Love Sailing

On Thursday 12th of October, I had the chance of another sail, Vicki wasn’t keen because it meant getting out of bed earlier than she would have liked, so I went solo sailing again.

I had to get out from St Anthony beach before 0900hrs and wouldn’t be able to get back to the beach before 1300hrs due to the tide. Down at St Anthony I could see our sailing friend Aden’s catamaran was anchored in Gillan Harbour, so once the dinghy was launched I went over and said hi. Aden was heading back today to the Precuil River before the blow forecasted for Friday.

Once aboard Elektra, I had things to check before thinking of going sailing. Time had past and it was 1000hrs before I dropped Elektra’s mooring, motoring out the gap between Carcrock and the Dennis Head, I then turned Elektra east and set her genoa. After the sailing on Tuesday, I decided the genoa on its own would be plenty for the forecast of west-southwest force 3-4. Elektra sailed slowly downwind to the Nare Point, after rounding we set off southeast for Manacle Buoy at between 5-6kts SOG as we were running with the tide stream, Nearing the Buoy her SOG was 6-7kts. At Manacle buoy I turned her south and continued for about 3nm until deciding to turn back at 1130hrs having logged 6nm. Going north the SOG was slower running against the end of the ebb but seemed quite fast as Elektra was surfing down the waves as far the Manacle Buoy. Shortly after passing the buoy we were very much in the sheltered waters of Falmouth Bay.

At 1300hrs we had passed the Nare Point again and were close on the wind heading into Helford River having logged 12nm. As Elektra had a good line in past Mawgan Sheer we continued into the river and tacked just east of Durgan, I had only been into Helford River once this summer. best heading after tacking was south, the next tack took us to the invasion beach at Trebah. I might had gone on tacking but it started to rain so I turned Elektra east again and headed back to Gillan Harbour, picking up Elektra’s mooring at 1400hrs having logged 15nm.

At this point, I didn’t know today was our last sail, the forecast had suggested a southwest gale for Friday and then strong east wind for 3 days. But by Friday the east wind was expected to get stronger and continue for 7 days by which time there wouldn’t be many days left in October, so we made our minds up to Empty Elektra on Saturday and take her up Carne Creek to her winter birth in the evening.

This season I had been out a few times sailing on my own, I find sailing on just the genoa easiest when on my own, being overpowered when sailing alone is more of a problem with only a tiller pilot to steer if having to get a reef in.

I went out on Tuesday 10th of October, I was keen to get over this hurdle and pull up the mainsail but in the end chickened out. I dropped the mooring at 1105hrs with a forecast of SW force 2-3/ force 3-4 later, motored out of Gillan and set just the genoa, sailing east to round the Nare Point and southeast towards Manacle Buoy. With stronger wind of the point Elektra slowed again once rounded. I decided a bit of mainsail would be better. So pulled up the main with one reef, already the tiller pilot wasn’t copping well but once the sail was set I could take over the helm and steer a better course. Elektra was going well between 5-6kts SOG against the neep tide, when we passed the Manacle Buoy at 1200hrs having logged 4nm the sea started getting very lumpy with spray coming over and I wasn’t wearing any waterproofs.

I thought this is a good time to turnaround and promptly went about, sailing north now towards Falmouth, Elektra’s speed had slowed but I could use her tiller pilot again. At this point I decided to eat and drink, I kept her on this course for another 6-7nm before deciding I should head back. On the first tack we were heading west for Meanporth, I wanted to get in close to the coast as Elektra performs better when beating in flat water. But there on her bow was a fishing cove boat pulling up pots, so I tacked earlier than I planned.

Once tacked and heading south again, Elektra was on her ear doing about 4.5kts SOG, the tiller pilot couldn’t cope again, I thought a reef in the genoa would be good. So I let the sail go and pulled in the first reef and sheeted in, now sailing a little more upright, Elektra was now logging 5.5-5.8kts, only going to prove Elektra sails faster with less sail. I sailed Elektra on south to near the Nare Point before tacking again. Like always a southwest wind turns into a west wind direction in the Helford River, so our next tack took us on a north westerly course. I sailed her on until north of the Dennis Head before tacking south again. In the shelter of the Dennis Head I started her engine and rolled away the genoa and motored into Gillan, picking up her mooring at 1440hrs having logged 15nm.

