This is our new adventure having owned and sailed a Hurley 22 over 5000nm during the last eleven seasons, my wife Vicki and I (Bruce) decided to look for a bigger yacht back in August 2016 having spent a nice evening on a Sadler 34.
Then we began the search for our new yacht soon after, we put our H22 on the market in September. We looked at Hurley 27s first before moving on to Hurley 30s but it soon became clear we were not going to find a good one. we liked the size of the H30 but we needed to be able to over winter any yacht we bought up a creek. So in the end we searched the internet looking for bilge keel Westerly Konsort,s and Sadler 29s. We looked at lots but it was when we got to Poole to see a S29 we knew we had found her, I made a silly low offer subject to survey thinking it might take all the winter to come to an agreement on price but to our suprise the offer was excepted three days later.
After three months of free storage ashore was offered by the broker we decided to leave Elektra in Poole and do the delivery passage in March have got all the winter jobs plus new standing rigging done before she goes in the water.
It was a five hour drive one way to Cobbs Quay in Poole from our home in Cornwall, we looked at Elektra in October and made an offer subject to survey, we visited her again in November for a week after the paperwork and payment had been made to arrange jobs. Again between Christmas and New Year for three days and again in February for final jobs and launch. For our last visit we hired a car one way picking up Bryan our friend and delivery skipper from Plymouth on the way in March 2017. In some ways it would have been far easier to have done the delivery passage at the end of 2016 but while she was in Cobbs Quay, Poole we had new standing rigging, new cabin heater and got Elektra ready for the passage home.
On the way to the sea
Cobbs Quay, Poole awating delevery passage
This is the Twin Sails Bridge closing behind us after leaving Cobbs Quay
Leaving Poole 12th March 2017
On the town pontoon in Salcombe after a 16hr passage from Poole
Elektra in Salcombe after a 16hr (95nm) passage from Poole
Elektra awaiting the season in Carne Creek after a 14.5hr (71nm) passage from Salcombe
With a possible weeks holiday coming up, I started looking at the forecast for where we could sail, the more I looked the better the weather looked to go out to Scilly. We hadn’t ever made it out to Scilly in May before, at work grass was slowing after 2 weeks of dry weather and it looked posible to take 2 weeks off. To this end we made our plans and I continued watching the forecast. One day it was looking good the next not so good and so on!
Elektra in Carne Creek
I got though the work I had to do by Thursday lunch time and showered, the tide wasn’t high enough to get aboard until 1630hrs, packing the pick-up in the afternoon, I had bought 30lts of deisel to top up the fuel tank, had mixed 5lts of petrol for the outboard and filled 2x 25lt cans of water. There were about 14 bags for life of stores plus holdall of clothes. At 1530hrs we left home and drove to St Anthony, driving round the bend where Elektra came into sight we could see she was still hight and dry, but I need to talk to Anthony the boss in his office first and then was allowed to park on the pressure washing bay to unload. I launched the dinghy and carried the first lot of bags down the beach to load, having loaded as much as I dared, Vicki got in and I pushed the dinghy out and climbed in, started the engine and we motored out to Elektra, passing though the narrows with the tide into Carne Creek. Once at Elektra she had about 2ft of water around her and it was a bit of a problem to get aboard until I removed the mooring line which went though the boarding ladder in the up position, which I had to do from aboard. I then climbed back into the dinghy and Vicki climbed aboard Elektra while I held the dinghy steady in the 3kts of tide. I passed the stores aboard and went back to St Anthony for another load while Vicki started packing Elektra. Going out though the narrows back into Gillan Harbour the little 3.3hp Mercury 2stroke was just enough power to make headway against the 3-4kts of tide! Once though I headed into the beach for another load of supplies, one filled back to Elektra and so on three times, on the plus side the tide flow though the narrow slowed down nearer high water. With Vicki in the cabin stowing supplies, I started topping up the diesel tank, I have a water filter funnal for this and over the 7 years since buying Elektra the filter had got slower and slower, I gave a treatment of Marine 16 before hand and it must of taken about an hour to filter 30lts into the tank! Good job we don’t use much, used only 30lts in the last 10 months. Once I had done this, it was time to empty the water cans into the water tank, I am glad to say this is a lot quicker to do, Vicki gave me 2 empty bags. So in was fill up the dinghy and back ashore with the empties cans and bags. I moved the pick-up to the carpark and motored the empty dinghy back to Elektra and climbed aboard. Then we settled down in the evening for a rest.
