After over a week in Greek Bay, Bryher, supplies were running low and with a some calmer days in the forecast, we planned to get over to St Mary’s the main island to restock. The wind was forecasted to die away on Saturday, l thought by Sunday morning morning the swell will have eased.
While we had been in Green Bay, l had managed to get the depth sounder to work on the older chart plotter which was mounted on the chart table. Not exactly where the information needed to be but at least we had some idea of the depth which was truly necessary in the islands. At high water, l pulled up Elektra’s anchor and Vicki took Elektra back out of Green Bay and turned south down New Grimsby Sound over the shallows. An hour later we were looking at Porth Loo thinking it was a bit rolly! The swell hadn’t died away as much as l thought it would. But inside the harbour the yachts on the moorings seemed to be rolling just as bad at £30 per night! It wasn’t dangerous to anchor but wouldn’t be comfortable. We decided we would anchor and go ashore to get away from the rolling which is what we did.
Back in the winter l had bought a folding sack trolley which we took with us for the shopping. We left Elektra to her rolling and went ashore, landing at the dinghy pontoon. Vicki finds walking very difficult, normally l aid her with my arm for support and walk slowly. We did this to the Co-op and did our shopping. When we left the Co-op with a full sack trolley and l also carried a bag, Vicki had to manage as best she could. With the “Atlantic Inn” open for Sunday Roast, we stopped there on the way back for lunch and a beer. Then with Vicki rested it was back to the dinghy pontoon and back out to Elektra.
Elektra was still rolling, but not quite as bad. We stayed there overnight and the swell never really calmed down. But we were back ashore early next morning for more shopping and take washing to the laundry. We had breakfast from a cafe. Once back aboard we moved to Porth Cressa, the south side of the island for a calmer night! From Porth Cressa it was easier to pick up the washing and Vicki bought me afternoon tea from next door cafe. Porth Cressa had filled up from the 4 yachts there in the morning to 14 by evening.
We sat enjoying the surroundings in Elektra’s cockpit well into the evening, a French yacht had arrived and the 4 guys went ashore, when they came back later on, while the skipper was climbing aboard the dinghy upset and the other 3 ended up swimming! They seemed to take it all in good spirits, there was a lot of laughter as they saved the bags and the shoes from floating away!
Love Sailing 