I knew the tide stream wouldn’t he going my way until 1300hrs but as there wasn’t much wind, l wrongly thought, l better get going sooner than later.
The forecast was westerly force 2-3, increasing force 4 later, l thought Elektra would be on a reach to Start Point and with the tide going my way l could of sailed on in the same direction before tacking back into Salcombe.
But at Berry Head the wind was from the south-southwest, which was the direction l needed to go! Being that the wind force was only 2, after 1.75hrs Elektra had only logged 5.25nm under full sail in the wrong direction! So l decided to motor her in the right direction, by the time we were off Dartmouth it was upto force 3 but l continued to motor Elektra towards Start Point. Picking upto force 5 for a time, l continued to motor Elektra towards Start Point way point. Rounding the point l thought that l might have been able to set the sails but again now heading west and still a head wind. I motored on into Salcombe and up river to Frogmore Creek to drop anchor at 1645hrs having logged 27nm.
Another hour to pack away the yacht before putting on dinner, which l had eaten by 1900hrs following this on with a bottle of red, by 2100hrs l was drunk, something l hadn’t been for a very long time. I hadn’t been drinking anything while Vicki was I’ll and this one bottle had done it! When the harbour master arrived for his money just before dark, l nearly fell over when l climbed out into the cockpit, that mainsheet dose come in handy sometimes!
Love Sailing 