Another look at the forecast which suggested a nice weekend and then wind and rain most of the week to come! We have been in Scilly before during high winds and rain and it’s not a nice place to be in such conditions! We then decided to forget Scilly for now and stay local.
Next morning at 0750hrs we cast off and motored Elektra out of Carne Creek just after high water. The forecast was easterly force 3-4 so I pulled up the main with a reef going out though Gillan Harbour and set all the genoa as we turned and headed for Falmouth. There was quite a lumpy sea but almost no wind, after letting out all the main Elektra was only making about 2kts in an uncomforble sea, didn’t take long for me to start her engine again and roll away her genoa. We were thinking we would of had to motor to Scilly in no wind if we had gone! About a mile from the Carrick Roads the wind filled in and we could sail, it was nice sailing into St Mawes before starting her engine and motoring her up the Precuil River, we dropped anchor at 0940hrs having logged 7nm. It was lovely sunny weather and relaxing in the cockpit seemed the order of the day.
Anchored in the Precuil River
The next day we met up with Maddy and Robert in St Mawes, they own a Sader 34, normaly moored in Falmouth but they had anchored at St Just in Roesland and walked to St Mawes. We had lunch and a few beers in “The Rising Sun”, they are great company. Then after a bit of shopping it was back to Elektra for another relaxing afternoon.
With strong wind and rain forecasted for Monday, Vicki and I wanted to get back home before it came in. With low water at 1520hrs, we needed to get out before then or we would be aground, so I pulled up the anchor at 1340hrs and Vicki motored Elektra out. The new Rocna anchor had dug in well, it came up with about 3″ of mud on it, I didn’t want it to make the side decks muddy, so gave it a good wash before pulling onto the bow roller, we hadn’t been sailing with it on the new altered bow roller yet. The forecast said west-southwest force 4, but like always, more wind inside the Carrick Roads. I had pulled up the main with one reef in and once out past the moorings set the genoa with its first reef in. Elektra was soon logging over 6kts out of the Carrick Roads with the tide. It was a lovely sail with the wind southwest force 4-5, south on the starboard making tack and west on the port cross tack towards Swanpool, then south again towards Porthallow, as far as the Nare Point before tacking northwest now inside Helford River the wind was from the west. We tacked again off August Rock Buoy, then heading southwest towards Gillan Harbour. We motored in until Elektra grounded, I dropped the anchor and enough chain for 3m of depth, the anchor set itself as the tide came in. Vicki made a hot choc and I packed away the mainsail, we had logged 9.5nm in 2hrs. We had to wait there until the tide was high enough to put Elektra back on her gale/east wind mooring in Carne Creek. I ferried some stuff ashore in the dinghy and loaded the pick-up, but we mainly lazed around in the afternoon, evening sunshine. At 1900hrs I pulled up the anchor and Vicki motored Elektra back onto her mooring in Carne Creek, in by dinghy and home by 2000hrs.
Back on Carne mooring
Now as I write this on Tuesday 14th, there was over an inch of rain on Monday morning with a dry afternoon. And today was ment to be raining all day but mainly sunny with an odd light shower. I always say if the weather forecasters got paid by results, they wouldn’t be very rich!
On Friday 3rd of May I was able to get out for another sail. I was limited by the fact I needed to be back in Gillan before 1400hrs so I could move Elektra onto her gale/east wind mooring in Carne Creek because of forecasted strong easterly winds on Saturday. So I thought, if I got out early, I could have a nice sail before then.
Heading south!
The tide was out when I arrived at St Anthony, so I had to pull the dinghy quite away to the water and back up the beach with the launching trolley afterwards. Out on Elektra, I got her ready to leave, pulled up the mainsail and dropped her mooring at 0800hrs, I hadn’t started her engine and just sailed her out of Gillan between Car Crock and Dennis Head, once clear we turned east and goosewinged out to the Nare Point. There was very little wind, the forecast for today was west then west-southwest force 2-3. Having given the Nare Point a good offering, I turned her southeast for the Manacle Buoy, now on a reach she speeded up and we were soon doing 4-5kts. We past the Manacle Buoy at 0850hrs and headed south hard on the wind, I pulled the first reef in the main and a roll or two into the genoa. The wind had picked up to a southwest force 4 and the sea was a little choppy with whitehorses showing.
