Love Sailing

In the morning it was raining hard and blowing hard from the East when we got out. The forecast was for it to clear and for the wind to ease.

Our plan was to leave the Precuil River in the late afternoon and head east. The forecast proved to be true and by 1100hrs we were packing away the cockpit enclosure and getting ready to leave.

I pulled up the anchor at 1330hrs and Vicki motored Elektra out of the Precuil River while l pulled up the main with one reef. Started sailing after the moorings out of St Mawes. Turned south out the east side of the Carrick Roads, our best heading after passing St Anthony light house was south-southeast. It soon became clear we needed more sail, so l shook out the reef and pulled up the full main. It was good sailing and after about 3-4nm on that heading we tacked and headed towards the Dodman Point 10nm away. As l said the forecast proved to be right. After the first hour of that tack the wind began to ease and Elektra got slower until we had to start motor sailing up to the Dodman. The Dodman had overfalls, this was only the second time we had ever seen them here even though they are marked on the charts.

From the Dodman Point the wind died away altogether and we continued under motor and getting into Fowey at 1840hrs having logged 24.5nm

On Saturday with forecast of rain for Sunday, we went to St Mawes for a  pub lunch, it was still lovely weather but the east wind was cold. If we kept out of the wind, it was like a summer’s day.

The dinghy trip to St Mawes was down wind so not to cold, at the “Rising Sun” it was sheltered from the wind and hot, shorts and T shirt. After a nice lunch we went to the co-op for shopping and we had our first ice cream for the year. Then it was back to Elektra, l pulled on a sweat shirt and a fleece and we headed back into the wind, l wasn’t to hot. Once back aboard we enjoyed the sunshine some more until it clouded over and went cold! After that we closed up the cockpit enclosure and went down in the saloon and played Scrabble. The rain started early evening and the wind picked up and by the time we turned in the wind was howling.

After a nice night at anchor we awoke to anchor beautiful day and being lazy in the sunshine seemed a good idea. After brunch and washing up. Out into the cockpit we went, l decided to lift the outboard motor from pushpit to dinghy and fill fuel tank. Afterwards l paddled around looking at Elektra, she wasn’t looking too bad l thought after all my hard work during the winter.

When climbing back aboard and talking to Vicki, l somehow forgot to tie the dinghy on, and l looked around and saw the dinghy drifting away! At first sight it was only about a boat length away but by the time l had pulled off my clothes 2 boat lengths away. At this point l thought l better put a life jacket on as l know of a skipper drowned in Helford River with a similar event. So l grabbed a old manual life jacket (our newer ones auto inflate with contact with water) wasn’t fitting well and had to adjust, all the time the dinghy was getting further away! At this point I should say l like to be hot and hate the cold! Well climbing down the ladder into the cold water took my breath away and it took me a minute to let go. I can swim quite well but the cold was getting to me, and it was showing me down and it didn’t look like I was catching the dinghy either! I turned and looked back at Elektra no l wasn’t going to get back either. At which point l pulled the toggle on the jacket and it inflated almost instantly. With the added support lying on my back l kicked on towards the dinghy and used my arms as best l could. By the time l reached the dinghy it was ashore and l could stand up. It was then another sailor arrived and asked if l was OK. By then l was but it was nice that someone had noticed.

It hadn’t been a long swim but it had sure taken it out of me. I didn’t know how disabling cold water was until today!

Climbing into the dinghy, l rowed back to Elektra at which point Vicki noticed my bloody foot which l must have cut on a rock, so she did first aid while l dried and changed. It was amazing how much warmer the day seemed after getting back aboard.

It was an old life jacket (15years) and the power of it as it inflated had destroyed the zip so it wasn’t possible to be useful again but l don’t think it owes me anything anyway.

Then l spent the rest of the day being lazy in the sunshine

In the evening we played Scrabble, listening to music and ran the heater to warm the cabin up. By bed time my shoulder was hurting, l had obviously strained when swimming after the dinghy. These days one of my joints is giving me pain, l say don’t get old, but as a friend said the alternative isn’t good either!

