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.