Love Sailing

With more time for sailing we had planned to sail to Salcombe on Friday 9th August but as l watched the forecast the  weather looked poor for returning to the Falmouth area at the end of the week. There was also a SSOA rally planned for Wednesday evening in Sutton Marina followed with a sail to Fowey on Thursday and a sail to the Fal River on Friday which we were going to join in with some of it. But not Sutton Marina as back in 2018 they charged us £45 for one night!

By the weekend we had decided to stay local and join the rally on the Fal River Friday evening and Saturday, if the members managed to beat their way west to Falmouth. On Friday we sailed across Falmouth Bay, in past St Mawes and anchored at Place, just 5.5nm from Gillan for the strong southwest winds forecasted for Saturday. Here Elektra will dry out and l planned to scrub her bottom on Saturday.  Later in the day l had a phone call from my doctor about my leg pain. The doctor explained the problem with my back causing nerve damage in my leg and the best they could do for now was to manage the pain. The doctor booked me an appointment to see the physio.

With the tide high in the morning, l got down the ladder in the afternoon to scrub Elektra’s bottom. The antifouling hadn’t done a very good job this season for some reason, normally one scrub off is enough but this was the second time. I hadn’t picked a very good spot, the ground was soft and it was quite a workout just walking around Elektra let alone scrubbing. By the time l was finished my leg was causing me a lot of pain and l was glad of the rest and the chance of taking pain killers.

We were sitting down below in the early evening and there was a bonk on Elektra, l looked out and found it was our friend Gary Hoyle who we first met back in 2009 after our first passage to Scilly. Gary had married an islander and lived there, worked the forklift on the dock. At the time Gary had just bought his Hurley 22 which was what we sailed at the time. We have met up a quite a few times over the years since and Gary had moved to the mainland  about 5 years ago, now lived near Falmouth. Gary having sailed lots of different yachts over the years had returned to Hurley ownership having bought a motor boat built by Hurley. After a fairly long chat with Gary he left us and we had dinner.

The next morning it was thick fog, the forecast said strong east winds so we decided to move a mile up river to better shelter. Gary had already moved so after dropping anchor l rowed over to take a closer look. Back to Elektra for cooked breakfast and then washed-up. The fog lingering until after midday but the sun burnt though eventually to a hot sunny afternoon which was lovely.

The nice afternoon going into a nice eveing, we had cold cuts for dinner and moved into the cabin to play scrabble.

The next day we planned to sail back to Gillan as wet and windy weather was forecasted for Tuesday and I worked out we needed to leave by 1200hrs, it was a little after that when we were ready and I pulled up the anchor at 1220hrs and Vicki motored Elektra back down the Precuil River to St Mawes were I set just the genoa to cross Falmouth Bay. We picked up Elektra’s swing mooring in Gillan at 1350hrs having logged 6.5nm. With the tide dropping away fast, we only had an hour to get into St Anthony before there wouldnt be enough water for the outboard, so we worked fast and just made it in time.

On Thursday we were sailing back to Gillan before the forecast of strong southwest winds on Friday. The tidal stream wouldn’t be with us until 1230hrs, so again there wasn’t any need to rush away.

I pulled up the Rocna anchor at 1145hrs, it was well dug in and difficult to break out, it takes a while to trust a new anchor but l do trust this new anchor now! Vicki motored Elektra out and around the back of the Mount, l set GPS for the Lizard Point, l unrolled the genoa and we set off at 1155hrs towards the Lizard 12nm to the southeast, the wind was northwest so it was a dead run Elektra’s genoa over the next 3.5hrs. This sort of sailing almost feels like almost standing still but the miles go by and by, Vicki was on the helm for about 1.5hrs before I set up the tiller pilot.

We rounded the Lizard Point around 1530hrs very close in to the rocks in almost completely flat sea, we hadn’t ever seen the Lizard Point as calm but neep tides and both wind and tide stream going east, (this now our 18th passage around the Lizard over the last 16 years). After Bass Point, I pulled up the main with one reef and we speeded up to 5.5kts, now on a broad reach Vicki took the helm again and we enjoyed the sailing passed Black Head and on to Manacle Buoy. A group of yachts were just coming up to the Lizard Point from the west just after we rounded the Lizard, two of them passed us off Black Head under spinnakers. The wind shifted a little more to the north and we were almost hard to the wind between Black Head and Manacle Buoy. The two yachts under spinnakers, turned east and lowered their head sails and only just pass Manacle buoy ahead of us.

After Manacle buoy at 1725hrs I knew it was going to be a head wind and so I started Elektra’s engine and motored towards the Nare Point, rolled away her genoa and set the tiller pilot going again. We picked up the mooring in Gillan at 1815hrs having logged 28.5nm. Then we worked hard packing up to get away off Elektra before the tide dropped away too much to get the dinghy into St Anthony and home for a shower.

