The tide was with us 0800-1400hrs and with the wind forecasted to increase from westerly force 4 to southwest force 5-6 by the end of the day we didn’t want to hang around so we cast off at 0700hrs. We motored Elektra out of Fowey and towards Udder way point setting all the genoa on route. From Udder cardinal buoy (3.5nm from Fowey) we turned the engine off and sailed. Again Elektra was logging 5-6kts in moderate sea and about 8nm of visibility.
Going east with a strong west to southwest following wind the sea soon built up, the tiller pilot couldn’t cope so either Vicki or me had to be on the helm. Vicki didn’t like the sea either so l was doing most of it. Vicki commented that l seemed to cope better with it! Having sailed since l was 12, l can anticipate Elektra’s movements before she turns and have already moved her tiller to counter any broach before it happens, keeping her heading constant. Vicki was tired and had gone to sleep below at 1000hrs when l needed to do a log entry. So 5-10mins before l connected the tiller pilot and made sure it was copping with the conditions before l went down to the chart table to do the log entry. I had finished the entry and just about to go back to the cockpit when the tiller pilot lost control and Elektra broached. As quickly as l could, l made my way from the chart table up into the cockpit and disconnected the tiller pilot. It’s not far but with Elektra hard on her ear, it was difficult to keep balanced and banged my shin on the way. But very quickly, l took control of the helm and turned Elektra down when wind again, calming the situation, few!
It’s one thing l have noticed over the years since we started cruising, if the wind is really great for sailing (this was great sailing), there’s almost no other yachts about. Just after we left Fowey one other yacht followed us, she was possibly about 1nm behind us, she slowly caught Elektra up over 20nm, she was an old time classic yacht, probably with a long keel under full sail. Apart from her we didn’t see any other yachts until we got to Cawsands.
At Rame Head, l kept well south trying to keep out of the confused sea, with the waves coming in hitting the cliffs and rebounding out again. At Penlee Point, l would need to jibe, so before Elektra got there l woke Vicki and asked for help. Vicki made her way carefully up and out into the cockpit and took over the helm before turning Elektra to north while l pulled the genoa through onto the other tack. Just in the shelter of Penlee Point was a dive RIB which we gave good clearance before turning northwest into Cawsands. Elektra sailing into shelter, she soon lost the wind and l started her engine. Exactly 4hrs after casting off in Fowey we dropped anchor in Cawsands having logged 20nm. Our fastest GPS speed was 7.7kts
I lowered the dinghy and attached the motor. We went into Cawsands for Sunday lunch, the day had cleared and the sun had come out so in the afternoon we enjoyed the weather in the cockpit. That evening we opened a bottle of red and played Scrabble, while listening to the radio.
Love Sailing 