This weekend had been the southwest section CAs second Fowey Rally and although the numbers at the beginning of the weekend seemed disappointing, it was in quite a few ways a lot better than last years rally. We were a smaller group but this allowed us all to make good friends with all who were there.
In the last week 2 owners had contacted to say they couldn’t bring their yacht but one couple would still come to the RFYC meal on Saturday evening. But another owner had asked to come. So 5 yachts with 9 members aboard had arrived by Friday evening. We gathered on Richard’s Starlight for social gathering with drinks and nibbles.
On Saturday Richard guided us on a circuit walk around the Fowey river. This provided us with more time to get to know each other.
In the evening we all went to the Royal Fowey Yacht Club for an evening meal.
The next morning it was time to return to our own ports. For those going east the tide would be running their way, but since now neap tide and only 1.6m range the stream wasn’t going to be fast. The forecast was showing little or light northwest winds. We pushed off about 1000hrs and milled around in the harbour pulling up our mainsails before motoring out Fowey entrance and southwest towards Cannis Buoy for Susan and Elektra. The others headed east for Udder Cardinal Buoy.
I tried to sail Elektra but her mainsail was taking the genoas wind so l pulled the mainsail down. The genoa set well then but the SOG was only 2.5kts, it wasn’t long before l had started Elektra’s engine again and motoring. It seemed that David was still sailing Susan as l passed her to port.
I mainly motor-sailed Elektra across St Austell Bay and 3nm west of Dodman Point which probably increased her SOG by 0.5kt, after that the wind died away, so l rolled away her genoa. Then as we started to cross Falmouth Bay the wind picked up to a southwest force 3, but l continued to motor her towards Gillan Harbour getting into Gillan 4.5hrs after leaving Fowey having logged 24nm.