Tacked west towards Coverack Lizard Point in the distance, Black Head nearer
We continued south, must be going to warm up soon I thought! I was wearing fleece top with waterproof trowsers and I wasn’t hot yet! A cruise linner had come around the Lizard Point from the west and had turned towards Falmouth, we looked like we were heading towards each other, so I desided to tack Elektra towards Coverack, we continued on this tack until we closed on the cliffs under The Coverack headland hotel, when we tacked south again. By which time the cruise linner was passing the spot were we last tacked, now heading south again for a little while. I knew I should head back by 1100hrs but I didn’t want to be late so at 1030hrs we had made it as far south as 49’59.14N 05’04.29W, I tacked Elektra around and we headed back north again towards Manacle buoy, I shook out the main reef and let out all the genoa.
Coverack, centre left
This was a very plesent sail, running down wind in the sunshine, I started to overheat and removed my waterpoofs and the fleece. I later pulled the fleece back on when the sun went behind a cloud. We past the Manacle buoy at 1130hrs having logged 12.5nm. Then things hotted up as we turned towards the Nare Point, too much sail! Elektra was rounding up, so I pulled the first reef into the genoa, I was then able to hold her on course, she was doing over 6kts upto and passed the Nare Point. The tack would have taken us over the other side of the Helford River but I had enough by then, so I rolled away ther genoa, started her engine and motoring into wind on the tiller pilot, I then lowered the mainsail. I motored Elektra into Gillan and picked up her mooring at 1230hrs having logged 18.5nm.
Back in Gillan
Later at 1330hrs, I started Elektra’s engine again and motored her into Carne Creek and onto her east wind mooring. This was a little more of a problem than normal, as I had to pick up her stern mooring line from the bow and then turn her around under my feet because of the strong southwest wind blowing the wrong way down the creek, but I managed, once I had made off the stern lines to the stern cleats, I walked forward the end of the joining line and pulled aboard the bow strop and made off. Then it was time to pack up and leave Elektra until next weekend.
Ever since I learnt to sail 52 years ago, I have loved sailing.
Having only ever had one sailing lesson about 3 years after staring (I never had the time or money to pay for more), I have always thought as myself as still learning. I haven’t ever been into racing sailboats but have crewed in a few races. This dosen’t mean to say I don’t want the sailboat to go as fast as it can.
I started sailing at the age of 12 in a 8ft “Scamp” dinghy which I just sailed around the moorings in Gillan Harbour, I had built the dinghy myself the previous winter, she was a bit basic but got me into sailing. I built a 10-11ft “Embussy” dinghy 2 years later which I had my first and only lesson from my uncle John a dinghy instructor the following year. I learnt a few things but mainly just the calls for going about and jibbing.
Two years later I sold the “Embussy” dinghy and bought a “Enterprise” 14ft dinghy which I refitted. All these sailing dinghies were built of wood runners and plywood, Back then there were very few GRP boats. GRP constucted boats didn’t start until the middle 1960s, we were now into the late 70s but only about 10% of local boats were built of GRP. I bought my first GRP hull and deck (not a sailboat) in 1976 which I fitted out and first launched in 1982. I had gone away from sailing, it took the meeting of my second wife Vicki for me to reestablish my love of sailing.
I met Vicki at the end of 2003 and she moved in the following April. We started looking for something we could both enjoy, at the time I was playing golf but Vicki couldn’t walk well, so that was a non-starter. I suggested sailing, Vicki hadn’t ever done any but had been on a lot of canal holidays. So we hired a Wayfarer a few times from “Sailaway” St Anthony, Vicki really loved it and around August that year I bought a GRP Bradwell 18ft daysailor called “Acorn” which went on a drying mooring at St Anthony for the rest of that sailing season and the following season. “Acorn” was a nice small yacht which sailed very well but it was impossable to turn around, while in the cabin. Vicki and I wanted to go cruising and “Acorn” wasn’t going to be big enough!
