Sitting out an easterlie in Plymouth

After a pleasant evening in Fowey, Anne hoisted the main and we left for Plymouth sound.








 A brisk beat against an adverse tide at Rame Head rewarded us with a close up view of "Queen Elizabeth" our new carrier, currently leaking and awaiting some aircraft!

By Wednesday the wind had settled to a F7 from the east and we were glad to be alongside in the shelter of the Mayflower Marina flats, as the wind screamed through the rigging of all the boats there, for two days.

David spent most of the first day repairing the recalcitrant heads that were pumping in reverse!  The second day was spent rigging the lazy jacks with a 3:1 whip, mending the mainsheet strop and "servicing" the heads - again!  Once again, the Mayflower marina proved a good place to conduct these tasks and a pleasant place to stay with a visit to "Jolly Jack's"!

Meanwhile Anne and Julie took the Cremyl ferry to Mt Egcumb, where they had a pleasant walk with views over the sound

By Friday the wind had abated and we took the last of it westwards, spending most of the day motor sailing into the more usual southwesterlies.  With light fading and low cloud descending, we anchored off the Falmouth Haven, before returning to our mooring in the Helford in good time for Anne to return to Somerset and drive back north, on Saturday

A short, cruise in, largely, pleasant weather, incorporating plenty of time ashore for the crew!

A short cruise to Charlestown and Fowey meeting "Lizzie Dripping" and impeller change at sea!

After Falmouth, Helford and a run up the length of the Channel, on "Bonita", we returned to "Susan J" in the Helford.  Accompanied by sister, Anne, "Susan J" planned to cruise, in company with Roger on "Lizzie Dripping", another Heard 28, out of the Percuil River at St. Mawes.

A leisurely breakfast meant a late and hasty departure from our mooring. The wind was on our nose but very light. By the time we had the mainsail up, the engine alarm went off - it had overheated.  We had not opened the raw water seacock, a cardinal sin.  We made full sail and slow but steady progress, while the engine cooled enough to risk opening said seacock. Again the overheat alarm sounded, despite some water in the exhaust.

Probably, the impeller? It took the skipper two hours to flush out, what he hoped was, the remains of the impeller vanes and installing a new one.  Fortunately, he had replaced teh impeller as part of the annual service ashore on both the new and old engines.  Access is less than ideal but during installation was ensured, it is reassuring that it can be done at sea! we had reached the entrance to Falmouth and were able to motorsail again but Roger was already shopping ashore at Fowey.

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We reached Charlestown, our objective, by 1530.



 and were joined at anchor by "Lizzie Dripping" half an hour later and went ashore.

A pleasant couple of pints at the Rashleigh Arms was followed by a meal aboard.  Roger has to be back in St Mawes and had left at 4 am.



Sunset over Charleston

 By 9 am the weather was so hot that Julie went overboard for her first swim of the year.

We then went ashore again and, after making our peace at the Harbour Master's office, spent a pleasant 4 hours inspecting the film set ships and the Shipwreck Museum. A well arranged inside exhibition of many shipwreck artifacts from around the coast, reminded us of the respect the sea is owed. 

Outside there was an interesting display of Charleston's history.  A privately owned and run port, initially for the sardine industry and then, until the mid twentieth century, an important china clay processing and loading port, serving surprisingly large steamers.  More recently it has become the home of several square rigged ships, a few of which go to sea and others are tied alongside.  In both cases, both the vessels and the port acts a s a film set for a wide variety of TV and film.


A pasty lunch preceded a gentle sail to Fowey.

Here, we picked up a buoy and went ashore for a swim at Money Penny beach, showers at the Golant SC and a pint, before another meal aboard, in anticipation of an early windward beat to Plymouth in the morning.

With "Bonita" to Ramsgate non stop!

After a successful and enjoyable Falmouth Classics and Helford Rally, "Bonita" had to return to the east coast. 
To get to Falmouth, Mike had left "Bonita" at Dover, Eastbourne and Lymington, while alternating slogging against the prevailing southwesterlies with attending the D Day commemorations at Arromanches and supporting his two, soon to be three, grandchildren! So, on the Wednesday morning, after the dinner and prize giving, at Port Navas Yacht Club, Julie ferried David from "Susan J" to join Mike on "Bonita" and bring Deidre ashore to return to London by car.

Mike wasted no time in hoisting all sail to take full advantage of the gentle westerlies.

Several dolphins were sighted off the Dodman.

A splendid sunset over Start Point as we crossed Lyme Bay in the short 4 hour night and passed Portland Bill well to the south at daybreak.

The second afternoon was spent fighting the tide past St Catherine's Point and across the eastern Solent.



While passing the massive wind farm off Brighton, Jupiter and our Moon provided a spectacular display but masked the limited phosphorescence.