It was lovely hot and sunny and we were enjoying it. We stopped for 3 nights and 2 days at the Mount. A steady north force 4 blew through the first night-day and night again. We had anchored at about mid tide on Monday with 3m under the keel but with the gentle slopping beach we were about 1/8 of a mile from high water mark. Even with the wind blowing from the land there wasn’t any shelter but our new anchor held well in the hard sand.

On Tuesday Vicki and l when via our punt to St Michael’s Mount for my 1st visit, now 64, better late than never 😉. We only live 30 miles away by road. It was high water so we motored into the harbour and over to the ramp where l pulled the dinghy out above the tide mark. Vicki stayed down around the harbour and gift shops and l went to visit the castle. Coming by our own transport we must have missed the payment office and l got partway towards the castle before having to go back to pay at the islands office. With my token l set off up towards the castle again. It said on the ticket it was going to be a uneven path and they weren’t joking! Like a old cobbled road with lots of potholes! OK for anyone used to walking on coastal footpaths.

The castle was interesting and l could have spent a very long time looking around but l was concerned about Vicki waiting for me to return, so l had a quick look around and took some photos before heading back to the harbour.

I met up with Vicki back at the harbour and she was ready for a sit down so we headed back to Elektra. A sailing friend Tony sent me this photo of me in the dinghy before l got back aboard, he so happened to be at St Michael’s Mount on the same day but we didn’t meet.

In the evening Vicki went for a evening meal in Marazion, after lovely food on the way back to Elektra l took this photo

On Wednesday we just enjoyed the weather, scenery only going ashore for lunch at a cafe in Marazion. Then followed more laying in the cockpit sunshine 🌞

After a good night at anchor, when l got out about 0700hrs 4 of the yachts had already left, l don’t know where to but this would be a good place to leave for Scilly from. I rowed into Mullion Harbour and went for a walk to take photos.

Once back aboard l lifted the dinghy onto her davits and Vicki made brunch and l washed up. Again there wasn’t any hurry to get away because the tidal stream would be against us until 1400hrs, but being neep tides and not that strong in any case we weren’t going to wait until then. We weighed anchor at 1215 and motored slowly north along the coast. A breeze filled in from the northwest and we sailed as far as Porthleven. We could of tacked and sailed away from the coast but rolled away the genoa and motored on along the coast instead.

Motoring on along the coast the wind died away and we were enjoying looking at the coast with beaches and Cornish tin mine engine houses on the cliff edge

It was a wonderful day in fantastic weather and after 3hrs we arrived at St Michael’s Mount and dropped anchor, where could you find better than this?

The tide wasn’t with us until 1330hrs, so there wasn’t any rush to get away. But Coverack had become very rolly by mid morning and when we finally weighed anchor at 1230hrs it was a relief, there wasn’t any hurry so we sailed slowly towards Black Head. Then turning towards our Lizard way point the wind didn’t seem to help so l rolled away the genoa and started motoring slowly. With the barometer changing from 1013 to 1022mbs, the weather was looking good.

At the way point we turned west but the Lizard Point is always lumpy and we needed more power on to punch thought the waves. We continued to motor on northwest towards Mullion Cove at times doing over 8kts SOG, with 2 yachts in front of us, one was obviously going to Penzance or Newlyn and the other seemed to be going the same place as us. It wasn’t until she turned in towards Mullion Cove that we knew for sure. “Shifter” motored in and dropped anchor as we followed her in. And another followed us in and also anchored. So there was 3 yachts at anchor by evening the number had grown to 9.

We sat in the cockpit that evening enjoying the evening sunshine followed by a fantastic sunset we hoped but it wasn’t to be!

Having had a difficult week at work due to rain and a problem with my leg! I woke up on Tuesday morning and somehow pulled a muscle or something in the back of my leg, by Wednesday l couldn’t put any weight on the leg without bad pain. Thursday morning l rang the surgery and asked for a physio appointment and was told they would phone me that morning. Having not heard anything l phoned the surgery again just before lunchtime, and was told the appointments had been blocked off but the surgery hadn’t been told. Anyway without medical help l got though my mowing work but left all the strimming for another week.

So now that the forecasters were promising summer 🤔 we decided a week of rest aboard is just what the doctor would have ordered if l could have got an appointment 🙄

We planned to leave St Anthony at high water, so l didn’t have to walk to far, which worked out fine (at this point my leg just hurt if l put weight on it) most of the time when aboard l sit. The tide wasn’t with us until 1330hrs so there wasn’t any hurry to get away. We had decided to go around the Lizard Point into Mount’s Bay over the next few days with the forecast of Westerly  force 4 for today we planned to go to Coverack for the night. The next 2 days are easterlys and then northerly for the following 2 days.

We set sail on just Elektra’s genoa at 1320hrs, sailing east to the Nare Point and then southeast to the Manacle Buoy which we passed at 1400hrs, from there our best heading was southeast in what seemed like a southwest wind. But with the tide now running strong our track over ground was south, we continued on this heading until east of Coverack and then turned onto a port tack towards Coverack. All the way in it looked like we would need to tack again but the tide kept pushing us south, so we didn’t have to tack again. We dropped anchor off Coverack Harbour at 1500hrs having logged 8.25nm.