Gala, seen here in Plymouth Sound 2006
So we went looking for a bigger yacht, we looked a quite a few before buying “Gala” our Hurley 22 in September 2005. “Gala” being a fin keeler, she needed a deep mooring and Sailaway didn’t have any availible, so we managed to get a mooring for her in the Helford River. It was from here we cruised her, over the next 11 seasons logging over 5000nm in an area between Dartmouth and The Isles of Scilly (she took us safely to and from Scilly 3 times). “Gala” was very heavy for her size and she needed the top end of a force 5 before thinking of reefing (very stiff), she was great to sail in force 6, on the negitive side of this was the need to motor her in anything less than force 4 or sail very slowly indeed! Another problem with her was in a small choppy sea (just as the wind picks up) she would sit still like a knodding donkey not making any way at all. “Gala” was mast head rigged and so her genoa was 2/3rds the sail area and we very quickly found out she would sail very well on any reach just on her genoa. And on a broad reach, her mainsail would take the genoa’s wind, so she would sail faster just on the genoa without the main. She had her good and bad points but we loved sailing her. It was her maintance which first started me looking for a bigger yacht (I wasn’t so flexible anymore to get into the nooks and crannys within her now I was getting older). So we started looking for another bigger yacht around 2014-15 but it wasn’t until November 2016 that we bought “Elektra”
“Elektra” our Sadler 29 was designed and built by sailors to sail very well. To be fair I didn’t know a lot about Sadler 29s before I bought one, I didn’t know about the foam buoyancy or the double skin, unsinkible. But the foam has proved to be a great insulation against the cold water and keeps the cabin cool durring hot weather. We liked her shape, she looked like a nice sailing yacht she was a new experience! She was again, mast head rigged, she will do 3kts though the water in 6kts of wind, so most of the time we are sailing. She needs to be reefed early but will still continue to sail safely for fun on her ear, but pulling in the reefs early, she well sail another knot faster when sailed more upright. Elektra has continued to impress me over the years in many ways. She has bilge keels or as Sadler advertised them as a twin keeler, she will point nearly as close to the wind as a fin keeler and go just as fast. She will go faster than many other yachts of her size and keep up with lot of bigger yachts. Like all yachts there are some bad points, slamming is one of them! But like another owner said to me last year the positives out weigh the negitives. Since owning Elektra she has taken us to and from Scilly 4 times over 7 seasons. We have continued to sail “Elektra” in the same area as we sailed “Gala” because of the same restrictions on my time, but I am retiring at the beginning of next year, so we are planning extended cruising in 2025 (watch this blog for more info).
On Wedensday 1st of May looked good for another sail. I was down to St Anthony soon after 0800hrs, launched the dinghy and out to Elektra by 0820hrs. Getting Elektra ready to leave, I dropped her mooring at 0845hrs and motored her out between Car Crock and the Dennis Head. I set all the genoa with a reef in the main stopped her engine and logging about 4.5kts headed out in a easterly direction. The forecast said southerly force 3-4, dropping off later, but once clear of the Nare Point was a southeast force 4-5 which decreased as we sailing east. So in the end, I shook out the reef in the main and we speeded up to 5.5kts, before slowing down again. After 1.5hrs we tacked but by this time the wind had died away quite a bit and Elektra wollowed up and down making only 1.5-2kts in a southwesterly direction.
Sailing east Nice sailing but still on the cold side, roll on summer!For solo sailing, some form of self steering is required.
15mins of that, changed my mind and I decided to sail Elektra west back towards Helford River, now on a reach Elektra picked up speed to 3.5-4.5kts, this was a nice sail and after passing the Nare Point heading into the river at about 1050hrs, I left the tiller pilot in control, lowered and packed the mainsail, while Elektra continued to sail into the Helford River on just her genoa. When we had sailed upto the main moorings, I rolled away the genoa and started her engine. I motored her in though the moorings as far as Tremerlin Quay and back without stopping. Once back to the narrows, I stopped her engine and I set just Elektra’s genoa to sail back out the river, this not being a great sail patten for sailing to windward, I had to tack Elektra 8 times before getting back into Gillan. I didn’t really mind this because it had been seven seasons since I had last tacked a yacht out of the Helford River. Our last yacht “Gala” swing mooring had been in the Helford for 11 seasons. Back in Gillan I started her engine just to get Elektra back on her mooring. We had logged 15.5nm over 4hrs. Now it was time to pack up, get back ashore and home.
With a chance of a day sail on Sunday 28th April, I needed to move Elektra from her gale proof/east wind mooring in Carne Creek on the HW at 0830hrs. I overslept and it was 0900hrs before I was launching the dinghy from St Anthony beach. Motoring out to Elektra I could see the tide was already falling. I climbed aboard, opened up, started her engine and switched on her instruments. I made off the dinghy to her stern cleat and untied the tiller. The depth under the keel was showing 0.0, so I went up to the bow and made off the mooring joining line to the the pick up loop before drooping, then flaking out the line, the other end of the line I attached to her stern mooring strop. We a little thrust of reverse, I started reversing Elektra out into the channel before dropping the stern mooring line over the side. I needed reverse because the creek bottom is higher just inside the entrance and with 0.0 under the keel showing on the depth, I didn’t want it to get any shallower! Elektra reacts slowly to the helm in reverse but I am happy to do this without any other boats arround. Over the channel with 0.1 under the keel, I give the engine a blast of forward to stop her and then a bit more to get her moving forward down the channel, getting deeper 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 to the narrows between Carne Creek and Gillan Harbour, once in the narrows the depth is 1.5m and when I picked up Elektra’s seasonal swing mooring, one of the deepest in Gillan Harbour, the depth is showing 5.5m under the keel, here she still floats in 1.5m at LW springs.
