Having sailed along the cost of Devon and Cornwall for over 20 years, with my limited holiday time until last year we hadn’t ever got north of Dartmouth. With Vicki last summer we had managed to make it as far as Torquay Harbour but having visited there once, we wouldn’t be interested in returning anytime soon. This year l had set my sights on visiting the River Exe.
So today was the day. I had planned to get away at 0600hrs but over slept a little 😴 and it was 0625hrs when l pulled up Elektra’s anchor, motoring back out of the river 3nm, l reached the entrance 0710hrs. The tide stream around Start Point was with us until 0940hrs. With good wind and favourable tide we passed Prawle Point NCI station at 0730hrs and Start Point at 0810hrs having logged 9nm. Turning northeast Elektra was now running down wind. It was lovely sailing and by 1010hrs she had covered 20nm.
By 1110hrs, it was obvious we would arrive at Exmouth over low water and we needed to arrive 2-3hrs after low water. At which point off Berry Head, l decided to stop for a few hours north of Torquay in Babbacombe Bay. Now heading north to clear the Ore Stone to port before turning northwest into the bay. Then looking back south l could see heavy rain coming, so went below for my coat, back in the cockpit, l only just got it on in time. What followed was about was a squall and 10mins of very heavy rain. Then as quick as it came it was gone again. I rolled away the sail at about the end of the rain and motored Elektra into the cove, where l dropped anchor.
An hour and a half later, l pulled up the anchor again and headed out of the bay towards the Exe. With the wind almost dead behind, l had to gibe down wind a few times then off Teignmouth gibed again onto starboard tack. Just then another squall was approaching from the south, l grabbed my coat again but the this ran up the coastline and totally blocked out Teignmouth before moving on over Exmouth. By now l was only 2nm south of Exmouth entrance and l couldn’t see any land, l am glad to say it cleared off before l started Elektra’s engine to motor her into the river.
Following the navigation buoys into the river and watching the depth sounder. The tide stream was fast and remembering what l had been told about the tide wanting to push you over Bull Hill Bank, so l cut close to the port can buoy no12 around Warren Point. Only to come head on to 2 ferry’s and moved over to get out of their way. Then followed the channel upstream to Starcross Sailing Club, where my friend Peter has a mooring which l could use. Peter was back on the south coast of Cornwall having sailed his Sadler 26 from Exmouth to the Lewis in Scotland since the end of April.
I arrived at his mooring and hooked it first time but it was tangled having not been used for 2 months and couldn’t lift it’s pick up buoy. Hanging on but the tide was rushed past at 2-3kts, l tried to unhook again l couldn’t and l didn’t want to let go of the boat hook, in the end the boat hook couldn’t hold the weight of Elektra anymore and the top end parted company. I wasn’t happy because I had only bought it last season.
But no good crying over spelt milk, l had to find my spare boat hook and once retrieved l picked up another empty mooring. Once onto a mooring l jotted down the end of day writen log and switched off the instruments. Then l launched the dinghy and fitted the engine. Then motored dinghy over to Peter’s mooring and entangled it and cleaned it. Back to Elektra, l then moved her onto Peter’s mooring by which time l was wanting a rest!
I put on my dinner, while covering the mainsail and other jobs. It was now 1900hrs as l sat down to eat. The numbers were, we had done 42.5nm in 9hrs
Love Sailing 