Now Thursday 8th of May with more time available and Elektra not neaped anymore, we planned another cruise. We wanted to go east to the Plymouth based electronics company that fitted Elektra’s new Garmin instruments during the winter for them to do some work. But the forecast of continuing east winds made it less appealing. It looked like we could get to Fowey on Friday but we would be stuck there until Monday, so instead we decided to sail across Falmouth Bay to the Precuil River and drop anchor and go to Plymouth on Monday.

We got Elektra out of Carne Creek on the high water and motored her out though Gillan Harbour. With east winds and unsure how strong l just set the genoa as Vicki pointed Elektra towards St Mawes. It was obvious the genoa on its own wasn’t enough sail so l when out on deck and let the sail ties go. And pulled the mainsail up to second reef, still not enough l pulled up to first reef, by which time Elektra was logging 4.5kt in a nasty easterly swell, which seemed quite fast enough in the conditions. On towards St Mawes her speed increased to over 5kts at times. Arriving at St Mawes her speed dropped off to 2kts and l rolled away the genoa, lowered and packed the main, Vicki motored Elektra on up the Precuil River to our favourite anchorage.

Having dropped anchor Vicki put the kettle on we sat down in the cabin and cut a slice of cake. I just glanced at my phone and saw there were 15 emails to read! Back in March an appeal had gone out to Cruising Association SW members asking for volunteers to restart the SW section which had been dormant for a number of years. I had first joined at the beginning of 2021 and for 2 years nothing had happened, in 2023 l asked on the SW Net if anything was happening and was told this is a volunteer association and if l wanted to organise something l was welcome (l knew a bit of what was involved in running events because l had done so for the Hurley Owners Association). By the end of the year l had decided not to renew my membership. But during 2024 decided to rejoin the CA because as l thought we could sail further away from home, the CA became more useful. Long story, short version, l had got myself involved with the running of the CA SW section and become part of the “Team SW” and eventually the co-ordinator, this is why l had 15 emails to read! But if l am honest, l love office work but don’t tell them! Lol

On the evening of the 16th April, I went down to St Anthony, launched the dinghy and motored out to Elektra in Carne Creek and got ready to move her, I had arranged with “Sailaway” to use one of their mooring in Gillan Harbour over night, so I could go for a day sail the following day.

I had thought that having a temporary mooring in Carne Creek would save me having to move Elektra when it was east wind, but I didn’t think the idea though very well! Here I was having to move her on high water just for a day sail.

The next day I needed to launch the dinghy and motor out to Elektra before 1230hrs or the tide would be to low to use the outboard. My wife Vicki was going away for the weekend, so I didn’t want to rush away in the morning. I got down to St Anthony for 1100hrs, but I couldn’t find anywhere to park, with the car park still full of boats and cars in all avalible spaces around the beach, in the end I parked in a passing place at the top of the hill. I had launched the dinghy by 1130hrs and aboard Elektra 10mins later. I got here ready to leave and dropped the mooring at 1215hrs having first tied the dinghy to the mooring.

I was planning to be out the rest of the day, because I wouldn’t be able to take Elektra back into Carne Creek until 1830hrs. There didn’t seem to be much wind, but I don’t mind slow sailing and she was logging 3.5kts going north across the river. As we neared August Rock buoy, I could see 2 yachts about to round the buoy from Falmouth direction, not wanting to get too close I tacked Elektra back southeast towards the Nare Point, Elektra slowed to 2.5kts in this direction. As we closed on the Nare, I tacked Elektra again and we set off towards Falmouth, Elektra slowed some more, so I tacked her again and headed towards the Manacles, there really wasn’t much wind and the easterly chop wasn’t making the sailing very comfortable, now off the Nare the wind seemed to disappear and the slop was making it very uncomfortable! At which point I rolled away the genoa, started her engine and motored back to where we started sailing, this didn’t work and I had soon turned Elektra around and was heading back into Gillan, I picked up the mooring and Elektra had logged just 5nm in 2hrs (and some of that was motoring!) My next problem was it was now 1415hrs and I couldn’t take Elektra back into Carne Creek until 1830hrs, it was a bit of a waste of a day but I did a few jobs while I was waiting.

