With a few days of nice weather coming up, it looked like sailing again but Vicki couldn’t because of an appointment. So l planned a day out on my own.
I needed to leave St Anthony beach before 0930hrs due to a falling tide. Going out in the dinghy into the sun it was difficult to see. Once out and aboard Elektra, l expected to have some baling out to do after the reasent rain! We still had a fresh water leak but it has slowed down, so one of the sealing jobs l had done, had worked partly but l still had the bale out some water! The water tank on the other hand had stopped leaking, it had proved to be the spare tank outlet cap even though the manufacturer said it wouldn’t be. I had asked for a new cap but they were slow about getting back to me, so l used a waterproof sealant inside the cap before refitting it and this had stopped the leak.
Then l got Elektra ready to leave, l was going to pull up the mainsail but looking out in Falmouth Bay, l could see white horses so decided not to. It was blowing west out of Gillan Harbour and the forecast was northwesterly force 3-4 increasing 4-5 later. With the wind blowing her out l didn’t bother starting her engine and just attached the dinghy painter to the mooring and let go. By the time l had walked back to the cockpit, Elektra turned around and was heading out to sea on her own! I set all the genoa and taking the helm took her out between Carcroc and the Dennis Head, with my local knowledge it’s what l normally do. Once out into the Helford River Entrance she soon picked up speed to around 5kts. We were heading for Pendennis Point north-northeast of Gillan. It was good sailing and she definitely didn’t need any more sail.
At Pendennis Point she lost the wind a little and l had a 10min calm patch before she set off again towards St Mawes Castle. She could point a little better and it looked like she would sail past the point but with the out going tide she didn’t. So l tacked her on a west heading towards Falmouth Docks. On this tack Elektra was on her ear, it would have been better if l had reefed her genoa but l couldn’t let go of her tiller to do so! Tacked again just short of the east breakwater, she was now heading north again but as with the first tack the tide was pushing her towards St Just in Roseland.
I wasn’t able to see my passage notes on the chart table and couldn’t remember the tide height or time and the tiller pilot couldn’t cope with Elektra. I knew we were heading towards shallow water and with another yacht coming the same way to windward. And another yacht heading south, l thought it’s all going to be a bit of close sailing in a few minutes, so l decided to go about and head back. What a change the direction makes, everything calmed down the tiller pilot could cope and l could get below to check things out! Elektra was now making about 6kts and it didn’t seem very windy.
Sailing back the tiller pilot could cope and l could rest and write in the log. Sailing south and then south-southwest in a northwesterly wind it was lovely to be out. Before Gillan l started Elektra’s engine before l needed, but continued to sail her on east of Carcroc buoy and into Gillan entrance before pushing the leaver into foreward and rolling away the genoa. Motoring into her mooring and picked up after 13.5nm in 2.75hrs.
Love Sailing 