Elektra on her seasonal swing mooring
On her mooring I got Elektra ready to go sailing, attached the dinghy to the mooring buoy, unwrapped the main and pulled it up with one reef, got the tiller pilot out and set ready to use. I had left the engine running but I didn’t need it when I dropped the mooring, Elektra turned across the wind and was already sailing when I got back into the cockpit, so I leaned forward and turned it off before pulling out all the genoa.
Crossing Falmouth Bay
The forecast was for north force 4-5 and west force 4 later, once out crossing the Helford River entrance the wind was westerly force 3-4 gusting 5, so I headed across Falmouth Bay towards the Carrick Roads, logging 4.5kts SOG. If the wind had been more steady I would have continued with this amount of sail but in the gusts Elektra was rounding up, so I pulled the first reef into the genoa and things got better without any speed reduction. After passing the mouth of the Helford the wind was northwesterly, with the same wind speed the tiller pilot could just about cope except in the gusts when Elektra rounded up, it was nice to be out sailing again.
Falmouth Bay during one of the stronger gusts
Going in to the roads past Black Rock the wind never died as it normally dose here and once of Falmouth Harbour increassed so much that even I had a problem holding her on coarse, I was thinking the St Mawes ferry and Elektra were going to be close but with the extra wind gusts, I could point her a lot higher and go around her stern! Once passed Falmouth the wind eased a bit and Elektra sailed north to St Just in Roseland before we needed to tack. Having turned onto the cross tack, Elektra was getting pushed south by the out going tide and so halfway across we tacked again and headed north towards Turnaware Point, as we approched the point, I started to think about pulling down the main without Vicki at the helm. So I decided 2hrs after leaving Gillan and before we got north of Turnaware to pull down and packed away the main while Elektra drifted southeast in the northwest wind, having packed the main I decided to just sail back to Gillan with all of her genoa out. Elektra being a mast head rig, her genoa is 2/3rds of her sail area and she sails very well on just this sail alone.
Heading back
Elektra now speeding up with the remainder of the out going tide, she was logging 6.5kts at times, this was a more relaxed sail and I sat on the pushpit seats and enjoyed it. About St Just in Roseland a Westerly Konsort turned around and headed our way, I was interested because with their reefed main and reefed genoa there couldn’t catch Elektra, in fact Elektra was faster! But I think they may have ajusted their sails because they speeded up and came closer. After 2nm at Black Rock they had drawn up level, where I turned Elektra slightly for Gillan and we sailed apart again. After another 3nm they managed to get past Elektra’s bow then turned towards August Rock as I sailed Elektra on towards Gillan. I started her engine and rolled away her genoa by Car Crock east cardinal buoy, then motored Elektra into her mooring past a few anchored yachts. I picked up the mooring having logged 17.5nm in 3.75hrs.
Vicki started writing a list of forgotten items. We had taken a hot water bottle but unknown to us the bottle centre had stuck to itself inside its cosy, so a new bottle went on the list. In the meantime we had to make best use of what we had, so l filled as best l could to warm the berth. Vicki and I sleep together in the fore cabin and leave made up. In the evening after our meal we normally play super scrabble, open a bottle of red and listening to music on the radio. We haven’t ever watched TV like l know some owners do, getting away from the news is one of the enjoyments of cruising.
The list was getting longer, custard, wet wipes, lard, squash, J20s, hot water bottle and now eggs for breakfast! I said “what no eggs!” We normally while aboard have brunch about 1000hrs and dinner about 1930hrs, or we might skip brunch and eat ashore lunch time and have nibbles in the evening. No eggs meant a sausage sandwich in the morning.
After sausage sandwich next morning, l climbed in the dinghy and rowed ashore, then walked into St Mawes for a hot water bottle, lard and eggs. On the way ashore l stopped to talk to Nigel who sails a Sadler 26 called “September Sky” we had a good chat and l offered him drinks aboard Elektra later. After the shopping, l was back aboard doing some jobs before Nigel came over and we shared a bottle of red with nibbles and chatted for a while before dinner time and Nigel made his exit. Nigel was going to Gweek next day.
