Having done Fowey or back three times now since Vicki passed. I had realised passage making isn’t difficult on own, it’s the ports and mooring which is difficult.
With a good strong westerly forecast for Sunday l had decided to head for Salcombe 40nm east of Fowey. I looked at the tides and the stream wouldn’t be going my way until 1500hrs, but l couldn’t wait that long because l estimated the passage would take 8hrs and as most of the flow was between Plymouth and Salcombe, it was important for me to have the stream going with us upto Salcombe.
So l dropped the mooring at 1100hrs, it took 20mins to motor Elektra back down the river to Fowey entrance, where l set the genoa. Set up the chart plotter for Bolt Head 32nm away.
Slowly at first but speeding up though the day. As we passed Rame Head at 1500hrs well offshore, Elektra was logging 5kts plus just on her genoa. The sea was building but all seemed well at the time. The sea continued to build to a short 4-5ft swell from the southwest. As Elektra’s track was east-southeast this swell made for a corkscrew ride and the tiller pilot was having problems keeping her on course so l was helming more. The bigger swells would push Elektra’s stern around and she was beginning to broach. So l decided it was time to reef the genoa, but for some reason the furling line was jammed!
Looking over the sprayhood l could see the the furling line was caught in the bow fairlead, l needed to go on deck to free it. Now l wasn’t happy with the idea of doing so, but l was alone and someone had to! So l went below and found a safety line and clipped onto my lifejacket and the jack stays. Then went out onto the pitching deck, once forward of the sprayhood l was on all fours making my way upto the bow. Easy problem to solve once at the bow and l headed back to the cockpit the same way l came. Once back in the cockpit with total relief l quickly reefed the genoa! And things were easier for a while.
But the sea continued to build, as we approached Bolt Head way point the sea was now 5-6ft and l needed to reef the genoa again. It wasn’t because she was going too fast, it was because of the damage which might be caused if she broached badly. After reefing again she was still logging 5kts. Although l like speed, who doesn’t? I am more interested in arriving safety than speed!
Elektra carried on passed the Bolt Head way point, now heading for Salcombe. At the right moment l gibed her around onto a port tack and headed into Salcombe. In passed the Mew Stone and turned north Elektra still logging 5kts. When she slowed, l started her engine and rolled away her genoa and headed for the leading lines over Salcombe Bar. It was then Elektra was hit by force 6 and bare polls healed over very hard. I was glad it was short lived as it disappeared as fast as it came.
Motoring into Salcombe the mooring officer came along side to take my money on the way into the moorings. I said l was going up to Frogmore creek to anchor, he said l will take your money now! But at £18.40 for 2 nights, l didn’t think that was too bad. He asked where l had come from what the sea was like? From Fowey l said and not very nice, especially the last 3hrs. He said they hadn’t had any others in for 2hrs and the last one said it was bad then!
Motoring on upto Frogmore Creek, l dropped anchor at 2000hrs having logged 39.5nm.
Love Sailing 