By Friday morning we were passing Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, on past Dungeness by lunchtime.

Just off the eastern entrance to Dover the three section jib pole gave up, with one end lost overboard.  An imminent ferry put paid to any retrieval!.



The decision to stop at Ramsgate, for crew to return to Somerset (and lack of provisions, made up for by a meal at the Royal Ramsgate YC!), proved a wise move, as the trip up the Thames, for Mike and Deirdre, on Saturday was assisted by a change to easterlies!

  "Bonita"'s AIS track as recorded by Trevor in Canada!

Annual Helford race and Bonita's return east.

Despite a disappointing forecast and grey skies, a steady easterly 3 to 4 filled in for the, earlier, 11:30 start for a three lap course.

Most of us reached north along the start line, achieved a brisk start, with straight forward tacking to Nare Point, a short reach and a generous run to Central.

"Theta" on the left and "Marie Ritchie"

"Bonita" and "Susan J" completed the course, the latter second over the line after a "Kyte" class but third on handicap, being beaten by "Theta" and "Mary Ritchie".

"Marie Ritchie" and "Annabelle"

"Bonita" and "Marie Ritchie"

After showers in our flat, we dinghied to Port Navas YC for the prize giving, where "Bonita" received a prize for being the oldest and farthest entrant. Following this, a splendid and very tasty meal was enjoyed by some 45 old gaffers.  This was the 5th OGA Helford Rally and was, as usual a very pleasant well organised event.

After another night aboard, Julie dropped David on "Bonita" and returned ashore with Deirdre, who had to return to Kent.

Helford OGA Rally

Another dampish morning.  "Calismarde " extricated herself from her inside berth and continues her circumnavigation back to the Swale. Meanwhile, "Susan J" executed another multipoint turn in the Haven before departing across Falmouth Bay with "Bonita" to the Helford.

Much dinghy ferrying brought about 15 gaffers and crews to Tremayne Quay for another, mercifully dry, bbq to prepare us for tomorrow's race.

As in previous years teh weather was kind for the BBQ, organised by Pauline and Don Garman.

Falmouth Parade of Sail

The Parade of Sail on Sunday morning was shortened but at least not cancelled as feared. Yawls adopted a jigger rib while "Susan J" lowered her mainsail and went the course under staysail and jib.

Here is "Tregatreath" a smaller Heard 23, who managed with a reefed main and staysail, with "Annabelle" a rare Cornish Crabber yawl behind.

We were joined for the parade by, Peter, Diana's brother, even older than the skipper and arguably "Susan J" 's oldest crew on our watch!

By now the sun had come out!


After the prize-giving at the Maritime Museum, in which both "Mat Ali", "Aberrare" and "Mischief" did well, we had a rest, checking fuel and water and replenishing the ice.

The evening was spent in the restaurant of the Chain Locker enjoying first class pub food and joining "Anchors Aweiegh" a shanty group from Mortehoe /Woolacombe in shanties.

Falmouth Classics and Shanties

"Susan J" definitely failed to cross the start, within the allotted 4 minutes, for the final race on Saturday - so no prizes.  However, the strong SW wind continued, the skies cleared and we had a cracking run up Carrick Roads to Turnaware Point and a challenging beat back to Falmouth Haven, with Sarah L on the helm and the skippers beginning to improve their sail handling!

Back alongside, after a brief visit to the Maritime Village stalls on Custom House Quay, we enjoyed the Classics bbq, at the RCYC  with "Bonita" and "Calismarde" crews, now including Deirdre, as well as Jenny, Goff's (aka Steve) wife.  Julie and David enjoyed some shanties at a distance and found an invite to Douarnenez 2020 (July 15-19) in their cockpit on their return, from Moel & Hélène!

The Parade of Sail on Sunday morning was anticipated with some trepidation, given the forecast!

Two Races one completed!

A damp grey start with plenty of wind. Diana and Sarah joined us at Falmouth Haven to join ship, while Peter Haa brief look aboard!

We reefed almost immediately, in the face of chaos of collisions and near capsizes ahead of us. Glad we did, with reports of a dismasting before our start.  Despite this the wind varied between 15 and 24 knots steady from WSW.

We still crossed the start and completed race one, with Sarah expertly helming and the rest of us slowly establishing a routine for sail trimming.

After a break to sort out the tangled Wyckham Martin furler and a quick lunch, we managed to miss our start slot by 1 minute.  Wesstill had a glorious sail around the course, despite David developing cramps in both arms due to dehydration!

Mainly "Bonita in improving weather.

After a busy day on the water here are Geoff and Geoff, of "Calismarde" dressed appropriately to face the Shanties ashore after sampling rum and tonic in the library!  It was nice to see Goff again after our foggy, North Sea crossing in company with "Bonita" in 2016.