View from Elektra looking north
Saturday after the previous quite strong winds from the north the wind was now from the east and Elektra had turned around and now had a mooring buoy banging on her rudder. So after brunch and washing up l started Elektra’s engine and pulled up her anchor. During the winter l had changed from her 7.5kg Bruce to a new 10kg Rocna anchor and this weekend was its first test. All was good until l got to the anchor, it had dug in well and a lot of pulling out again, l did manage it by hand but l can see me hurting my back, so next time l will use the windless. The anchor also came up with most of the bottom, 100mm of sticky mud which took a bit of cleaning. Vicki motored Elektra to the other side of the anchorage and l dropped again in good shelter out of the east winds, then l cleaning the foredeck before getting back to the warm of the cockpit enclosure. I know that the anchor came up dirty but it really was gripping the bottom which is what it is for! Very happy at the moment with our new Rocna anchor.
Looking east from anchorage Looking south from anchorage
Another night at anchor, I sleep so very well when aboard, it’s a great way to catch up on sleep if I have been busy working or had a few restless nigths at home. On Thursday afternoon and again Saturday afternoon I also slept for a few hours in the cockpit, it must be the sea air. With the cockpit encloser up, it’s a real suntrap and warms up nicely, it was lovely sunny weather but the wind was britterly cold, so it was good to stay out of the wind.
Sunday, it was time to head back, I had work on Monday. We weren’t in any rush, just after brunch and washing up, we just got Elektra ready to leave, it was 1300hrs when I pulled up the anchor and Vicki motored Elektra out of the river. The forecast was E4, decressing E2-3, we were going to sail her back on just her genoa but when we got out the river, there wasn’t much wind, so I set all the sail. Vicki was at the helm and because of the incoming tide Elektra just fairy glidded across the entrance to the Carrick Roads, only just making it out of the roads before Pendennis Point. Once out our heading was much better, so all on one tack all the way to Gillan, the wind picked up a little from the southeast in Falmouth Bay and Elektra was logging about 4.5kts. Once in Gillan we knew the mooring would be bouncy so we had packed up a lot of stuff before we left the Precuil River. I packed away the mainsail while Vicki sorted out below and we very quickly left Elektra via dinghy back ashore and home.
After Sundays sail the wind had been quite strong and I had got on with jobs at home but we were planning a few days aboard, a little shakedown cruise to find out what we had forgotten. The forecast seemed to surggest Wednesday would be better but the wind continued for another day.
So it was Thrusday when we packed the pick-up and headed for St Anthony, I pushed the dinghy to the waters edge and pulled to trolly back to the top of the beach, we carried the bags of stores and loaded the dinghy, Vicki climbed in and I pushed the dinghy off and climbed in myself, started the engine and motored the very heavy dinghy out slowly towards Elektra. It was clear to see Elektra was bobbing up and down on a easterly swell, Vicki decided before climbing aboard Elektra that she would stow everything after our short passage across Falmouth Bay to the Precuil River. Vicki climbed aboard and I passed aboard the bags, then I removed the outboard and clamped it onto the pushpit engine mount, before linking the davit blocks to the dinghy and climbed aboard myself. Then with Vicki moving the bags to a safe place in the saloon, I pulled the dinghy up onto her davits ready to leave. Then I unwraped the main and pulled the sail up and coiled the halyard and reefing lines.
We then put on our lifejacks and I started the engine and switched on the depth, wind, chartplotter, AIS, VHF. Before heading forward to drop the swing mooring while Vicki unlashed the tiller. The foredeck was pitching quite a bit and I was glad to get back to the cockpit after dropping the mooring. Vicki had the helm the motored Elektra out between Car Croc and Dennis Head (we normally go though this gap, local knollage), while I got ready the genoa, pulled out and set. Inside Gillan Harbour it had seemed quite windy but out in Falmouth Bay not so much, with all her sail set Elektra was only logging about 3.5kts, so it took over an hour to cross the bay into St Mawes and one and a half hours before we dropped anchor in the Precuil River, our favorite anchorage. This day of blue skys, it almost seemed like summer but the wind was cold, So as soon as the anchor was down the cockpit encloser was put up, looking around in the warm of the encloser with a hot chocolate in hands it seemed like summer. Then it was time to stow all the stores, with took the best part of 2hrs to get everything ship shape.