It had been a wounderful few days but now with rain forecasted for Saturday we decided to sail back to Gillan. There wasn’t any hurry, HW was 1636hrs, so after a lazy start and a brunch I lifted our anchor and Vicki started motoring Elektra towards the sea at 1330hrs. While Vicki was at the helm I pulled up the main with one reef and once out past the mooring in St Mawes Harbour, I pulled out the genoa and we sailed towards Black Rock.

The wind was south-southwest force 4 and with an incoming tide it was clear we we had a lot of leeway as we were crossing the entrance to the Carrick Roads. Vicki was aming to pass south of Black Rock and didn’t like my surggestion that we needed to pass north of it. The yacht ahead of Elektra continued on same line as we had been on but didn’t make it and had to go about. The next problem looked like Pendennis Point, there was a Twister in front but Vicki had Elektra pointing better and it looked possible we wouldn’t have to tack. The Twister couldn’t make it and tacked as we passed her by, I still wasn’t sure we would make it past the point on this port tack but the tide eased and somehow Elektra made it by just 60ft from the lee shore and on out into Falmouth Bay. From there we continued on over to just south of Swanpool beach before tacking onto a southeasterly direction starboard tack. With wind and tide against we didn’t seem to be making much ground, there was a small yacht race going on ahead of us on this tack but by the time we arrived they had moved off into wind, after about 1/2hr we tacked again, this time heading for Rosemullion Head. Then another southeasterly tack, followed by our last tack which took into the Helford River just off the Dennis Head. At which point we rolled the genoa and motored into Gillan Harbour, picking up our mooring at 1530hrs having logged 10nm.

Vicki and I both started getting Elektra ready to leave and within an hour we were in the dinghy heading for the shore and home by 1700hrs.

That evening and the following day was a transformation, it felt like summer! After a good night’s sleep and brunch we lazed around in the cockpit for the rest of the day and late afternoon went into Fowey for a little shopping and evening meal. We met Robert and Mandy with their son Kert and his girlfriend. Robert was saying that they had met up friends of theirs who we had met up with in Scilly.

After getting some needed shopping we discovered we couldn’t order any food for 2.5hrs so we bought ice creams and sat on the front for a while watching the boats. Then we went to the pub with the same view and bought a pint while we waited to order food. That’s when Robert got in contact and came over with Mandy for a drink and chat. Robert and Mandy left us when our food arrived at our table. It wasn’t much walking but Vicki was suffering with pains in her legs by the time we got back to Elektra.

The next day the tidal stream would be with us from around 0700hrs so Vicki wasn’t very happy with me suggesting getting out early. And not happy next day either. Anyway she helped me get Elektra under way and then went to sleep in the cockpit as l sailed Elektra slowly for the next 1.5hrs. Vicki awoke and went down below, now 0900hrs, l started Elektra’s engine and we motor sailed to the Dodman Point passing at 1000hrs having logged 9.5nm, from there l rolled away the genoa and we motored the rest of the passage. We got to St Anthony Light house at 1200hrs and Vicki joined me in the cockpit, she was now feeling better. We motored into the Precuil River and dropped anchor at 1230hrs.

That afternoon was glorious, hot and sunny 24C, we lazed the afternoon away in the cockpit and by evening Vicki was feeling much better. That evening after dinner we played Scrabble and opened a bottle of red.

After going home on Sunday, Monday came in wet and windy but the weather showed an improvement from Tuesday. I told Vicki and she ordered shopping for delivery on Tuesday morning. We had to be home anyway on Tuesday to put out the recycling and pick in the empty bins afterwards as we now had over 4 weeks worth waiting.

We got away from home just after the shopping arrived at 1100hrs and we’re aboard getting ready to leave by 1200hrs. The tidal stream was with us from 1100hrs to 1700hrs and we finally let go the mooring at 1350hrs having found we had left something l had to go back home for. More hast less speed, springs to mind.

I roller out Elektra’s genoa until we could judge how much sail she would need. The forecast said west northwest force 4. After moving across Helford River Entrance we decided more sail was in need so l pulled up the main with one reef and things hotted up, Elektra started logging between 5-7kts, over the 1st hour she logged 5.5nm across the tide but the wind was variable in strength, the amount of sail was plenty some of the time but not enough rest of the time. Elektra covered the 14nm to the Dodman in 2.75hrs.

From the Dodman l should have shaken out the reef in the mainsail but l am a cautious sailor, normally to little sail than too much! But this slowed Elektra’s progress. And we arrived in Fowey entrance 5hrs after leaving Gillan having logged 23nm, l rolled away the genoa and pulled down the main as Vicki motored Elektra into Fowey, we picked up a swing mooring.