Plymouth Festival of Sail and the Southwest Gaffers annual race

After a pleasant sail up form Helford Passage and overnight stay at Cawsands.

We joined the other 19 gaffers, varying form 14 to 29 foot over deck. As we were almost last, we had to perform a multipoint turn in front of the assembled gaffers.  By the end of the event we had accomplished this on three occasions, with "no loss of paint"!

 We had a splendid view of "Tom Tit" from our cockpit, an engineless Itchen Ferry, Mike and Sue have now based her at Weir Quay, she was built in 1894 and the oldest attendee.

"Mary Ritchie" and her skipper Don

 The afternoon was spent catching up with other crews some new to the SW OGA.  A very pleasant meal at the Chandler's restaurant was eaten 'al fresco'.  New T shirts and sweat shirts were acquired and details of the race given out.

There had been speculation that there would be too little wind but, in the end, the sea breezes filled in and there was perfect weather and wind for the course inside the breakwater.   The planned start of 12:00 had had to be delayed to allow a coaster to enter the Cattewater and dock.   The now familiar running start, with a shorter, 15 minute, window to cross the line, proved satisfactory for most, in as much as every one started!  Unfortunately the course was shortened to one of, the intended, three laps for a variety of unclear reasons!

"Susan J"'s crew smiling after the start!

 .                                                                                                       ..and here's why!

 "Mary Ritchie"- another Helford boat - and the one to beat!

 "Roxanne" the other Heard 28in our class and based in Plymouth.

 Susan J"'s owners relaxing as the crew takes photos!

 Paul J, our Area President's "Minx" a replica Morecambe Bay prawner, based in Brixham and Chris's "Ester" - an Oysterman 22 another Plymouth boat.

 "Periwinkle" John G's Tamarisk 23, also based at Weir Quay

"Susan J" managed to come third in class, behind "Mary Ritchie", again and retains the Tyrone Trophy for another year!

The second day was another scorcher with lighter wind.  Most of the fleet sailed to Saltash, undertaking an enjoyable quiz, set by Paul and Penny, en route. Having enjoyed a pasty and pint at the hospitable Saltash SC our departure and that of "Roxanne" was delayed by Julie exploring the hinterland for ice cream, with other crew!

Here is Tim P sailing "May Blossom" - she is almost 100 years old - single handed back to Helford, to avoid the forecast south westerly but missing the pasties!

"Susan J" taking a photo call form Lil, who sadly left us to return to London.

Back at QAB for the final ihe informal pontoon party, aboard "Perrywinkle", we then had a brisk walk to the Barbican and a very good if rather 'hot' meal at the B Bar.  "Susan J"'s crew, retired fairly early, exhausted, after what had been a very enjoyable event and a prelude to another few days exploring Lyme Bay.

To Plymouth, (for PFof S) including video

After few days ashore "Susan J" was booked to attend the SW OGA Plymouth Festival of Sail.

 Lil came down by train to Somerset and we drove on  down in time to catch the water taxi to her mooring.

Aftar a"planning meal" a reasonably early start on the Sunday, had us sailing and motor sailing towards Plymouth.

 Anchoring at Cawsands in good time for a run ashore and a pint, before eating aboard.

A fine morning was rewarded with a swim for all before sailing over to Queen Anne's Battery (QAB)  .

Finally a video made by our crew!

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.

]

 




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.