The forecast was for light winds but we were hoping to sail a little bit even if we had to motor later. We cast off mooring and headed out into Falmouth Bay at 1145hrs setting all the sail and sutting down the engine. Sailing we were but at only 1.5-1.8kts, after 3/4hr we had only logged just over a mile. At which point I started the engine again, turning and motoring towards the Dodman Point, I went into the cabin and got the tiller pilot.
I set up the tiller pilot, motoring is about the only time we use it as both Vicki and I love to helm when sailing. Passing the Dodman at 1500hrs there seemed a little wind but it was short lived as St Austell Bay was like a mill pond. We motored in and rafted on a pontoon in Fowey at 1700hrs. Everyone else had motored as will, just to little wind for sailing.
With one stormy wet weekend following another May was drifting on by without any possible sailing. But I had a few jobs to do up the mast so I arranged with Sailaway to use their waiting mooring and dry Elektra out in the shelter of St Anthony.
Vicki and I moved Elektra into St Anthony on Thursday evening ready for mast work on Friday while dried out. I dont like climbing the mast afloat as other boat users dont care and just a wash while up the mast can fling the climber around a lot.
I was down in the morning early getting things ready to climb the mast (we have a mast ladder which allows me to climb with Vicki taking up the slack on the safety line) and also filled water tank and a few other jobs. Vicki arrived at 1100hrs just as Elektra was taking ground. Once aboard I got the harness on and a nail bag to carry some tools and headed up the mast. Climbing a upright ladder isnt the easiest thing to do but it’s quite quick and one at the the mast head the safety harness and line allows to work hands free. First job was to get the wind speed working, I had to unplug and used silicone spray to get it spinning well again. Plugged back in again it was spinning like a new one! The wind indicator was a easy fix, just ajusting it a little. On the way back down the mast I decided to go all the way and get a bucket of hot soppy water to clean the under side of the spreaders and the radar reflector. Once this was done I could come down again and relax. Then it was time to put all the gear away again.
With the mast work done, we had a bit lunch and relaxed in the cockpit, it was 1700hrs before Elektra floated again and 1/2hr later we motored Elektra back out to her mooring.
What a wonderful morning, l paddled around in the dinghy to get a few photos.
After a late fry up we picked up Elektra’s anchor and started motoring south. One of the alarms started going off and l had a problem on the fore deck, needing a tool l went back to the cabin to turn the alarm off.
My problem sorted l could then look to see what the alarm was about, l think l got the tail end of a VHF dfc life boat call out. Next minute the AIS alarm is going off, l when into the cabin and turned the alarm off! Good bit of kit but l don’t need alarms going off all the time especially in crowded waters during clear visibility!
With no wind we continued to motor south and out into Falmouth Bay thinking we would be able to sail from there but it wasn’t to be. The wind did pick up halfway across the bay but by that time we just continued to motor sail arriving in Gillan Harbour 1.75hrs later having logged 8nm.
After thinking we had had our last sail the weather looked good for a nice weekend. In the morning l had been to Helston to the dentist and for a hair cut. Arriving home late morning l said to Vicki l think we will regret not going sailing this weekend, Vicki’s reply was we are! We needed to leave St Anthony by 1230 at the latest due to a falling tide. So we quickly packed up and were on the road with in an hour.
At St Anthony we loaded the dinghy and just as we left the beach it started raining! Now being in dinghy when it’s raining is about the worse place to be without water proofs. Arriving out at Elektra Vicki quickly climbed aboard and passed up the stores before getting aboard also. With a hot Cornish Pastries to eat for lunch that was what we did next until the rain stopped.
Elektra on her seasonal mooring
After the rain stopped we got busy getting Elektra ready to leave the mooring. Vicki stowing the gear and stores and me lifting off the outboard and pulling the dinghy onto it’s davits. Zipping back the sail cover and attaching the halyard before getting the mooring ready to drop. Switching on the electrics and starting the engine.
Once ready l dropped the mooring and Vicki motored Elektra out of Gillan Harbour into the wind as l pulled up the mainsail. Once turned and heading for Falmouth l stopped the engine and set the genoa. Sailing was slow but we weren’t in any hurry so we sailed on at 2-3kts. Into Carrick Roads we needed to use the deep channel because it was just after low water. Most of the way across Falmouth Bay the wind had been behind us then when we wanted to sail up the channel we had a head wind! We started the engine and motored, arriving at Channels creek 3hrs after leaving Gillan having only logged 9.5nm.
Saturday was a rest day, late getting out followed by a fry up and washing up. I was sitting in the cockpit enclosure looking around and spotted a Sadler heading our way. It was Robert and Mandy in their Sadler 34. They dropped anchor beside us and l rowed over for a chat. Invited aboard for a cup of tea and a lovely long chat before l said l must go to let them go up river to anchor.