With the chance of another weekend aboard, the season end was coming closer, it was Saturday 7th of October and we went aboard Elektra at 1100hrs, I had another run ashore for 50lts of water to stop us from running out. Once I had tipped into water tank and taken the cans back ashore, we dropped the mooring at 1240hrs. I suggested a sail before finding an anchorage, Vicki wasn’t keen but enjoyed it non the less. It was a south westerly force 4, we sailed east to Nare Point and southeast towards Manacle Buoy, just before the buoy we turned east again and I set the tiller pilot going and we sat and ate lunch. Vicki said “is this what you do when out sailing on your own?” I said “yes, I can’t sail without using the tiller pilot” I said “I just have to keep watch for pot markers and other boats”. Vicki and I had always loved sailing and both love to helm, so leaving Elektra to sail herself isn’t our normal sailing.

Once we had eaten our lunch Vicki took over the helm again and we turned north-northwest for the Carrick Roads, now on a broad reach Elektra picked up speed and we had a nice sail back into the Precuil River. We had spent most of our time aboard at anchor in the Precuil River since coming back from Scilly in June but we love the place. We did drag anchor the last time we had been in here but that hasn’t put us off. we dropped anchor at 1526hrs having logged 12.5nm. There were 8 other yachts anchored in there over that night.

The next 2 days had no wind because of the high pressure, we had to go back on Monday because Vicki had a flu jab booked for Tuesday. We we got out on Monday it was the thickest fog I had ever seen, we couldn’t even see the river banks! Having had breakfast and done the washing up it became a little clearer but I still wasn’t looking forward to crossing Falmouth Bay. Two of the other yachts left in the morning but we left it until 1255hrs before picking up Elektra’s anchor. The sun had started to break though and visibility was about 6nm as we started out crossing Falmouth Bay, by the time we arrived at Gillan Harbour and picked up Elektra’s mooring at 1405hrs the visibility had improved to 20nm in lovely sunshine.

At the end of September the feeling was the end of the season was coming on fast, Vicki and I thought one last weekend aboard would be nice.

On Friday 29th I had a few jobs to do but due to the tide we wouldn’t be able to get aboard until after 1430hrs due to the tide. With the jobs done I was back home and packing up to go to Elektra by lunch time. We left St Anthony beach around 1430hrs and after getting stowed and ready to sail, dropped her mooring at 1530rs with a forecast of westerly force 3-4. The forecast for Saturday was strong southerly winds so we decided to go and anchor in the shallows at Place, The Roselands equivalent of our St Anthony in Meneage and similar in many ways. Both have a church, both dry out at low water, both would have been quite isolated except by water in the times before the motor car. St Anthony in Meneage is very sheltered except from east winds, St Anthony (Place) in the Roseland is sheltered from most winds except northeast. Elektra having twin keels allows her to be dried out anywhere between tides and having bought and sailed her, I for one wouldn’t ever buy another fin keel yacht. The advantages of a twin keeler far out weight any disadvantages. Some would say they don’t go to wind as well, I don’t think this comment is true of the Sadler fleet, Elektra points very well indeed.

Being that we had left Gillan Harbour quite late in the day we just sailed straight to Place on her genoa just 6nm away and dropped anchor at 1650hrs, HW was at 1807hrs. Our friend Aden was also there with his cat, we gave a wave as we motored in to lay the anchor. Elektra went aground 2230hrs for 4hrs.

The next morning the wind was blowing but Elektra was very sheltered via the tree line, going aground again at around 1130hrs, I went ashore for a walk before the water dropped to low. Walking out around the southern tip of the Roseland coast footpath bought back memories of the 100s of days I spent in the past trimming coastal footpaths when I was younger, to be fair I hadn’t walked on many since, I had my fill by the time I gave up the trimming in around the year 2000.

Anyway, I was enjoying the walk and seeing places from a different point of view, up on Zone Point looking and reading about the old gun emplacements, looking at St Anthony Light House from above and not from the water, all different. The southerly wind was up at force 6, there were a few yachts sailing north from Helford River. It was a lovely walk, I will need to do some more walking another season. Having walked around and found my way back to my punt from the other direction, the tide had come in again, the long line, I had used to attach the dinghy to a high tree branch was now only a foot above the water and the dinghy floating outside the tree line, I managed to find a gap and pull the punt to the shore, get in punt and out though the trees. Back on Elektra Vicki had been reading and hadn’t noticed the time, I promptly fell asleep and it was late before we ate.

