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.
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.
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.
Love Sailing 