Now, Thursday, l went sailing yesterday, and l am going sailing again today. With the forecast showing north-northwest force 4, it looked good for a sail to Gull Rock and back, a beam reach in both directions.
I attached the dinghy to the mooring before dropping and motoring out of Gillan in what seemed like no wind, l set sail towards the Roseland, Elektra was making 3kts as she sailed passed Adrian in “Swallow Tail” his cat, or his bungalow as he likes to call her. Adrian used to live on her and used his mother’s address. But he found out it’s very difficult to liveaboard without some form of land address. So he bought a place, which he goes back to in the winter these days. We became friends about 15 years ago.
The wind filled in a bit more, and Elektra was logging 4.5kts to 5kts across Falmouth Bay to the Roseland. Slightly more sheltered, Elektra slowed a bit but picked up speed again, crossing Gerrans Bay. With the tide now running against, it seemed to take an age to cross Gerrans Bay, and when we arrived at Gull Rock, Elektra lost the wind altogether and so l started her engine to motor though the gap between Gull Rock and Nare Head, the minimum l saw under Elektra’s keels was 7.5 metres
Once around Gull Rock and heading southwest again, Elektra was soon logging 6.5-6.8kts with the tide on a broad reach. As we were sailing along the Roseland, l noticed 2 tugs waiting in the bay. Looking south, l could see a sea going tug towing something, but looking into the sun, l couldn’t work out if it was a supertanker bow on or something smaller side on. So l went and looked at the AIS, which just showed a bunch of arrows on top of each other.
Anyway, l decided we didn’t want to meet in the centre of Falmouth Bay, so l turned Elektra in their direction, thinking we would go around their stern. It turned out to be a super yacht which had been towed back from the Med, which l was looking at the side of. All seemed to be going to plan until the sea going tug stopped to let the other 2 smaller tugs take over the tow
They may have drifted back a little while the exchange took place, and l seem to get a little too close for comfort. It’s not nice having a tug steaming towards you, and l was trying to keep out of the way.
Once the tow was exchanged, the sea going tug just turned and headed for sea again.
Elektra arrived back in Gillan 5 hours after leaving and had logged 20.5nm.
Love Sailing 