Love Sailing

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.

Ever since we first went to Scilly in 2009 we have anchored in Green Bay and being a drying anchorage the anchors are visible at low water, l have always been interested in how well they worked or didn’t in some cases.

But it was the summer of 2013 which really made me think of which anchor would be better to buy. We had sailed to Scilly on the Saturday and after arriving there was a forecast of gale set for Wednesday. Most yachts left for the mainland before then but we had only just arrived and didn’t want to leave, so we stayed! During the low water before the gale was due, skippers were digging their anchors in (digging a hole with spades, placing the anchor in the hole and filling the holes back in). We had a Danforth anchor for our Hurley 22, Danforth didn’t have very good write ups in the yachting press but we hadn’t ever had a problem.

The gale arrived at the end of the day, south veering west just as the tide floats all the yachts. We were very close to another yacht so we moved and found a space before dropping anchor again, the anchor set in its own length and held throughout the gale overnight. In the morning is was easy to see which anchors worked and which didn’t. The 3 yachts which dragged all had CQR anchors, but thankfully they didn’t collide with any other yachts! The Bruce anchors had gone in really deep into the bottom. The Delta anchors seemed to work well, one yacht even had a big fishing man’s anchor which seemed to work well.

The wind stayed up around force 6 for the next 3 days, then for Sunday came another forecast of a southeast veering southwest gale. Our Hurley 22 was a fin keeler which we fitted beach legs to, to dry out. But southeast blows straight into Green Bay and legs aren’t good in any swell. So we moved and picked up a swing mooring in New Grimsby. That was a night l don’t ever want to repeat, during wind against tide the mooring buoy was trying to break though the bow, good job H22s were over engineered (very thick GRP). The CG met office forecast had given northeast force 7 for Monday but when we awoke the wind was gone and it was flat calm. That was the first time we came back via Newlyn over 2 days. Later that season l bought my first smartphone because met office couldn’t be trusted to give a correct forecast.

When we bought Elektra, she had a CQR anchor, l took one look at it and chucked it in the boat yard skip! I bought a slightly under sized 7.5kg genuine Bruce anchor which we used for 7 season, we anchored 240 nights, it dragged 4 times. I have replaced this season with a 10kg Rocna which l am still uncertain about at this time, although it did dig in well during the last 24hrs of strong winds.

I walked around the anchorage today at low water, 11 years later 80% of yachts now have Rocna anchors, some still using Bruce anchors. And some still have CQRs but have problems and don’t realise that there are better anchors available.

After a good night’s sleep l awoke on Tuesday to a dry overcast day. The first thing l did was row ashore for a walk on St Martin’s.

After a good walk l got back to the beach, the sun was trying to break though the clouds, it was looking like a nice day 😀

Then it was back to Elektra for cooked breakfast, after the washing up we lazed in the cockpit until evening when l fitted the outboard on the tender and once ready went to the Seven Stones lnn  for an evening meal. These days Vicki isn’t able to walk far unaided, so l motored the dinghy around the point to the Tean Sound slipway so she didn’t have to walk too far. The climb up to the pub was a lot for Vicki but we got there after a few stops to rest on the way.

After a lovely meal and a couple of drinks we made our way slowly back to the dinghy. Where l found l had just pulled the dinghy enough up the beach, the water was lapping its stern! Back to Elektra for a night cap before bed.

On Wednesday we moved Elektra to Green Bay, Bryher on the morning high water. 4.5nm, took an hour. With about 10 other yachts there we picked a spot dropped anchor and it dug in first time. We moved here because the forecast for Thursday was strong west-northwest winds and its best to move early to get a good place. By the end of the day another 6 yachts had arrived. I had a few boat jobs to do and with them and a little more laziness in the cockpit the day driffed by. In the evening we had some cold cuts and cheese for dinner and played Scrabble in the evening with a bottle of red.

