I am used to moving Elektra in the shallows, but the River Avon in Bigbury Bay which we had visited before back in 2019, takes a bit of learning. This River drys out completely apart from the channel about 0.6m deep at low water, it always flows out until the tide reaches it’s datum height of about 1.6m, when the tide starts coming back in. I think what makes the Avon so attractive is that is that the bottom is sand all the way into the upper reaches which then is mud. As this is a drying River the when going in in out the flow is moving at 2-3kts.
On Wednesday the 7th July l planned to visit again, the forecast of light winds for a few days made the timing ideal. I planned to leave Frogmore Creek in Salcombe at first light and use the last bit of the west going tide for the 2hrs passage to the Avon entrance, then drop anchor and wait for high water.
So l set my alarm for 0400hrs, but when l got out we had thick fog! I wasn’t going anywhere unless it cleared, so l put on the kettle for a pot of tea then the gas ran out! Things weren’t going well! So l went forward to the anchor locker for the spare bottle, changed the bottle and put the kettle on again. Sitting down for breakfast once the tea was made.
It took a while but by 0630hrs, the fog looked clear enough to move, so l got Elektra ready, l pulled up half the anchor chain before starting her engine, then went forward and pulled up the rest and stowed the anchor at 0700hrs. Then motoring slowly at first back out of Salcombe. Another yacht also moved out from one of the upper mooring in front of us, but moving a half knot faster she gently pull away. By the time Elektra reached Salcombe bar the other yacht was making it’s way around the Mew Stone also heading west. Now around slack water, we had both lost any advantage of west going tide.
The other yacht headed as if on passage for Falmouth but l turned Elektra to follow the coast to Bolt Tail and then turn into Bigbury Bay. On arrival off the River Avon, l dropped anchor in the shelter of the island, l looked at the tides and could see that the tide only had about another 0.3m to rise before high water, so l thought l could pull the anchor back up and go in as l wasn’t going to rush in, so that what l did.
Motoring Elektra back out east to the transit on 2 houses in line, l then turned her onto the transit and motored in slowly watching the depth. After making the turn to east again with surf breaking on the sand bank to starboard and lining Elektra up with the deep water in the narrows. Just before l got there about 5-6 swimmers entered the water in front of Elektra, restricted by draft l had to keep her in the deeper water so l throttled back and was just moving faster than the stream speed. Once past the swimmers, l turned her into where l thought the channel was, but it had moved since we visited back in 2019. Not knowing which way to go eventually Elektra ran aground. I quickly dropped anchor and some chain and proceeded to lower the dinghy into the water. Then ad l was getting lines out from under the floor the younger harbour master came over and asked why did we come in so early?
I dropped the lines into the dinghy dinghy and quickly as l could l rowed to a empty mooring buoy, l attached one line and then another to it which turned out to be long enough, and made off to Elektra’s bow cleat. Just then the boss harbour master came over and asked, why did you come in so early? I said sorry Why didn’t you call ahead? I said l didn’t know your number. Did you hit this boat? I said no, l dropped anchor and she didn’t go back that far.
I told the harbour master Elektra was held now by her anchor and the mooring. I am going to pull her back up to the mooring and whilst doing so pull up and stow the anchor and then l will move over onto that visitor mooring. The harbour master said that’s fine but stay on this mooring until the tide slows down. Well do l said.
Once all was done including moving over to the visitor mooring. I lifted the outboard from the pushpit onto the dinghy and motored over to the harbour masters office. Once l landed, l said can we start again? He was nice after that and we had quite a good chat about all sorts of boat stuff. I paid the £30 for 2 nights on one of their moorings and came away.
Afterwards l motored the dinghy to the head of the river and back, it seemed to go on forever. But coming into shallow water near the head of the river l just held a mooring buoy for 5-10mins to take in the surroundings. Before heading back the way l had come passing lots of paddle boarders and kayakers on the way. Once back to Elektra l rested in her cockpit for a while until l got over hot and went below. In the evening, put on my dinner and relaxed. Having got up early, l turned in at 2100hrs and went straight to sleep.
Love Sailing 