Love Sailing

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.

After getting back from Scilly l started working but the weather had other ideas and my 4 days of work took 7 days to complete.

The forecast was still changeable, and with the possibility of 12 days available, the Monday to Wednesday of the following week looked wet and windy. We decided to go local for a few days and return home for the bad weather before having a few more days aboard later. Plus after coming back from Scilly we had missed the date of the new recycling collection so it would be good to be home on Tuesday of that week.

So it was on Wednesday morning at high water that l launched the dinghy and took out diesel and gas to top tank. After that it was back to the pontoon and ashore with the empties, and then to Gear Farm for Cornish Pasties and on to St Keverne to the doctors for prescriptions and a little shopping in the village before heading home. Once home again, l had a shower and we packed up ready to leave, packed the pickup and we were back to St Anthony before the tide went out to far.

The tide was falling and we were running close to no water, with just 18″ at the end of the pontoon, we loaded the dinghy and Vicki and l climbed aboard. With really not enough water to lower the engine, l used a paddle to push us into deeper water and the wind was helping to. Lowing the engine and gently motoring out towards Gillan Harbour, once clear of the shallows off St Anthony we could speed up. At Elektra Vicki climbed aboard and l passed up the bags of stores and kit. I lifted the engine onto the pushpit and got the dinghy ready for lifting on davits before climbing aboard Elektra myself. In the meantime Vicki had started stowing the kit and stores,  l helped with lifting down a few bags before lifting the dinghy on her davits. Once the stores and kit were stowed,  we sat down in the cockpit to Pasties for lunch. While we were there our friend Stuart went out sailing in his Sadler 26. We watched him haul up full mainsail, he started his engine but didn’t need it, as the wind blew him seaward. The forecast was west-northwesterly force 4, we watched as Stuart turned towards Falmouth and rolled out all his genoa but after that something else must have taken our attention. It seemed quite windy in Gillan Harbour on the mooring and we discussed how much sail we might need, Elektra is tender, so she doesn’t need much! We decided just the genoa but we will have the main ready if needed.

I removed the mainsail cover and attached the main halyard to the main. Started Elektra’s engine and switched on her instruments. Vicki got ready at the helm while l went to the bow to cast off, once l was ready to let go l ask if Vicki was ready and l let go. Vicki turned Elektra and headed out around Car Crock buoy. Once we turned at the buoy for Falmouth, l unrolled all her genoa and Elektra was very quickly doing over 5kts as we crossed the entrance of Helford River. I stopped the engine and went below to do a log entry. The genoa was plenty of sail on it’s own, the wind seemed more like force 5. Elektra was romping along. It was then l saw Stuart returning to Gillan, on engine with bare poles and l wondered what happened!

Part way across Falmouth Bay Vicki let me have a go on the helm, shortly after taking over l found Elektra was starting to round up and so Vicki took over again while l pulled the first reef into the genoa, once l had winched the sheet back in again, l had another go at the helm. It was exciting sailing in lovely sunny weather which we hadn’t seen much of this season 😀 We had to leave space for a Moody 376 coming our way into Carrick Roads, she was also just sailing on her genoa as we both rounded Pendennis Point at the same time. From there she only slowly pulled away from Elektra before starting her engine and motoring from St Just in Roseland. We continued sailing and just north of St Just, we tacked west towards Mylor. Now low water there wasn’t much depth. Elektra was still romping along at over 5kts with just 0.5m showing under her keels. But l knew with it being neep tides there would be enough depth. Just off Mylor moorings we tacked again and headed north. At one point it looked like we would need to tack again but the closer we got to Turnaware Buoy the better we could point, only starting her engine and rolling away the genoa a few yards short of the Buoy. We motored into Channels Creek and dropped anchor, we had logged 9nm in 1.75hrs. It had been excellent sailing.

It was a lovely evening but Elektra was facing the wind and as the sun went down we were sitting in the shade behind the sprayhood. The wind was chilly, so we put up the cockpit enclosure and boy that made a fantastic difference warming us up.

On Monday 1st of July we pulled up our anchor in Porth Cressa and were motoring out by 0800hrs (what l didn’t realise at the time was if l had worked out the tide correctly, we should have left at 0600hrs or before).