And on Thursday morning more arrived, the anchorage was certainly getting busy. Just as Elektra started to dry out Vicki and l headed to The Fragle Rock pub on Bryher for a pint and lunch. Again l like to get Vicki as close by water as possible, this means motoring the dinghy north to Hangman’s lsland and landing in the cove below the pub. Once we had passed the slipway for the ferry boats the sea started to get lumpy and the yachts on the moorings in New Grimsby Sound were bouncing up and down a lot and the sea was crashing onto the rocks at the northern end of Bryher, we were glad that we had found better shelter for Elektra. Entering the little cove took us into shelter of Hangman’s Island and the reef between the lsland and Bryher, so was calm. I pulled the dinghy onto the shore and with the tide still falling left at the waters edge.

We walked up to Fragle Rock and had lunch. Afterwards was a little more tricky leaving, with it being around low water, there wasn’t any depth quite away out and Vicki had to paddle out before getting in the dinghy, l pulled it a bit further out before getting in myself. Then we were blown into a big patch of floating weed, rowing out of there was like trying to escape from a treacle tart! But we got out in the end, before l could start the engine l had to remove the 20ft long seaweed trailing from the prop! Once done, l started the engine and we motored back to Elektra trying to avoid other patches of floating weed on the way. Just after landing, it tipped down with rain, Vicki walked as fast as she could to Elektra to get some shelter and l followed pulling the dinghy over ground after putting the wheels on. Placing the dinghy underneath the ladder gives Vicki the additional height needed for her to get on the bottom rung, l can get on the rung from the ground. As soon as we were aboard the rain stopped!

I opened up the cabin Vicki got in and changed and l went back down to the ground to check the anchor. I like looking at anchors and seeing how well or not they have dug themselves in. And so once l was happy with Elektra’s anchor l strolled around looking at others. It wasn’t long before l had strolled over to my friend Adrian’s cat and we started chatting. Adrian offered me a beer and so l climbed aboard and continued our chat. Needless to say Vicki was wondering where l was! She had made herself a hot chocolate and drunk it and gone to sleep before l got back!

That evening once the tide had come back the wind had picked up quite a bit more and anchor chains were tight. The evening had turned very chilly and we shut up the cabin and started the cabin heater. Watching the yachts swinging around was a little worrying until it got dark. We played Scrabble that evening and opened a bottle of red. In the early hours of the morning Elektra went aground again, aways nice in strong winds as there isn’t any way of dragging anchor once aground! The wind blew out sometime during the night.

On Friday morning after Elektra floated again l went ashore for a walk, the weather wasn’t over warm but walking helps with that. I must have 1000s of photos of Scilly as we have sailed here in 2009, 10, 13, in our last yacht a Hurley 22. And since then 2017, 18, 21, 23 and now 24. But l still take photos on my walks around the islands. It’s such a special place and every time we get here, it never fails to disapoint. Once l was back aboard, Vicki cooked brunch and afterwards l washed up.

The rest of the day was spent laying in the cockpit sunshine. I had a little stroll around taking pictures of the anchors after the strong winds of the last 24hrs. In the evening after Elektra swung around and faced the Westerly breeze the sun disappeared behind the sprayhood so we moved into the cabin and opened a bottle of red 😀

After the last time we thought of going out to The Isle of Scilly in May the weather just hadn’t been good enough for long enough! Both Vicki and I love Scilly and are always looking for the weather to allow us to go but we know only too well that Scilly isn’t the place to be in bad weather.

The weather forecast seems to change on a daily basis these days, you can only trust them for one day at a time! Like l said,  l had been watching the weather for a window of opportunity to get out to Scilly. For better or worse the forecast seemed to present itself. The weekend was showing strong west winds but Sunday to Tuesday looks possible. At first we were going on Sunday but in the end Monday looks better  but we would have to motor all the way! We might have been able to sail on Tuesday but that would be another lost holiday day in Scilly. As it turned out Sunday was miserable drizzle and poor visibility which wouldn’t have been good crossing the shipping lanes. To be honest just getting the stores and ourselves out to Elektra on Sunday afternoon was bad enough 😕. This was followed by a sleepless night and it was as if we hadn’t ever been to Scilly either.

We cast off our mooring at 0830hrs on Monday 24th of June, l had pulled up the main but we expected to motor the whole passage as little or no wind was forecasted. A slight worry was we hadn’t used the engine much since over heating it when we had a coolant pipe burst after the SSOA rally in Fowey at the end of May. Vicki took the helm and motored Elektra east to the Nare Point while l got the tiller pilot out and connected up, once around the Nare, l set the pilot going to Manacle Buoy. Looking around there were quite a few other yachts heading our way at this time.

