Love Sailing

Friday 23rd August

This was the first chance of a sail in August, with the granddaughter down the first weekend, then a storm the next weekend and strong winds the weekend following, we were looking forward to getting out again.

The forecast was for easterly wind on Friday and Saturday with the wind to go into the northwest from Saturday evening for the rest of the week. We were keen to get out sailing again. Leaving from Gillan at 1135hrs close on the wind on a starboard tack across the Helford River slowly, we then tacked again and headed southeast at up to 5kts under full sail keeping up very nicely with a modern looking 32 footer. Low cloud or fog was starting to roll in and blot out the view as we neared the Manacles and thinking we had gone far enough in the conditions we went about.

Tacking back towards St Mawes we seemed still to be hard on the wind but now going very well and logging up to 5.8kts. There were two ships anchored in Falmouth Bay, the one we were intending to cross the bow of had the bunkering tanker along side, as we neared (0.5nm) the tanker reversed out from along side and the ship looked as if she was making ready to depart but no pilot boat yet (normally the pilot boat sits off the bow as the ship lifts its anchor, so we know to keep clear). As we crossed her bow of the ship the pilot boat had just dropped off the pilot and was heading towards the bow, then we could hear the anchor chain being hauled aboard. We were glad Elektra was going well at the time and were able to get out of the way quickly!

Still going well as we sailed in past St Anthony Lighthouse, there were quite a few yachts coming in from Fowey’s direction, we worked our way in though them as they headed towards Falmouth. Then the wind picked up a little more as we headed into St Mawes, pushing Elektra over so the water was running along her side decks. Before we got into the moorings Vicki took the helm and I started the engine, rolled the genoa and let the main down. We motored slowly up the river and dropped anchor at 1400hrs having logged 10.5nm.

Saturday 27th July

Having had a good bit of R&R with a little sailing mixed in, now work was looming and it was time to get back to the real world.

I lifted the anchor at 1305hrs and Vicki motored Elektra slowly out of the river and set all the sail to cross Falmouth Bay with a forecast of northwest 4. The wind turned out to be a little stronger and the gusts a little to much with all the sail up but Vicki held her nerve at the helm and we sped across the bay with Elektra on her ear at times. It was all over all to quick and we picked up our mooring at 1420hrs having logged 6.5nm.

Having had a week aboard we were both well rested, we had had a little sailing but only logged 45nm in total but the sailing in the main had been very good and we had not paid out for visitor moorings with the money saved we had meals ashore.

 

Friday 26th July

The forecast was for the wind to go into the northwest which wouldn’t be very good in Restronguet Creek so we decided to move back to the Precuil River.

We were in no hurry and lifted our anchor at 1215hrs, there was a nice southwest 4 for our sail south, the wind was so good we continued out into Falmouth Bay for a bit more sail. Maybe we should have continued on out (we are normally are going somewhere and don’t day sail) but thinking we were going out of our way we turned and sped back into St Mawes, sailing on up the Precuil River on just the main and anchoring at 1415hrs having logged just 8.5nm.

Wednesday 24th July

After another rest day and with falling internet phone data left we decided to go home for showers and use the internet.

I lifted the anchor at 0840hrs and Vicki motored Elektra out of the river, I set all her sail and we headed south-southwest across Falmouth Bay in a south-easterly 3-4, we picked up our mooring at 1015hrs having logged 6.5nm Now high water we needed to get back home, do our jobs and back aboard before 1430hrs.

This was plenty of time and we cast off our mooring again at 1355hrs, it was nearly a dead run back across Falmouth Bay so I just set the genoa knowing that a mainsail as will would only take it’s wind. We were logging 5kts the other yachts heading towards Helford were well reefed being hard on the wind.

The passage back to Restronguet was quickly over having logged  7nm in 1.75hrs but the tide was out so we dropped anchor with 0.5m under the keel until there was enough water to get into the creek. We had dinner before lifting our anchor and motoring into the creek at 2000hrs and dropping anchor again, having logged 14nm total.

The next day was for more R&R a overcast day and not very warm but I took some photos and we had a pub lunch at the Pandorra Inn.

 

Monday 22nd July

After a restful day at anchor and Sunday evening meal at The Pandorra Inn. The forecast was for the wind to move into the southeast so we decided to move to the Precuil River which has excellent shelter from the east.

We were thinking of sailing in Falmouth Bay for a bit but there was very little wind so we tacked south into the southwest 2-3 until we could enter the Precuil. 1.75hrs later we dropped anchor having logged 6.5nm.

We love the Precuil River, we are very lucky to have this anchorage so close and easy to get to from our mooring.

Saturday 20th July

With my work still on a go slow, I got the chance to have another week away on Elektra. The weather forecast was changing all the time with strong winds in the week, in the end we decided to stay local and have some quality R&R aboard.