Having worked for 2 days, Sunday 14th looked a good forecast for a sail, the tide was high in the morning and if I timed it right I could go for a sail and get back before the water was gone from St Anthony.
I left home at 0830hrs and launched the dinghy about 15mins later after filling the outboard fuel tank, it was suprising how much I had used this engine in the last week! Out in Gillan Harbour Adrian was at anchor in his cat “Swallowtail” I had to stop and say “happy new year” lol, I had last seen Adrian before my last sail in 2023 6 months before. He had been in Gillan a a few days but was heading back today to the Precuil River before the westerly blow forecasted for Monday.
Slow sailing Oil tanker
Out on Elektra, I got her ready to leave the mooring. The forecast today was for light westerly force1-2 incresing to force 3-4 later which was ideal for a first sail. I had the new reefing lines to cut off to the correct lenght, so pulled up the main, cut and sealed the ends, I was now ready to leave the mooring. I started her engine and walked up on her bow to drop the mooring having attached the dinghy to it first. Turning to port she sailed off the mooring without me putting the engine in gear, so I stopped the engine again. Adrian was also sailing out and we stayed together until I unrolled the genoa. As Sadler yachts sail very well in light airs, Elektra just sailed away from Swallowtail, not fast, there was almost no wind, she was doing 2.4kts SOG. We were most of the way across Falmouth Bay before I turned her around, now hard on the wind her best heading was southeast, there was a big empty oil tanker anchored almost in the way, the wind is always flucky around ships and this one was just the same. As we past the stern of the of the ship, I saw Adrian was now motoring Swallowtail towards Falmouth. Once arround the stern of the ship I tacked but then Elektra’s best heading was then west! This heading was far too close for comfort to the ship so I tacked again and headed south. The breeze picked up to a force 3-4 and with a Bavaria 32 beside us Elektra headed south at 4.5kts under full sail, she was heeled over quite far but on a calm sea there was no slamming. My problem was, there was too much weather helm for the tiller pilot to cope, so I was at the helm and enjoying myself. I might of carried on like this but I wanted to try out the new reefing lines. So I released the main halyard and pulled the first reef into the main, then tighten the halyard. I also rolled the first reef into the genoa, reset the sails, she had lost some ground on the Bavaria but Elektra had picked up speed to 5.5kts and was back up beside her very quickly at which point the Bavaria decided to turn about! It was really suprising how much extra speed Elektra had with less sail, sailing more upright.
Elektra sailing last season
We sailed on south towards Porthallow before tacking west towards the Nare Point. Of coarse in the Helford River a southwest wind becomes a west wind, so once past the Nare Point her best heading was northwest, halfway across Helford River I tacked again and headed for Car Crock cardinal buoy. At the buoy I started her engine, rolled the genoa and motored into the mooring. we had logged 10.5nm in 2.75hrs.
Packing away the mainsail and getting Elektra ready to leave took a while, trying not to forget anything, but I was back to the beach before the water completely left St Anthony, I got the trolly and pulled the dinghy out to the top of the beach and drove home.
Next day, the 11th of April, I had agreed with Vicki we would load cruising gear. At 1000hrs I launched the dinghy and motored out to Elektra and climbed aboard, opened up, started her engine, dropped mooring and motored her into St Anthony beach by 1030hrs. Coming in very slowly, I let her keels ground at almost stop and kept her engine in slow ahead until she stopped rocking and was hard aground, with the tide dropping fast, it didn’t take long. Once happy I stopped her engine, packed and locked up and went ashore in the dinghy and drove home.
Waiting for the tide to go out
Now at home Vicki and I moved all the gear (cooking pots, plates and dishes, cushions, covers, bedding, charts, pilot books, waterproofs, ect) from places around the house to easy lift from the door. I put my boots on and start loading the pick-up, a full load with my teliscopic ladder going on last!. A quick hot drink and we drive down to Elektra at St Anthony, my pick-up is a 4×4, so I am able to drive onto the beach and park beside Elektra now with the tide out. I open the tail gate, remove the ladder and open out, Vicki climbs up and unlocks Elektra. When Vicki is ready I stand on the tailgate and start handing up bags over the guard wires at just above my head height, we stop a few times to let Vicki move some of the stuff coming aboard. When I had spare time I attached a line to the petrol gen (used for power on winter mooring) and lower it from the cockpit to the ground. I also get the keg (folding claw anchor) from the bathtub under the cockpit floor attach the line to a stern cleat and drop the anchor and line over the stern. By this time Vicki had emptied bags and they needed to be removed. I loaded the petrol gen into the pick-up and and some empty bags and boxes. I pulled the anchor out astern and set in the mud/gravel bottom ready to pull her off into deeper water later. Once everything was loaded and put away we locked up Elektra and drove home, Vicki when in and made a late lunch and hot drink while I emptied the pick-up.
