There’s a lot to be said for sailing locally, around you local area you know where you can drop anchor for the night and not have someone coming and asking you for money! If only around locally you can normally sail even if only logging 2-3kts, nowhere is that far away that if it takes longer than 2-4hrs, it doesn’t matter because you’re still get there before dinner time. That’s not saying that you can’t have a sail in challenging conditions either, a fast passage across the bay in fairly sheltered waters can be exhilarating.
Passage making on the other hand can be expensive in more ways than it first appears. Your on passage logging 2-3kts and your chart plotter is telling you, that you will get to your next way point at 2200hrs, and that way point is still 1.5hrs from your destination. Normally we don’t want to arrive in the dark so start the engine and motor instead. Elektra’s engine uses 2lts an hour which doesn’t sound a lot until you realise that’s only about 5nm. Then when you arrive, you probably have to pay for a visitor mooring. When it comes to passage making over longer distances, l don’t have any experience of this type of sailing, but expect many of the above still applies.
Over night Elektra had been anchored in Polgwyn Cove which is one of a few places around Fowey area where l know l can drop anchor for no charge. Fowey charge for Elektra this season is £26.40, if you use the water taxi, it’s £3.50pp each way.
Skippers complain about the cost of anchors and anchor chain, but used regularly, this is a far cheaper option than paying for visitor moorings. I think my anchor chain bought in 2021 cost £80 and the new Rocna cost about £250 in 2023, since then l have probably anchored 150 nights. Although l might need to replace the anchor chain again in the next 5 years, the anchor itself will out live me. On the plus side, l know my anchor chain is good because l handle it every time l drop anchor, but how many you know what the visitor mooring is like? That you moored too unless you dived down to inspect it?
Love Sailing 