say l’m not a 100% happy with the sail, but happy to continue to try and get the best out of the mainsail they made. I do believe Paul and all at Crusader Sails made sails which they believed to be best for our Sadler 29.

I slept between 0230-0800hrs and then got out and made breakfast. Then l emptied the cockpit locker looking for some stainless steel cleaner, l had looked home and it wasn’t there, so it must be aboard l thought. But after emptying l never found it. I did have some other cleaning products and tried different stuff until I found something which worked.

I was aware it was around high water and l wanted to go for another walk, so looked at my tide app. It was an hour before high water at which point l thought that the cleaning could wait. And so fitted the outboard on the dinghy and motored it down river to Place ferry landing pontoon, made the painter off and went walking again. I walked up the hill out of Place and joined the path to the coast path and headed for zone Point and St Anthony Head. It was approaching midday and the temperatures on land had risen.

I had done this walk before, but still lovely, walking on passed St Anthony Head, there aren’t many seats and the one’s which were free l made use of. Once back to the dinghy l popped over to St Mawes and the co-op for milk, before heading back to Elektra for a sit down at 1530hrs. It was too early for dinner but yet l was a bit peckish, l then grazed until 2000hrs, not eating properly, but just a bit of this and bit of that.

Going to bed before dark, l hoped to be able to sleep better 😴