I had needed to top up the diesel, water and replacement gas before we could go so was up early to load pick-up and out from St Anthony in the heavy low in the water dinghy to Elektra to top the tanks. Back in with the empties and home, we live about 2 miles from St Anthony. We had planed to leave on the evening tide but it looked like we could go earlier if we got packed up quickly. We made back to St Anthony by 1200hrs which gave us plenty of time to get out and aboard before the tide went out. With no hurry now we stowed the stores and got ready to depart at ease. Once done we had a bit of lunch and sat in the sun for a while.

At 1620hrs we cast off, the forecast was west 4-5, I had reefed the main and set all the genoa. I think the wind was more like northwest 4 and steadily picked up as we crossed the bay, it was great to be out sailing again! We were logging over 6kts and as we neared Pendennis Point a bunkering tanker was also heading into Falmouth on the other side of Black Rock, thinking she would be crossing from east to west I eased the sails a bit to slow us down. The other yacht which was with us was having none of it and closed tight on the tankers stern as she headed for the docks. The wind was rounding us up across the entrance to Falmouth so I reefed the genoa which helped. Still logging 6kts tight on the wind going north up Carrick Roads, Elektra was in her grove and was passing other yachts which were motoring. Nearing Turnaware Point we tacked back towards Restronguet, nearing the entrance I stowed the sails and we motored slowly into the creek with the in coming tide and dropped anchor at 1750hrs having logged 9.5nm.

Sunday 14th July

With no need to rush home and a lovely sunny day we stayed a while longer, picking up our anchor at 1400hrs and motoring out of the river. Not much wind so we needed all the sail to get her moving at 3kts. There was quite a bit of easterly swell running in Falmouth Bay which was ok when still sailing but as the wind died away the motion started to get at me. So I started the engine and motored the rest of the way back to Gillan.

 

Friday 12th July

After a busy week at work the weather still looked good for the weekend so we decided to go somewhere local and rest in the sunshine. With the tide not being high enough to leave St Anthony beach until 1100hrs it was a lazy start.

Once aboard we got ready stowing stuff and ready to sail, at 1215hrs we dropped the mooring and motored into Gillan (into wind) to pull-up the mainsail, I had thought of reefing the main but in the end decided to use all the main and reefed genoa. Exiting Gillan there seemed very little wind under the Dennis head but once out into Helford River the wind showed up! Creaming along at over 5kts it soon became clear that a reef in the main would have been a good idea but with Vicki on the helm enjoying herself I didn’t push the idea.

I always thought Sadler 29s don’t go over far enough to get the side deck under the water but this was soon to be proved wrong! I was watching this 40 footer behind us and not able to catch up (I was very pleased). Vicki started feeling tired so I took the helm just before the wind rounded Elektra up at which point I suggested reefing the genoa a bit more. Now rolled away to 3rd of the genoa Elektra was easier to handle but the 40 footer had closed up a bit but still behind, arriving over Falmouth Bay to Black Rock I now eased off a bit and headed into St Mawes at which point the GPS speed reached 6.9kts! The other yacht turned and headed to Falmouth under engine. On reaching the moorings we turned to wind and stowed the sails before motoring into the Precuil River.

We motored slowly into the river and anchored at 1325hrs having logged 6.5nm

This weekend is about R&R and catching up with my blog which I have now done, I think its time for a beer!

Sunday 7th July

The tide stream wasn’t with us until 1300hrs but we were looking to get back the St Anthony beach before 1400hrs because of not wanting to be late home with work to do tomorrow this meant going against the flow.

We dropped the mooring at 0730hrs and motored to Cannis Buoy before sailing, with the wind being NW2-3 our SOG soon slowed so we started the engine and motored. At 1030hrs I noticed a problem showing on the batteries monitor, showing overheating somewhere at which point we started sailing again. I stripped out the cover boards to get at the batteries but the ones I could reach were cold to touch, not sure what the problem was and not wanting to be late we started motoring again.

We picked up our mooring in Gillan at 1245hrs, with jobs to do and packing we got off Elektra and headed for the beach at 1400hrs so the tide had dropped to low to get the tender in all the way. I walked up the beach to get the trolly and after loading pulled the tender up to the edge of the slope before walking up to the car park to get the car.

Car loaded tender pulled up beach we headed for home after a lovely sailing holiday

Saturday 6th July

We had hopped to use the showers in the Yealm River but they seemed to have a coded lock on them which having anchored in Cellar Bay overnight we didn’t have the code, so we decided to go to Fowey for showers today instead of Gorren Haven.

The weather forecast was Nil/ NNW2-4 later. We picked up our anchor and motored out of the Yealm River, continuing to motor until Rame Head when the wind filled in and went to SW3 which allowed us to sail on a port tack to Looe Island, the next tack was due south for 5nm before tacking again on a port tack we were heading for Polperro, thinking this is going to take forever, I had already decided to motor when I reached the coast again. But the wind went NW3-4 which allowed us to sail on a starboard tack to Fowey entrance. We motored into Fowey and picked up a small boat mooring having logged 25.5nm in 5.5hrs

In via dinghy for showers at the sailing club and then dinner ashore in town, getting back to Elektra just before dark , Vicki helped me stow outboard on pushpit before I deflated the roll up.