The wind blow out during the next morning, we stayed for another low water and left as soon as Elektra floated again, lifting her anchor at 1640hrs, the wind had had completely gone by then and we just motored back across the bay. To start with visibility was about 3nm but became less when the fog rolled in, until it was around 1/4nm, by that time we were in the middle of the bay and continuing on course was the best way to go. You just can’t relax, continuously watching and checking the AIS, I am always happy to get to our destination after being in fog.

With the weather still being wet and windy the weekend had passed by but Monday looked good for a day sail, it was 1100hrs before I climbed aboard Elektra after 10 days since I was last there.

The fresh water leak I thought I had solved hadn’t worked after all and I had to bale out 2 gallons from under the floor below the companion way steps, where this water was coming from was a mystery I am yet to solve but that’s for another day.

I came out to go sailing, after checking on a few other things I was eventually able to go out sailing. Without starting the engine I attached the dinghy to the mooring and dropped the mooring at 1230hrs. The forecast was for southwest force 4-5 decreasing later to southerly force 4. The wind had been blasting out of Gillan so I only set the genoa and headed for the gap between Car Crock and the Dennis Head on about half the genoa, soon rolling out all the sail. Sailing east to the Nare Point and then southeast towards the Manacle Buoy, Elektra was doing 5kts SOG against a 1.5kt tide.

As Elektra neared the Manacle Buoy the swells from the previous blows were very noticeable, 2-3m high but very long, the horizon was disappearing quite a lot but it wasn’t a rough sea. Off the buoy I turned Elektra east again for more of a beam reach. It was a very pleasant sail, after a while I thought, I haven’t ever been this far east on this latitude, about 8nm east of Manacle Buoy. Over the last 18 seasons we had only done coastal cruising as far east as Poole and west as far as The Isles of Scilly, never crossed the English Channel to France. I was beginning to see the possibilities of cruising further away after retirement.

Enough of this dreaming I got to think about going home for dinner, I turned Elektra northwest towards the Nare Point. A nice broad reach to the Nare Point and then close on the wind into Gillan until loosing the wind altogether of Car Crock east cardinal buoy where I rolled the genoa and started the engine.

Once back on the mooring we had covered 15nm over 3.5hrs.

The problem was, l had to work all week including Friday and by Saturday Elektra was neeped!

So it was Sunday on the high water at 1518hrs before l could move Elektra from her gale proof mooring in Carne Creek out to her summer swing mooring in Gillan Harbour. By which time our plans had changed because of the weather and the tide times.

With the outlook for almost no wind, we didn’t want to motor all the way to Fowey only to motor all the way back a few days later due to no wind. So now we would be staying locally again for a different reason. We went abroad on Monday evening, staying on her mooring as l needed to get something ashore on Tuesday morning.

After my run ashore we dropped Elektra’s mooring at 1125hrs setting a reefed main and all her genoa for the sail across Falmouth Bay to the Precuil River. The forecast was for northwesterly force 4-5 increasing northerly 5-7 later. We did want the later wind. Elektra was on her ear for the whole passage, maybe a little too much sail but we stuck with it enjoying being over canvassed, only a couple of times did we lose steerage and she turned into the wind before gaining control again. Was great sailing until rolling in the genoa in St Mawes. Vicki motored Elektra up the river and l lowered and packed away her mainsail. Once we had dropped anchor we put up her cockpit enclosure just before the rain.

What followed was a wet and windy night but all was gone in the morning, Wednesday was sunny with clouds and spent lazing in the cockpit. I also caught up on some blogging which l hadn’t got to because of work.

Thursday was more of the same but we did have a run upto the head of the Precuil River in our dinghy on the evening high water which is nice to do in good weather. An hour and a half later we were back aboard Elektra again.

The forecast for the weekend was poor with strong winds and heavy rain, so we decided to go back on Friday. For Saturday they were giving east winds and stronger on Sunday morning so we would be mooring on her gale proof mooring in Carne Creek which meant leaving the Precuil River about 1600hrs. We tried sailing, the wind was light, Elektra was logging between 2.5-3kts but as we got nearer to the Helford River her speed dropped of to 1.3-1.8kts at which point we started the engine. We motored into Gillan only turning east to lower the main before motoring on into Carne Creek and mooring up.