Old photo of loading Elektra
Later about 1700hrs, I went back to St Anthony with 50lts of water, launched the dinghy and out to Elektra loaded the water onto the foredeck and poured into her water tank, the tide was coming back but she wasn’t yet floating. I got her ready to move and started her engine when her stern started to lift. Once floating about 1830hrs I pulled her out astern via the keg anchor and lifted it aboard. I then motored Elektra back to her swing mooring. There I put away the keg anchor, packed and locked up and got ready to leave her, lowered the empty water cans to the dinghy and motored back to the beach, pulled dinghy out and drove home. The next 2 days I went back to work for a rest! Lol.
The wind and rain had continued, the plan had been to move Elektra to her seasonal mooring on Monday the 8th of April but with the gales continuing I pushed it off to Wednesday 10th. I was down to St Anthony for 0630hrs to launch the dinghy, it was another wet day! The outboard started 2nd pull and I motored across to the narrows and into Carne creek, following the channel up to Elektra, it was a big spring tide with the water over the road, so there wasn’t any real hurry.
Old photo of Elektra at Carne winter mooring
I attached the lines to each other as before, started her engine and switched on the depth sounder and chart plotter. When I was ready, I let go the fore lines and the starboard stern line and pulled Elektra out on her stern port line, dropping the line overboard as Elektra passed by the mooring buoy and on into the channel. I was watching the channel pole pass to starboard before I moved the control lever to forward to stop her, then a good blast forward then out of gear, to get Elektra over the stern lines of the other laid up yachts. Once I was happy we had passed any line I put her in slow ahead again and followed the channel towards the sea. This time there was plenty of depth with the least depth seen of 0.5m, back down Carne Creek and out into Gillan Harbour. I motored her out to her mooring and managed to hook it first time, I packed stuff away and got into the dinghy and was back ashore by 0800hrs, then home for breckfast.
Elektra on her swing mooring
A few hours later, went the tide had gone out, I went back to Carne to remove the winter mooring. I pulled on my wadders and jumped down onto the creek bed, mainly stoney near the road but the mud gets deep towards the channel. I coiled up the 3 bow lines and dropped them into the pool under the stream pipe outlet to help wash the mud off. Then I walked down the stream towards the channel to pull out the stern anchors, the port line was in the middle of the mud, I sunk into the mud a bit getting hold of it but managed. Once I had hold of it I walked out into the channel, it was about 0.6m. I then pulled the line backwards over the top of the anchor to pull it out but, with all the gales over the past winter the 15kg Bruce was completely out of sight under 1.2m of mud and it took a lot of pulling this way and the other to move it! In the end it came free and I pulled it into the channel to wash off, once clean I pick it up and carried it over to the stream bed, then pulled the chain and line out of the channel to the stream. Then it was the turn of the starboard anchor, chain and line but I am glad to say this anchor wasn’t dug in so far! Then I picked up each anchor in turn and carried it up to the stream out pipe, dragging the chain and line behind and washed off there.
Old photo of Elektra on her gale proof mooring
Then I lifted the anchors chain and line up onto the road verge and propped the winter dinghy against and from there loaded in and onto the pick-up. Then I drove the 1/4 mile to were the road runs along past our seasonal gale proof mooring. Here I pulled out one of the anchors and chain, I then changed the mooring line for a mooring strop. Picked up some tools in a bucket and carried down over the bank to the wall, then back and do the same with the anchor, chain and strop. Once down on the rock below the 1.2m wall I lifted the bucket of tools and the anchor and chain down. From here I carried the tools to the mooring, across the channel and onto the level gravel/sand/mud bank and over to the mooring about 200 meters. Then back for the anchor and chain which managed with two stops to rest, I normally do this with the dinghy to avoid too much lifting and dragging but I needsd to get the winter mooring out first this time. There is a mooring block with chain, which I attach a mooring strop and pick-up buoy to, then pull it out streight and attach a line to the strop, chain and anchor, so as to make a safe trot mooring to use durring strong east wind in the season. Once done it was home and empty the pick-up and indoors for a rest, I was done in, who needs a gym I ask?
Love Sailing 