It seemed like along time later when at last I could take Elektra into Carne Creek, the tide needs to be at a height of 4m or more to get onto the gale proof mooring in Carne Creek, I have a few spots around Gillan Harbour which signal to me, it’s deep enough! Over the years of doing this, I know just how much water Elektra will likely have under her keels, it might only be 25mm sometimes, but floating is floating! This time was one of those times, Elektra was OK over the channel with 0.3-0.5m under her keel but as soon as I turned her towards her mooring, there was very little, knocking her our of gear I walked up onto the bow with the boat hook. The incoming tide stream knocked her off course a little and I couldn’t reach the pickup buoy with the boat hook, and then she went aground! Lol. For 5mins we sit there waiting for the tide to lift her again, I go back into the cockpit and give a little foreward and turn to starboard and Elektra moves just enough for me to hook the pickup buoy. I pull the foreward mooring strop onto the bow cleat and undo the link line then walk back to the cockpit with it in hand. Once there, I can pull the stern bridle onto the aft cleats, job done!

After a cold night, both Vicki and I were glad it was warm in bed, but we had to get out and warm the cabin! I am always out first and as soon as I got out I started the cabin heater, but it blows cold at the start! I got dressed quickly and put kettle on for a coffee, by the time Vicki got out the cabin was warm. Looking out in the cockpit, I could see it was icy! A frost after a clear night, good job we have a cabin heater!

We had anchored well in under the bank and tree line to the east for good shelter but not that was working against us, as by 10am the sun hadn’t showed itself. We had stayed in the cabin and eaten a cooked breakfast, done the washing up and stayed warm. When the sun did show itself it was warm and the cockpit seen started steaming off and drying out. Time to open up and sit in that sun, out in the cockpit I wiped down the surfaces and puller the cockpit cusions out, wow! It was nice to have the sun on my back again, I even put some shorts on!

We seemed to have almost everthing and hadn’t forgotten very much, but just when you think it’s all good, you find out there’s no bog roll! Not the end of the world, there was kitchen roll, but before the end of the weekend we found a roll in the fore cabin, must have been moved there back in the winter when I replaced the black water tank vent skin fitting. A few other things went on the list, before the end of the weekend, USB charger cable for my lap-top, tiny screwdriver set were two of them.

I had to open up the mainsail dry lube the sail sliders to hopfully help the mainsail go up and down the mast track easier, after doing my jobs l sat in the cockpit and enjoyed the sunshine some more right up to early evening. But the forecast was giving heavy rain for Saturday, so before dinner at the end of the day we put up the cockpit encloser and sat down for dinner, closing up to keep the cabin warm. This turned out to be a muck warmer evening and we didn’t need the cabin heater but we still had a hot water bottle for the bed. The rain came in during the night and continued into the day, but you have to take the rough with the smooth in this sailing life. By lunch time the rain had stopped and we left the encloser up to dry out and at the end of the day we removed it and stowed it below.

The plan was to leave earlish tomorrow and sail back to Gillan and wait for the tide to get into Carne Creek because the forecast was saying north-westerly becoming south-westerly though the day, and north-westerly is a broad reach and south-westerly is a headwind.

