Having given up on Salcombe yesterday, l decided to go north up the Tamar and explore some more of the upper reaches. I pulled up Elektra’s anchor at 0900hrs and said buy to Philip as l motored her past. I then set her genoa to sail to the bridge by Drakes Island but the sailing was short lived as the wind died away and so l started her engine. With the wind still northwest l had decided to go north against the tail end of the ebbing tide. So when l got to the Bridge there was a lot of tide against and Elektra slowed to 3kts SOG, once though into the main river the flow was less.
It took 1.5hrs to motor north to Sand Acre Bay in the entrance to the Lynher River where l dropped anchor. Leaving Elektra and going by dinghy to Saltash Sailing Club pontoon and from there to the co-op for a weeks shopping. Once back to Elektra l pulled up her anchor at 1300hrs and headed back out the Lynher and north up the Tamar now at the start of the flood. Elektra was now logging 6.5kts under engine, l watched the the sounder as l knew the tide was low but the least depth l saw was 2.8m under her keels. Past Cargreen and Wear Quay and on around the next bend to the anchorage which l used earlier in the summer, another 6nm in a hour.
I quite often anchor going forward, dropping the anchor backwards over the bow and lay the chain as Elektra continues forward over it, l tried the same here, which didn’t work well this time! I dropped her out of gear and walked forward, opened the anchor locker took out the bucket. I let go the anchor the tide was moving quickly now, the chain was running out and l had to stop it, which l managed but not before the anchor ball had got tangled in it and disappeared over the side! By this time Elektra had stopped and swung around to face the tide. I pulled the chain back in to grab the anchor ball, making the ball fast before untangle it. Once retrieved, l let out a little more chain, anchor snatch line and attached the anchor ball. Before walking back to the cockpit. One thing was for sure, the anchor was holding in the 3kts of flood tide!
It was a lovely sunny afternoon/evening, it didn’t take me long to think of exploring the upper reaches of the Tamar in the dinghy would a good idea this evening on the high water. High water Devonport was at 1726hrs, l wasn’t really sure of the difference in the upper reaches, but decided in the upper reaches by dinghy should be fine.
So l attached the outboard on the dinghy and filled the tank. I left the fuel can in the dinghy for the return trip. Locked up Elektra and set off up river at 1500hrs.
It was about 6.5nm as far as l went and another 1.5nm to the Weir Head. Having gone up river, l had 6.5nm back to Elektra. I should of thought about refilling the engine but it ran out of fuel before l did! I still had fuel but l couldn’t restart the outboard, so just south of Cotehele Quay l started rowing, at least the tide was now going out. I think it was about 2.5nm l had left to row. I tried a few times on the way to restart the outboard without any luck. I wasn’t sure if it was flooded or the fuel hadn’t got through yet. I got back to Elektra at 1900hrs and put my dinner on, before putting up her cockpit enclosure.
Love Sailing 