But that wasn’t in my mind at the time, the forecast was for a steady north westerly force 4, increasing near 5 by evening. We were hoping for a nice sail back to the mainland. But there didn’t seem like much wind as we motored east, l had planned to sail back on Elektra’s genoa but for the first 3hrs we were motoring or motor sailing. Only after crossing the south bound shipping lane did we start sailing. A big car carrier was on its way south, first seen at 8nm, she was doing 15kts and l didn’t want to stop motoring until l was sure she was passing behind us.

Between Wolf Rock light house and Lizard Point 4 ships passed us to port between us and the mainland.

After logging 17nm in 3.5hrs under engine against the tide, we started sailing, over the next 4hrs we logged 15nm under sail. We would have probably continued like this but l then realised my error in the tide calculation! We needed to pass the Lizard Point way point by 1630hrs (13nm in 2hrs). The only thing was to start motor sailing again, we covered the ground needed in time and only had 4-5ft standing waves at the Lizard Point (not breaking overfalls). Once around to Black Head we sailed again but although doing 5kts though the water our SOG had slowed to 2.5kts, the tide had turned and was now running south! So we motor sailed up to Manacle Buoy before just motoring from there back to Gillan.

Motoring into Gillan around low water, l dropped anchor at 1930hrs having logged 57nm. Next thing to do was change the gas bottle as it had run out as soon as Vicki put on dinner. Being late and the tide out we stayed aboard another night.

The next morning we packed up after brunch and washing up, moving Elektra back to her mooring and went home for a shower.

On Saturday morning when l looked out, the wind had picked up from the south, Elektra was now swinging over the rocky area at the northern side of Green Bay. “Tantrum” the Moody 346 was very close ahead of Elektra. Vicki and l had a brief chat about what we would do, we might of moved to a different anchorage but we decided to stay in Green Bay but move to give us more space. I paddle the dinghy over to “Tantrum” and chatted with the skipper what we were going to do. Elektra’s anchor was under his yacht, so he agreed to fend Elektra off. In the end he pulled up some of his chain so l could pull up Elektra’s anchor and stay clear of Tantrum. Once clear he let out more chain and we motored Elektra over to more swinging space away from the rocks and other yachts. We dropped anchor again and Vicki cooked brunch.

After l had done the washing up, l went ashore in the dinghy, walked up to the shop on Bryher for some shopping. And then once aboard again sat in the cockpit for a time until Elektra dried out and the tide dropped enough for me to climb down the ladder and walk around the anchorage. At which point l decided to move Elektra anchor away from a swing mooring which had a RIB attached to, to give a bit more swinging room. The bottom in Green Bay is like wet concrete, seems quite soft until you try digging into it!

After another little stroll around the anchorage and another chat with Adrian, l when back to Elektra. Vicki was in the cabin as it had gone cooler again. Not very summer like we thought, l put the clear plastic wash boards and shut the hatch, we then run the cabin heater for a while to warm up the cabin.

We sat down to cold cuts with bread and cheese in the evening and later playing Scrabble with a bottle of red.

On Sunday we planned to move to Porth Cressa as we were leaving Scilly at low water on Monday so needed a deep water anchorage with easy exit to the sea. We hadn’t ever been in Porth Cressa even though we had visited Scilly now 8 times. So it was out with the pilot book and reading about the Wras and the Biggal. After breakfast, l was doing the washing up, the sun was out and blue skies, so l took a picture though the cabin window so l did miss the best part of the day!

We left Green Bay at 1130hrs an motored south out of New Grimsby Sound and headed for St Mary’s. We could of sailed on the northly force 4 but the engine hadn’t been run since Wednesday so we continued motoring the 4.5nm to Porth Cressa. We motored in and dropped anchor in the shallows, with 4m under the keel at high water, the range was 3m. After arrival at 1220hrs Vicki went for a sleep and l went for a walk, when l returned l also fell asleep in the cockpit. In the evening we went to the Atlantic Inn for meal, after returning to Elektra for the evening warming the cabin with the heater, Scilly is lovely in the summer but we haven’t had any summer weather since June 2023!

The plan is to leave Scilly on passage to Gillan at around 0800hrs on Monday.