Having retired at the beginning of April, the days had started to roll into each other and l don’t know what day of the week it is anymore!
We had been away at the weekend to 2 sailing association events and were desperate to get aboard again. The weather men were forecasting a lovely sunny week but strong east winds. Elektra was safe in Carne Creek but if we wanted to go sailing we needed an alternative base. Sundays forecast was for little or no wind, having got home late on Saturday evening from the events. We started to pack for Sunday. I got out early on Sunday to do a water run, for this l have 2x 25lt containers which l fill from our outside tap, then load in my pick up and drive to St Anthony. I launch the dinghy and load the water, motor the dinghy out to Elektra and slide both containers onto her side deck and climb aboard myself. From the cockpit locker l get the water funnel and then pour both containers in. This is the joys of swing moorings, everything is loaded using a dinghy.
We wouldn’t be able to get Elektra out of Carne Creek until 1630hrs but we could get aboard an hour before. So l loaded the bags into the pickup about 1500hrs and we went to St Anthony and managed to park in the best spot. Launched the dinghy again and loaded the stores and bags into the dinghy. On the way to Elektra we saw my sisters were just about to swim so we went for a short chat before continuing to Elektra, by which time she was nearly floating.
Loading the gear and stores, Vicki started to stow them while l lifted the engine onto the pushpit and the dinghy onto her davits and then helped Vicki. Starting her engine and switching on her instruments we were both surprised to see that they were working! It had been a sore point, l had taken Elektra to Gweek Riverside Boatyard for her to have new Garmin fitted but ever since launching at the end of March they hadn’t been working, it was odd that they just started to! They would need to be customised but at least they were now working. Reading feet and trying to think in meters was doing my head in. After dropping the mooring, l unwrapped the mainsail while Vicki motored Elektra out. I wasn’t expecting there to be much wind. Exiting out of Gillan Harbour there was 2 yachts trying to sail, so we just continued to motor, but then the wind picked up from the southeast and l set the genoa and stopped the engine, Elektra was logging 3.5-4kt, it isn’t far to St Mawes and l didn’t bother pulling the main up. An hour and a half after dropping the mooring we dropped anchor in the Precuil River.
Warm in the day but cold at night we put up Elektra’s cockpit enclosure and ran the cabin heater in the evening. Hot water bottle for the bed.
The next morning was another lovely day, l was going for a walk but instead lounged around in the cockpit soaking up the 🌞
On Tuesday we went to St Mawes via dinghy, from just north of the anchorage there is a nice walk to St Mawes but Vicki can’t walk far, so normally we use the dinghy to save Vicki from having to walk. After getting to St Mawes we walked up to the Victory Inn but closed for food until Wednesday, so back down the hill and along to the Rising Sun for a pub lunch, l must say the pints went down well with this lovely weather. After our lazy pub lunch it was along to the Co-op to replenish supplies. Then back to the dinghy and back up river to Elektra.
On Wednesday l went for that walk, still lovely weather, it was good to get some exercise
We live in a country cottage and we like to anchor in out of the way places, some other skippers would label us as ditch crawlers. If that’s what they think, they are welcome to their marinas which we think is like living in a city.
After my walk, it back aboard for brunch and another day of laziness in the cockpit. This very early for warm sunny weather and we are very lucky to have the time to enjoy it. Last season we didn’t have any hot sunny weather until July and this year it’s still in April.
On Thursday, l got out early and went for a long walk
Before exploring some inner Creeks by dinghy, this is were boats go to die, from a distance they didn’t look to bad, but on closer inspection, possibly only one will get used this season.
After walking and dinghy ride into the upper Creek, it was time to get back to Elektra for brunch followed by washing up and a bit more lazing in the cockpit over low water. And in the early evening, I pulled up anchor and Vicki motored Elektra back down the river and we set sail back to Gillan. We had something to go back home to on Wednesday but with it still being east wind with more east wind forecast, we needed to moor her in Carne Creek but with the tide going into neaps we wouldn’t be unable to get her in there after Friday this week. We started off out of the Carrick Roads at 4.5kts but Elektra slowed and slowed until she was only logging 2kts in a not very nice eastery swell from the last few days. So about 1/2 mile south of the Roads we started the engine and motored across the bay. We had arrived in Gillan too early, so moored up on St Anthony waiting mooring for the tide to come in some more. 1/2hr later I dropped the mooring and we continued into Carne Creek and moored up. Being late in the evening we stayed aboard overnight and went ashore in the morning having packed up.
Love Sailing 