On Sunday afternoon l moved Elektra back out onto her seasonal mooring as a wet and windy week was forecasted, mainly west and southwest winds.

Ever since we had returned from Scilly at the end of the 3rd week of June the weather had been very poor but with the beginning of September summer had very truly arrived 😀 with temperatures at 25C and wall to wall sunshine. We couldn’t miss this weekend before l had to return to work 😪

After a wonderful sailing across Falmouth Bay we anchored in the Precuil River as normal and enjoyed a fantastic weekend of hot sunny weather, it was wonderful to feel the sun on my back again after the poor summer weather 😀

With work on Monday we had to go back on Sunday and with the forecast of strong east winds for Monday and Tuesday we needed to take Elektra up onto her gale proof mooring in Carne Creek which we couldn’t do until 1800hrs so most of Sunday we could still enjoy the surroundings and the weather 😀

At 1600hrs we left the Precuil River to sail back but no wind, left us needing to motor slowly. But we still arrived to early to get into Carne Creek so picked up a mooring and waited. Packing up ready to leave while we waited for the tide. Once high enough l motored Elektra in and moored her up.

On Wednesday the 30th of August it looked good for another day sail and Vicki wanted to come along too.

Just a two and a half hour sail across Falmouth Bay and back but we really enjoyed it under full sail catching up a fellow sailor aboard his Southerly 100 having given him a 20min head start over the 4nm return. We logged 10nm total but it was great sailing.

With another week available for sailing the weather wasn’t looking to good so we stayed home and did some jobs instead.

So when on Monday 28th of August it looked like a good day for sailing, the tide would stop me leaving until midday.

It was a northwesterly force 4-5 so l only set Elektra’s genoa and headed across Falmouth Bay close on the wind. I find Elektra is easier to handle by myself on just her genoa with a good wind which it was. On the first making tack sailing right in under St Mawes Castle before tacking west towards Falmouth Harbour break water. Elektra is surprisingly able to point very well in just her genoa.

I took lots of photos of other yachts, Elektra was going as fast and pointing equally as well, l was really enjoying myself.

The next tack took us north of St Just in Roseland before a cross tack north of Mylor swing moorings, the next making tack all the way north to Turnaware Buoy where the wind disappeared and l started the engine. After picking up contact details from a skipper to send photos.

I set Elektra’s genoa again for the return passage to Gillan,at a more leisurely pace sailing south towards Pendennis Point and later south southwest towards Gillan. One l had picked up her mooring the numbers said l had covered 21nm in 4.5hrs

After almost 3 weeks with only a couple of single days sailing, we were ready for another week aboard. The forecast was pretty poor for both weekends but good mid week. Our plan had been to sail to Fowey on Friday and on to Salcombe on Sunday but as we got nearer to the weekend it wasn’t looking good for our return the following weekend so we decided to stay local again!

On Friday 11th August we cast off our mooring in Gillan at 1530hrs and headed for Place in the Precuil River, there wasn’t much wind, it would have made for a poor sail to Fowey if we had gone. But instead we sailed the 6nm in 1.5hrs and dropped anchor in good shelter in the shallows were we knew Elektra would dry out. The forecast for Saturday was southwest force 6 gusting 8, Sunday would be dry and a little less windy but the wind was set to be strong until midday on Monday.

We stayed put in Place until Monday, resting on Saturday though the worst of the wind and rain. On Sunday we went over to St Mawes for a pub lunch at the Victory Inn, shopping at the co-op and a ice cream. Although the wind had died back quite a lot St Mawes Harbour was just about as rough as l would attempt in our 2.7m inflatable RIB and l was glad to get back aboard safely afterwards.

Monday wind was still set to be strong until midday so we stayed for another low water, picking up ans stowing Elektra’s anchor at 1420hrs with the intention of sailing to Coverack for an overnight stay. Out in Falmouth Bay the sea was still very unsettled and along with not much wind, we changed our plans and sailed into the Helford River instead. In the evening going for a dinner in The Shipwrights Arms.