We used to go with the tide from Manacle Buoy to Wolf Rock but a few years ago l found out having planned to get to the Lizard Point for slack water, the inshore stream around the Lizard starts 1hr earlier, and as such we can get 7hrs of push towards Scilly. And with the advantage of arrival in Scilly around high water. With all these other yachts coming at the same time, many more skippers had also worked this out!

We would be against the tide from the Manacles to Black Head so our speed over ground slowed to 4kts, when we got to Black Head we were a little bit early so the tide didn’t turn until we were nearly to the Lizard Point. But the tide was definitely with us off Lizard Point as we touched 9.8kts SOG. The sea was very confused for the next 5nm but was behind us within a 1/2hr with the speed over ground. Once clear of the Lizard the sea calmed down to a gentle long Atlantic swells, possibly 4-6ft high and 50-60ft long. From there it was pretty boring checking the tiller pilot and hourly entries into the log. The only added interest was the ship which passed though our little gang of yachts on its way between the Lizard Point and the North bound shipping lane off Lands End, very skillfully executed by the captain l thought! I had seen her running slightly behind on a parallel course and had already thought she will want to cross our course somehow 🤔. The captain turned her into a line between Elektra and the 2 yachts about half a mile behind and gently steamed her between us on about a 20 degree angle without effecting our progress. The only other ship a cruiseliner passed across our coarse down the south bound shipping lane while we were still crossing the entrance to the north bound lane, so she didn’t affect us. At 1750hrs we arrived at our way point at the entrance to Crow Sound having logged 55nm, from there it was a slower careful motor north to one of our favourite anchorages south of St Martin’s, we dropped anchor at 1830hrs having logged 58nm. I had checked the engine a few times on passage, thankfully aĺl was good with it, now she has had a good test, l feel l wouldn’t worry about it again.

The plan was to leave Fowey back to Gillan with the good forecast of north-northwest force 4 on Tuesday as the weather for Wenesday was nil wind before the coming Low set to come in on Thursday, southwesterly force 5 gusting 7 with heavy rain. As our passage is in a southwesterly direction to Gillan, Tuesday’s forecast was a lot better.

On Tuesday the tide stream would be running our way 1240-1840hrs, so the wasn’t any hurry to leave. After cooked breckfast and washing up was done we slowly got Elektra ready to leave. We cast off at 1220hrs, Vicki motored Elektra out though Fowey entance and I set the genoa only and off we went at what seemed a sadate pace but in reality was a fast passage. At times would could have done with a little more sail but at other times just the genoa was plenty of power without being too much of a handful. An alternative sail patten could have been double reefed main and 1 reef in the genoa but would we have been any faster? We picked up her Gillan swing mooring at 1650hrs having logged 24nm in 4.5hrs without hanging on for dear life!

We might have stayed aboard another day on anchor in Gillan but we were almost out of milk, so it was decided to leave Elektra and go home.

With the time availible for more sailing the plan had been to get Elektra loaded with water, diesel and new camping gaz bottle Friday morning over high water before I had some work to finish. We had problems with the outboard the last time we were aboard when I thought I had flooded it, it was stupid really, I was running up against time, having filled the water cans and filtered the diesel, I never tried the outboard having changed its sparkplug. When I got down to St Anthony, I thought it was better to try the engine first before loading the dinghy up. But it didn’t want to start and the tide was going out, I didn’t want to row the heavy ladened dinghy out to Elektra, so I drove back home having not done anything!

Then it was time to go to work, 3hrs later I was back home again. The first thing to do was to try to get the outboard running but without any success I finaly put it to one side and got the spare outboard out, this hadn’t been started since last season but had been laid up properly after last use and after filling up the fuel tank, it started 2nd pull. The tide wouldn’t be high enough to float dinghy at St Anthony until 1530hrs. So I helped Vicki with packing and had I a shower before I drove down to St Anthony for the 2nd time with the water ect. This time with a working outboard things went better and I was back home by 1700hrs to load pick-up with stores and gear for a week away. Back to St Anthony, unload the pick-up onto the pontoon beside dinghy, I then parked the pick-up in the carpark, walked back, loaded the dinghy and Vicki and I climbed in, it was another heavy load back out to Elektra by which time it was 1830hrs. With stowing the gear and stores we has already decided to stay on Elektra’s swing mooring overnight.