Rowing back to Elektra after taking with Robert and Mandy
Elektra had been in the water since the end of March but we had only used her seasonal mooring for 4 days due to easterly winds. We had been away for a few days but needed to get back in order to get her onto her gale proof mooring before the next blow. The easterly lasted until the end of Monday and it was Thursday before l had time to move her out onto her seasonal mooring again.
With rain and south westerly strong winds forecasted for the following week Elektra would be safer on her seasonal mooring. We could have gone sailing over the weekend but still forecasted cold weather so we thought we might just day sail on Saturday and get home by the wood burner in the evening.
Having set up the davits last season l had bought some folding wheels for the dinghy but we had found on our beach the wheels were to small to roll over the big pebbles.
I had bought smaller thinking l was saving money but like some money saving ideas this one doesn’t work.
On Saturday and Sunday having found a quiet anchorage there were a few jobs which needed doing just to get Elektra ready for the cruising season.
We do this every year, a few days away close to home to check things are working as they should and also find out what has been forgotten!…… On the list this season were T-towels, CDs, mats, bottled drinking water for soft drinks. Vicki said the water was tasting funny, l had changed the filter and tea and coffee tasted fine. The FM radio wasn’t working, thinking of getting a 12 volt smart speaker.
One year we arrived in an anchorage to find we had no way to light up the stove to cook dinner because the gas clicker had gone wrong. I rowed over to another anchored yacht to borrow a box of matches. Next day l managed to fix the clicker but we never sailed again without matches.
On Sunday we went down to St Mawes for some shopping in the dinghy and had our first ice cream. The weather was bright and sunny but there was still a chill in the air.
St Mawes Harbour
On Monday having looked at the weather forecast and the tides for the coming week, we decided to head back to Gillan and up into Carne creek before the neep tides stopped us. The forecast was for strong easterly winds from mid day on Wednesday but the tides were going to be to low to get Elektra onto her storm proof mooring. As it happened just as well we did before we could pick up the mooring in Carne creek Elektra grounded and then followed 20-30mins of attaching and pulling on lines to get her onto the mooring.
On the good side we did have a wonderful sail across Falmouth Bay logged 5.5-6kts most of the way, the GPS said max speed was 6.8kts.
Work was slow because of the cold and dry. I suggested a few days away on Elektra to Vicki and she was willing. Plans were made and it looked like we would need to move Elektra out of Carne creek early Friday morning so l suggested staying aboard Thursday night. The plan was agreed and so we arrived down at St Anthony with my pick up full of stuff to go aboard, l moved the dinghy down to the shore and we filled the first load. Vicki climbed in and l pushed off from the shore and started the engine, the east wind was making St Anthony a little lumpy over to the narrows but once inside Carne creek it was calm. Tide was rushing in though the narrows at about 3kts but the creek was still quite shallow, as it turned out to shallow for the outboard motor but we did get to Elektra in the end.
Carne creek
Vicki climbed aboard l past the the stores aboard and left Vicki to go back for another load. At the narrows the 3.3hp outboard was only just able to make ground over the tide. Back at the beach l load up again and head back to Elektra, this time Elektra was nearly afloat, l past aboard another load and headed back for the last load. Back again with 25lts of water and the rest of the supplies Elektra was now floating.
My next job was to top up the water tank. Followed by another trip in the dinghy with empty bags and water can, l moved the pick up to the car park and headed back to Elektra for the last time. Vicki had just about finished stowing the stores.
After lifting the outboard aboard and pulling the dinghy onto her davits we retired below with the cabin heater running, then followed a very cold night.
Next morning (Friday) with ice on the decks l started the engine and the cabin heater to warm the boat up again. Elektra was floating so no time was lost getting her ready to leave the mooring. With lots of layers on l dropped the mooring and Vicki motored Elektra slowly out of Carne creek and into Gillan which was lumpy because of the east wind, l pulled up the main and we headed out into Falmouth Bay.
Easterly force 4-5 and cold with it, we sailed across the bay at 4-6kts SOG. It was nice to be sailing but with it being so cold we were glad to get to St Mawes and start motoring up the river. At 1030hrs we dropped anchor and got the cockpit enclosure out and put it up. Vicki cooked brunch and the temperature of the enclosure started to rise, getting to 30c before we had to vent a little heat.
At anchor in the Precuil river
I had a little stainless to polish so after eating l got on with it, Vicki read her book. Once finished with the polishing l came back aboard and fell asleep in the sun. What are holidays for? R&R!
Looking southwest from anchorage, St Mawes in the distance
Love Sailing 