It was time to find out if we could remember how to sail again after 5-6 months off! It was Thursday 10th of April, we had a forecast of easterly force 3-4. With a few more bags going out to Elektra and Vicki and I in the dinghy, it certainly felt like a strong easterly wind blowing into Gillan Creek as we crossed to the narrows into Carne Creek, but once into the creek it was nice and calm. Out at Elektra, I climb aboard at the shouds, then once in the cocpit, I find it easier to unloop the stern starboard bridle which has to go though the boarding onto the starboard stern cleat. Once I had done this I can lower the ladder and Vicki can climb aboard, then I get back in the dinghy and hand up the bags and Vicki opens up the cabin turns the power and fridge on. I lift the dinghy engine onto the outboard braket on the pushpit and let the davit lines down and hook onto dinghy before climbing back aboard. I have a link line which I use to hold both fore and aft mooring together so once I pick up one buoy I have both. I need to let the stern go to get the dinghy onto her davits, but before I let go I die the joining line on, I make the line off to the port genoa winch. Then I can pull the dinghy out on her davits, making sure I lift it above Elektra’s tiller, I then check the outboard clamps and refit the padlock. By which time Vicki has restocked the fridge and stowed most of stores, but I go and help with the remainder.

I alway keep an hourly writen log and normally it’s one of the first things I do to get ready to leave, I have used the same format printed sheet since the beginning of 2011, before that I used to buy logbooks but they didn’t seem to fit my needs. Once I have jotted down the day, date, weather forcast, passage from/to, total log for this season, tide times, hight and range, engine hours and passage remarks, I start taking the covers off the instruments.

I uncovered the mainsail and clipped on the halyard, then I started her engine and switched on her instruments and VHF. Once ready with lifejackets on while I walked up onto the bow with the link line inhand having untied it from the winch, I tied it to the bow pickup buoy. Vicki was uncovering and unlashing the tiller, checking she was ready, I let go the bow buoy. Vicki took Elektra slowly down the channel and though the narrows into Gillan Harbour, while Vicki helmed Elektra, I pulled up the main with one reef, because of the sea crashing on the Dennis Head, Vicki took her east of the Carock east cardinal buoy instead of going though the gap which we normally do.

Once around the buoy Vicki turned her towards Falmouth and I set the sails and stopped her engine. With quite a lumpy easterly swell and what seemed not much wind, it was obvious we needed to shake the reef out, which I tried to do but for some reason the sail didn’t want to go up properly, so it looked really poor with a slack luff, there was a lot of tension on the halyard but it wasn’t going up! We had to tack by August Rock starboard buoy and then headed back southeast for a while before we tacked again northeast towards St Mawes, now a good line this took us all the way and I started the engine just short of the mooring and rolled away the genoa. The mainsail had slowly gone up as we sailed across the bay and was set very nicely when it was time to pack it away! Lol. While Vicki motored Elektra into the Precuil River, I packed away the mainsail and we motored in and anchored in our normal spot, there was one other yacht at anchor. Evenings this time of year are on the cold side so when we were motoring the river I put the cabin heater on, so once I had done my jobs and got into the saloon it was nice and cosy. With clear skies that night was very cold and we ran the heater moor during the evening and filled a hot water bottle for the bed.

We normally play Scrabble in the evening, but because we had a late dinner, we sat down with a glass of red and listened to music. We like the radio but sometimes the signal isn’t good or if it’s not the type of music we like, we also have a smart speeker to stream music. These days, we almost never listen to news, it’s all bad! We weren’t too late going to bed.

Later the same day as Elektra was launched after brunch about 1100hrs.

Being that we are planning to be away for three months this season, I hadn’t arranged for Elektra to have a seasonal mooring, but I had asked for a mooring for the sholder months of April and October. Since it was showing east wind for the begining of April I suggested ao Anthony the boss the gale proof mooring we have used since buying Elektra in Carne Creek and he agreed.