The next morning was Saturday 8th June, the tide would have been right for leaving early to head east but we are both owls (more awake at night than in the morning). So after a lazy morning and cooked breckfast we cast off the mooring at 1235hrs and headed northeast with a forecast of northwest force 4. I first set the genoa but thinking we needed more sail pulled up the main with 2 reefs while still underway (only possible because with the new sails last year we did away with the lazyjacks). It wasn’t a fast sail across Falmouth Bay but the wind picked up to a NW4 gusting 5 from the Roseland and Elektra was creaming along at 5-6kts between the Roseland and Dodman Point. We covered the 14nm to Dodman in 3hrs and were anchored off Gorran Haven at 1600hrs having logged 16nm against the tide.

We think Gorran Haven Fish&Chips are the best we have had in Cornwall, so having dropped anchor Vicki placed our order for 1730hrs. I lowered the dinghy and fitted the outboard and when we were ready we went ashore, as the tide was still coming I pulled the dinghy up the beach a bit and we walked to the chippy. We ate our food overlooking the harbour, Elektra did look nice at anchor beyond the harbour wall.

We went back aboard and having taken the outboard off the dinghy onto Elektra’s pushpit we decided to tow the dinghy. We pulled up her anchor and motored Elektra east out of Gorran Haven then northeast to Chaple Point and north to a anchorage we know called Polgwyn Cove. When motoring north I turned on Elektra’s cabin heater (it might be June but it was still cold). we motored in and dropped anchor at 1915hrs having logged 20nm today.

On Thursday 30th of May Vicki dropped me back in Fowey with a bag of clothes, water proofs and some stores. I also had 5lts of coolant, when l then dropped into the Harbour Masters office to pay for 2 more nights, Elektra had arrived last Friday and l was going to sail her home a Friday later. The forecast for Thursday was northwesterly force 6, but Friday had it easing off a little to a northerly force 4-5. As l crossed the river to Elektra in the dinghy, l was glad it was mainly down wind, or would have been very wet coming the other way.

I was glad to get aboard Elektra and the wind increased though the rest of that day, with white horses showing in the Fowey river. I refilled the coolant, Anthony said it holds about 5lts but l only needed 3lts to top it up, so it wasn’t completely empty. I started and ran the engine for a while to check it all out, everything seemed fine, ready for the passage home. The wind was forecasted to ease from 09-1000hrs tomorrow so my plans we’re to leave Fowey at around 1200hrs on Friday which would be against the tide until 1550hrs but near slack around the Dodman Point. I cooked myself some dinner and because l was feeling quite cold, went to bed early.

I awoke suddenly at 0500hrs on Friday and thought, l might as well leave with the tide since l was awake. So l got out and made Elektra ready to leave, the tide was with us from 0352-0952hrs. I cast off the mooring at 0600hrs and pointed Elektra towards the sea, l unwrapped the mainsail and motored out the entrance but just set the genoa on coarse for Cannis Buoy. Elektra was only logging 3.5kts to the Buoy, but as we left the shelter of Gribbon Head things soon hotted up! With the need to help the tiller pilot keep Elektra on coarse, l need to reef the genoa once, then twice! Elektra was on a broad reach to the Dodman and then a beam reach from Dodman to Gillan, with just a piece of genoa she was logging over 6kts most of the time! The slow parts of the passage was from the mooring to Cannis Buoy and crossing Falmouth Bay at the end of the passage, over the last hour when the wind eased and l should have let more sail out. The fastest speed recorded on the GPS was 7.5kts. Elektra had covered the 22nm from Cannis Buoy to Gillan in 4hrs. And the whole passage from the Fowey mooring to anchored in Gillan, 24nm in 4.5hrs.

I motored Elektra slowly in and dropped anchor off St Anthony to get a bit of shelter as our swing mooring was open to the wind and swells. I had already called Vicki to say l was on the way and called her again to say  l had arrived. Vicki drove down from home later in the day and we spent the weekend at anchor there in lovely sunny weather.