Susan J joins South West Gaffers at Sea -At last!

 As Storm Francis abated, "Susan J" crossed to St Mawes and spent a pleasant afternoon exploring the Percuil River in the dinghy. Eventually finding "Lizzie Dripping" on her mooring near Place, we dropped the SWR meter into her cockpit and returned aboard to sail to Chanal Creek, opposite Turnaware Point, under Trelissick House.  A peaceful anchorage on a calm dry evening and we were joined alongside by "Roxanne" for socially distanced preprandial drinks before they anchored nearby.

The rain started and by mid morning was stair rods and continued thus until after lunch.  By deploying the cockpit cover over the spray hood, much of the water remained outboard.  Motoring up to the Smugglers Cottage Reach, we were dwarfed by two enormous car ferries registered in Madeira.  On to Maggoty Bank confirmed that where we were anchored under Trelissick house was the quietest spot in the river, so we returned and met Martin and Jan for preprandial G&T and anchored ready to explore Trelisick gardens in the morning, which proved another showery one!

We sailed back to St Mawes, while "Roxanne" shopped in Falmouth and, after a peaceful night, we were joined by Martin West aboard "Cariad" and the three gaffers set off towards Fowey.  "Susan J" had already decided to put in a second reef before passing Dodman, as the CG released an inaudible and irrelevant gale warning. "Roxanne" was reassured by VHF that we hadn't turned back. As we passed the Dodman and "Cariad" closed up, it appeared that "Cariad" had turned back but it transpired that Martin, sailing alone and until then faster, had wisely retreated into Gorran Haven for lunch and was only just behind and drier, when he came alongside "Roxane" in Fowey!  We were all just about able to lay Fowey after rounding the Dodman, with much alteration of foresails from 1/3 staysail to full jib and staysail as we weathered the fierce squalls. One short tack brought us under Gribben Head and inside Cannis Rock but "Periwinkle", who we could see at the entrance and we thought was waiting for u,s had been towed up river by the harbour master, with further engine problems. 

Moored on the pontoon in Pil creek, with three enormous brand new RIB's being prepared for an oil dispersion trial.  We were joined by Brian and Estelle ("Annabelle") via the water taxi and "Cariad".

By 18:45 we were with beer, sat socially at three distanced tables and joined by John Gallagher and Geoff from "Perriwinkle", discovering that "pontoon 6" , wher the engineless "Perriwinkle" had been sent, was upriver of the chain ferry.  Mike Forward, forced to drive, after breaking "Arriane"'s tiller on departure from the Tamar, completed the gathering of eleven SW gaffers " at sea"  for a very enjoyable meal in excellent company at the Royal Fowey YC.

Looking on the bright side of storm "Francis" - August weather - don't you love it - returning to the "new normal"?

Following a very hot road trip to London, we waited out the, anticipated but non materialising, thunderstorms in Somerset, using the opportunity to replace the car before returning aboard "Susan J" in the week before the August bank holiday.  

A wet day sail to Carrick Roads, set the scene and gave Julie an opportunity to try out her new oilskins, which didn't leak! It also enabled us to re deploy the jib with the new Wickham Martin top swivel and untangle the wrongly reeved port sheet off Falmouth docks!  Pilotage at low tide was further enhanced by a massive rig apparently under her own steam and a barge being towed by two suitably marked tugs!  We decided to retain our reef and return back to our mooring to sit out storm Francis.

A night spent on her home mooring in a named storm, is at once instructive, frightening, exhilarating and also rather reassuring.  "Susan J" with the riser shortened and set on the bull rope, hardly touched the mooring buoy, while the rudder slightly set to port, kept the riser off the inner bobstay most of the time.  Compared with nearby vessels our halyard frapping was relatively effective and despite the torrential rain, a combination of spray hood and cockpit cover kept us and her cockpit reasonably dry.  

By the morning the sun appeared and the wind rose further, recording a steady F 7 and 49 knots / F9 on a couple of occasions.  

 By now the mate was getting restless and the "all weather"  Helford ferry, in Nick's capable hands, got us ashore, so we could have a socially distanced swim in the pool and Julie a walk.  The upside of this, apart from eggs for breakfast, is that the skipper has had an opportunity to update the blog and start this post and reflect on our good fortune in being able to enjoy the 2020 sailing season despite Covid.

It seems that "Roxanne" is already sitting out storm Francis in the Fal, "Lizzie Dripping" is hoping for VHF help in the Percuil River, while "Arriane" and "Periwinkle" may be heading west from the Tamar, as the wind veers to the north.  An impromptu, socially distanced, gathering of a few SW gaffers may happen in the days ahead!  While the new What's App group - "South West Gaffers at Sea" - may be coming of age!

Fowey and Tamar - tentatively post lockdown!

Early August found  "Susan J" on a broad reach to Dodman Point and another on the opposite gybe into Fowey.  As we rounded up and released the jib traveller, the upper Wickham Martin swivel broke (as the subsequent photograph shows) and the traveller came aft, at speed, breaking part of the staysail reefing drum!  Should have eased the halyard first but at least it happened in the relative shelter of Gribben head! 

Once we recovered and bagged the jib we took an empty visitors mooring and enjoyed two rather rolly nights, either side of a very wet and misty day in which we completed the Hall walk via Polruan and Bodenick ferries.  

Thursday was calm and misty so we pointed in the direction of Rame Head with the autopilot taking charge, more effectively without a jib!  While we all kept a lookout through the fog. By lunch time the mist cleared to reveal a colourful, if rather empty Plymouth Sound. We anchored under Jennycliff and visited Mountbatten for a socially distanced drink before returning aboard for super and another rolly night.  

After a brief swim in sharp thunderstorm, we sailed and motored under the bridges and back to the Lynher, where we anchored close to the mud in ssssssss bay.  A walk ashore in the summer's heat, through the hay fields conserved by the local community and eating the juicy blackberries, was a delight.  

Once there was sufficient water, we dinghied up the very picturesque and tidy Forder creek for socially distanced drinks and picnic with Rob and Ann and their friends, the first SW gaffer event, for us since visiting Pellew awaiting launch in Truro.

Our cruise at this point was going to have to be cut short by brewing issues in London but the upside was that our daughter, Lil, could stay aboard until we were back at Helford and return to London with us rather than by train.  We went alongside at the Mayflower and Julie and Lil hauled David aloft to retrieve the jib halyard and remains of the top swivel.  The replacement had not arrived, as ordered in Fowey and eventually required a separate road trip the following weekend, after our trip to London and Bristol in the heat and thunderstorms but facilitated the disposal of an unsuitable danbuoy a replacement inflatable device and new oilskins for Julie.  Apparently married for 40 years (the skipper had left the redated anniversary card at home for the fourth year running!), the opportunity was taken, to have our first post lockdown sit down meal.  We are pleased to report that the food and beer at Jolly Jack's is as good as ever and all unobtrusively socially distanced!

So, with batteries recharged and water tanks full, we motored about a third of the way to the Dodman before a  WNW  wind filled in, dolphins appeared and, with the tide, we close reached our mooring in 9 hours on a close reach at 6-7 knots under main and stay sail alone.