After 2 days chilling out at anchor in the Precuil River, it was time to head back to Fowey again for the CA rally.
The forecast of west-northwest force 4 increasing west-southwest force 5-6, seemed to suggest a fast passage, and the tide would be heading my way from 0730hrs. I awoke at 0530hrs, so go out and had breakfast. I pulled up Elektra’s anchor at 0700hrs and with navigation lights on motored down though the moorings and out past St Mawes.
There didn’t seem to be much wind, so l continued to motor Elektra out around Sr Anthony light house, Zone Point and onto course for Dodman Point. Another yacht had followed us out of the Carrick Roads motoring with reefed mainsail, but it’s course being quite a bit south, l decided she was heading for Plymouth or Salcombe.
Off Gull Rock the wind seemed to increase enough to sail, and so l set the genoa and shut down the engine. Elektra was only logging 3.5kts in the west-southwest force 3, but l was thinking at least l saving the diesel. The wind did increase a little on passage, to a force 4 and 4.5kts SOG by the Dodman Point. I think l did see 5.5kts across St Austell Bay when it was blowing force 5 for a short while.
The other yacht which looked like it was going to Plymouth or Salcombe either changed their mind or was just staying well offshore as they they went into Fowey about 0.5nm in front of Elektra, 22nm in 5hrs, but quite a pleasant passage. Unlike other rally skippers coming from Plymouth who had to beat the 20nm. Richard said he logged 35nm on 7hrs having set off at the same time as me.
Love Sailing 