There is a mooring block and ground chain but I add to this a stern anchor, ground chain and bridal making it a trott mooring, I change the mooring strop for a nice clean one. Later the same day as Elektra was launched, I loaded up the car with anchor, chain and strops and head back to St Anthony. My idea had been to use the dinghy to transport this heavy chain and anchor to the mooring, but I was running a bit behind time and as the saying goes “time and tide wait for no man” I pushed the dinghy down to the waters edge and carried the strops down to the dinghy. Then I lifted out the anchor and the chain and dragged it down to the dinghy. Just then Anthony comes out of the boathouse for a chat and all the time I’m thinking the tides going out! After the chat, I loaded up the chain, anchor, strops and tools and start rowing, the tide was already too low to use the engine! The dinghy goes aground and I get out and tow it a little was until it get too deep for wellies, and so on. I knew in the narrows it would be deep enough for the engine, and it had to be because the tide was coming out of there at about 3kts! Now with the engine going just fast enough to make it though the narrows, I land on the bank the far side of the channel. From here I would have to walk upsteam, too deep for wellies and not deep enough for the engine, so I walked in the edge of the channel towing the dinghy by its painter.

When I got to the right spot I pulled the dinghy onto the bank and walked over to the mooring, there I removed the dirty strop and attached the clean one. Then I pulled the mooring out straight upstream from the mooring block. Then I lifted the chain and anchor from dinghy and dragged over to the mooring, attaching a link line, I pulled the anchor out straight upstream and set the anchor in the ground, with a added pull from strop end, I was happy it would hold.

Then I loaded the dirty strop and tools into dinghy and headed back to St Anthony, rowing back down the channel with the outgoing tide and out though the narrows until the dinghy grounded, then I got out and dragged the dinghy by its painter as far as the water would allow me, then left it and walked over to to get the trolly. I lowed the dinghy onto her trolly and pulled to the top of the beach, left it there and went home.

Then at 1730hrs I drove back to St Anthony, now with the tide coming in I could launch the dinghy and motor from St Anthony across to the narrows, the east wind had built up though the day and was braking white out in the entrance to Gillan Harbour. Once though the narrows the water was calm and I motored over to where Elektra was anchored and climbed aboard, I switched on her eletrics, started her engine and got a boat hook out ready, walking up onto the bow, I emptied the spare gas bottle and bucket from locker and pulled up chain hand over hand (we have a hand windless, but I find pulling by hand easier if anchored in a depth less than 8m). The anchor was dug in well, and took a bit of braking out, and at the surface was covered in mud, so I plunged it, in and out a bit to clean and pulled it aboard. I had to stow in the anchor locker because the bow roller was to be used for the mooring strop, and I need to turn the anchor end for end to get in the locker. Once done I restowed the gas bottle and bucket.

Then back to the cockpit and motor slowly over to the mooring, getting Elektra’s speed right coming into the mooring takes a bit of practice and I must have been a bit rusty! The first 2 times, I just never got close enough to hook the pick up buoy before Elektra was pushed off by the wind. I pulled the bow strop onto the cleat on the 3rd try, my next problem was the link line was very tight and I couldn’t undo the bowline, in the end I got the knife and cut it! I was really impressed with the knife, just 3 slices and the line parted. Holding the end of the line I walked aft and pulling the stern strop, but the strop was too far away to get on the cleat, so I made line off to the cleat instead (not right but OK for now).

Then I stopped her engine switched off the eletrics and shut up the cabin, bank in the dinghy to St Anthony and drive home, it was now 1900hrs, it had been a long day!

The next day Paul my friend picked me up from home at 0745hrs to give me a lift pack to Gweek for the pick-up (Paul works in Falmouth, so on his way) Thank you Paul if you are reading. I had then to take my pick-up for its MOT, the garage lent me a car to get home.

The next day at low water, I went back to St Anthony and walked out across the beach towards the narrows, it was blowing a full easterly gale now and the closer I walked to the narrows the colder the wind chill felt, I had pulled a fleece on after leaving the car and I needed it even walking down wind! Out at Elektra, I pulled the anchor out and attached the bridal strop to her stern cleats and pulled the anchor astern and reset. I didn’t hang around because it wasn’t very warm and it was only once I got back to the narrows that I thought I didn’t take a photo, I wasn’t going back to her now!

With east wind Elektra would be staying here for a while and from Sunday 6th to 9th she will be neaped, so no sailing yet!