After a wonderful night at anchor in Polgwyn Cove, protected totally from the northwest winds. The tide wasn’t with me until 1115hrs but the wind of northwest force 3-4 would be helpful. Being in no hurry to leave, l had a leisurely breakfast and tidied things away. Before pulling Elektra’s anchor up at 0945hrs, thinking we would get blown out of the cove l didn’t start her engine, but the wind was coming over the cliff top and becoming a head wind into the cove. So l just started the engine to get Elektra out of the cove into the wind before stopping again a few 100 yards offshore.
Sailing south across Mevagissey Bay, it was almost a dead run to Chapel Point. I thought the Cruising Association would be having a heart attack looking at the number of pot markers in Mevagissey Bay, there must have been at least 300, but l almost never touched the helm which the tiller pilot was in control of while sailing across the bay. Off Chapel Point there were even more, but l just steered between them. Heading south-southwest inside Gwineas Rocks towards the Dodman Point, passing Gorran Haven at 1050hrs having logged 3.75nm.
Another yacht under full sail had come out of Mevagissey, heading east and south of the Gwineas Rocks and well south of the Dodman Point, they were taking the long way round! I had only set Elektra’s genoa as l was fairly happy that once around the Dodman Point, that would be plenty of sail for Elektra. Passing very close in to the Dodman Point at 1118hrs, l knew once out of the shelter of the point Elektra would be hit by a blast of strong wind.
I was absolutely correct, once out from the shelter of the point, Elektra was hit by northwest force 6 very briefly before easing again. This blast of wind knocked her over on her ear, with water running along her side deck logging 6.5kts, she also rounded up until it eased. After that blast of wind Elektra was logging 5-6kts from Dodman Point to the Roseland, it was great sailing. The wind got very flucky of the Roseland and when l got to Zone Point at 1330hrs having logged 15nm l started her engine and motored her into the Precuil River, dropping anchor at 1400hrs having logged 17.5nm.
Love Sailing 