On Tuesday Vicki had had a call from the doctors to ask her to pick up a perception so we needed to return to Gillan for my transport. I left Vicki aboard and l went back home to drop off and pick up stuff, then to the doctors and shopping in St Keverne before returning to Elektra. I met up with Stewart on St Anthony beach and being that we were heading for a small Sadler Rally that evening in Channels Creek, l suggested he came to. Out in Falmouth Bay there wasn’t any wind so we had to motor. Only went we got into Carrick Roads did the wind pick up enough to sail. On arrival at Channels Hank was already there with his S29 After a beer on Stewarts S26 Guy arrived in his S29. In the evening we all gathered on Guy’s S29 and chatted until dark.

We all went our separate ways the next day, it was a lovely still morning. We didn’t leave until 1450hrs and just motored south to the Precuil River for the easterly wind which was forecasted on Thursday. Tucked up nicely in the Precuil River on Thursday we didn’t really know it was windy. This weekend coming was the planned start on the Tall Ships Race with the Parade of Sail being set for 1600hrs on Friday, the weather had other ideas!

We went to St Mawes for lunch at the Rising Sun, shopping and ice cream on Thursday. Showers at St Mawes Sailing Club. Arriving back at Elektra l had already decided, l wasn’t going sailing on Friday with the wind and rain which was forecasted. We then put up Elektra’s cockpit enclosure, Friday really wasn’t looking like a good day to go anywhere! Then l heard the Parade of Sail had been cancelled due to safety concerns, l think a very wise discussion.

Friday started dry but rain came in a lot earlier than forecasted. I had always planned to move Elektra and reset her anchor for the change to southwest wind direction. Elektra would be sheltered in the southeast and southern winds but not southwest. I didn’t really want to move in the rain and was hoping for it to ease off but in didn’t. So in the end there wasn’t any choice, Elektra was hanging back with her stern just off the rocks, l didn’t bother with water proofs, just T shirt and shorts.

Without removing Elektra’s cockpit enclosure, l pulled up her anchor and Vicki motored her out into deeper water and l relaid her anchor for southwest winds. Another yacht in the anchorage had dragged and moved at the same time. The wind had steadily increased. The forecast was southeast force 4-6, veering southerly force 7-11, veering southwest force 5-6. Ever since moving l had been checking out the window and looking at the GPS for dragging but Elektra seemed to be holding. Then it happened, she was lying side on to the weather, Elektra was dragging her anchor towards the rocks! It all happened very quickly, with about 5-10mins before Elektra would be on the rocks, raining harder almost like fog because it was so heavy. There was no time to wait, Elektra was already halfway onto a lea shore before Vicki started the engine and her tiller had to be untied. I headed to the bow to pull her anchor up. Once up l went back to the cockpit, l said to Vicki we will motor on down the river to Place which now will be sheltered.

We’ll it wasn’t the best weather to be moving and Elektra still had her cockpit enclosure up, visibility was very poor with the heavy rain, it was only about one mile but we had to pass between all the yachts on swing moorings which were swinging a lot in the stronger gusts. Vicki had Elektra moving forward at about 3.5kts, seemed to take ages, towards the end our speed dropped off to 2.5kts and the engine was making an unusual noise. I was thinking we had possibly picked up a line or a lump of seaweed but continued forward into Place, going right into Place we dropped anchor close into the sheltered bank, on the drying ground. Here Elektra would dry out around 2300hrs. We had arrived just before dark, l like to take transits and keep checking them before dark but this wouldn’t be possible. So took GPS position and kept checking though the evening until going aground. Once aground we could sleep because Elektra wouldn’t float again until 0500hrs on Saturday by which time the wind was forecasted to die off.

On Saturday, we stayed for low water because l wanted to check the prop for rope or seaweed? There wasn’t any! But once floating again and outboard and dinghy lifted onto Elektra. Vicki motored Elektra out and we headed for Gillan at 1700hrs, there was a nice bit of wind in Falmouth Bay, so just on Elektra’s genoa she punched forward into a southwest force 4-5 getting into Gillan at 1915hrs having logged 10.5nm. We stayed aboard that evening and packed up in the morning to get ashore before 1130hrs due to falling tide.

We have found our genuine 7.5kg Bruce anchor very reliable but after our night when Elektra dragged we did look at replacing with a 10kg Rocna. But we stow our Bruce anchor in the anchor locker as we use our bow roller for our swing mooring strop. Having found the sizes of the Rocna on-line, the anchor would be too big to fit inside the locker, so would have to stow on the bow roller, which means changing Elektra’s mooring strop.