Mollie's shakedown cruise to the Iles of Scilly August 22

The summer of 2022 turned out to be perfect for local pottering with our new "boat dog".  Molly was acquired at 8weeks old in November 2021, from a local litter of eight cocker spaniels.  she seemed the least boisterous and hopefully would be small enough to lift aboard with ease. Plans to introduce her to sailing at a young age were partially scuppered, along with Falmouth Classics, by a retro orbital infection, fortunately dealt with in Bristol under her insurance. 

    

She eventually embarked with us, in August, for a gentle introductory cruise in local waters.  However the weather was so benign, that her first passage was around the Lizard to Mullion Cove for her first night aboard.  

 

     

  

This went well and after an early run on the cliffs, we raised the anchor and headed west across Mounts Bay, towards the Isles of Scilly.  

 

The wind remained favourable and we arrived at St. Agnes well before dark, to a very crowded anchorage.  By the time we had found a spot, with somewhat less scope than we wold have liked, Julie gave Molly a run ashore and it was dark with a brilliant full moon, while we dined aboard.

   

A long walk around Ghue was followed by a tidal sail through St Mary's Sound, to St. Helen's Pool, after finding the most sheltered spot from the gentle swell, the anchor was laid for five days of island hopping by dinghy. Teal the first evening, Round Island then, Tresco and the Gardens on day two, all followed by a swim.

   

On day three, "Nomad", the Shaws successor to "Susan J", was anchored at New Grimsby (we missed them at Tresco Gardens the previous day) and it is but  a short walk form Old Grimsby, where we landed the dinghy, across the Island to the New Inn where we enjoyed a pleasant breakfast with Mike and Dan and Dan's family. 

 

New Grimsby was as packed as St Agnes, as we had anticipated and a fair few Helford and Falmouth boats were at anchor, including two Luke Powell pilot cutters.  A long walk around the NW of the Island, included a thorough exploration of Cromwell's Castle, ended in a swim from the fine white sand, south of Old Grimsby, where Molly actually swam out of her depth!

 

The next day, with a slight mist but otherwise glorious sunshine, was spent on St Martin's, enjoying another swim and on our return to the dinghy we visited the Seven Stones Inn, where we chatted to Luke, Jo and "Pellew"'s crew. 

 
A last day at anchor and ashore, in perfect weather and light, before an early meal aboard. 

  

It took a while to raise the anchor after four days, there being considerable kelp wrapped around the chain from swinging in the tide.  We left the anchorage with plenty of light left for the pilotage out through Crow Sound and on towards the Lizard.  The night was frustrating, in as much as the wind was almost directly astern and some motoring was required in the calm patches.  Otherwise, an uneventful passage was completed, stopping at 09:00 off Coverack for Molly to have a run ashore, before a hearty breakfast and a sleep, returning to the Helford for a night near the entrance.  Before returning to our mooring in the rain.

Fowey Classics 2022

After a week in Somerset, we were back on the A30 to Helford Passage.  Making good time, we just caught the last Helford Ferry to take us out to "Susan J", removed her covers and soon took a call from Tim, already aboard"Picottee", persuading us to start a little later on the Tuesday than planned, despite the little wind forecast.  To this we agreed, anticipating a favourable tide from 10:00, although we woke, as anticipated, to little wind!

 

In the event, we took the opportunity to effect a long overdue revision of  "Susan J"'s gaff lacing, to spiral rather than hitched, to avoid bunching at the throat.  At the same time I implemented a separate outhaul from the now surplus 8mm line.  So, as a result, we cast off a little after 10:00, with "Picotteee" already wafting out of the narrows.  Muting the engine, we anticipated a long motor sail but, by August Rock, thh wind filled in to a steady north westerly and we both fine reached all the way on port tack, finding plenty of room, once we could see it on the No 1 pontoon in the Pill, before 16:00!

  

 

 

"Aeolus", and "Arianna" were already there.  Unfortunately "Picottee", with a siezed throttle cable, formed also  formed the permanently dressed base, on the pontoon, for most of the event! "Pica" an Heard 28 form the Helford also remained dressed overall, while Jeremy and Helen used "Gelvenek their Francois Vivier Aber as a very rapid tender under oar or skull and the smallest entrant in the races. although "Perriwinkle" and "Dayspring" sailed by Ian Uglow, a handy looking one off Percy Dalton design about the size of an Heard 28 and saving up for a bowsprit, with "Susan J" and "Roxane" were amongst the usual SW Gaffers to join in the racing.  We also had some lovely classic bermudans, "Mati Hari" form Helford, Keith Tullett's "Vivona" from Mylor, Tiger Lily, a grp Marieholme replacing Nina's varnished Folkboat and Serif" a late arrival, whose transom had given way releasing her back stay, en route.   "Our Boys", "Cynthia" "Ayesha" and  and other larger gaffers and classics were opposite Berril's yard and the lifeboat.  Later in the evening "Planet" a Heard 28, with low freeboard like ours, came alongside, unaware of the classics but hopefully Simon and Kat and their young family, will be future attendees at gaffer events.

A run ashore to the Royal Fowey YC for conviial beer, reintroducing ourselves to the lovely Karen for registration and a very enjoyable dinner in the Club was enjoyed by all, to the extent that we were grateful to only have to attend the race briefing at the Fowey Golants SC at 12:00.  This enabled me to alter the lacing on the boom in  a similar way. Following the briefing, armed with pasties and only slightly confused, we all repaired aboard and undressed for racing in the afternoon.

 

There was a gentle but steady wind to start with and after a rather fraught start, that rather put "Susan J" of her tacking, we all cleared the line and went around until serenaded with a horn.  This indicated a return to the pontoon, re dressing overall and a cup of tea.  

 

Several crews went back to the RFYC for supper and music in aid of the RNLI, while we dinghied to Golant on the tide to have a beer at the Fisherman's Arms in the hour of tide allowed, before returning aboard for a quiet supper serenaded by the excellent shanties from the RFYC!

 

Thursday was a "free day", so after Julie tried her paddle board, many of us sailed in company to Lantis Bay, just west of Udder's Rock, for a beach picnic, in, almost , idyllic conditions.  Those who stayed aboard their anchored yachts, missed a large quantity of excellent pasta and rice salads, from the night before, but escaped a rather wet landing!  Fortunately, Julie and  Katie, crew on "Cynthia", helped most of us out through the surf as they had thought to swim!  

  

  

Back for beer and excellent food at Golants SC, Karen had arranged an excellent talk by a young  Henry Stenner, who had restored,   "XXXX"  a Mevagsissey Tosher from an engineering rather than sailing background.  It was fascinating to see how his grasp of sailing a traditional gaffer increased and continues to do so, throughout the restoration, another vessel in need of a bowsprit!

Friday was the big day and the weather remained remarkable fair and warm with a hint of some breeze to come.  An earlier briefing, limited the choice of pasties available but most of the boats includung "Picottee" with a new throttle cable but still single handed, paraded up and down the river in front of the town until about 13:00, when, with the exception of "Arrianna" , because Mike Forward had to return to the Tamar drekly, we gently sailed at the entrance to locate the start line for the "Trafalgar Cup" race, while consuming the alternative pasties.

  

 

The start was much less fraught with, possibly, more attention being paid to the main local and enduring additional Race Direction that the founder of Fowey Classics instituted, to the effect that "any protestor is automatically disqualified"!  It looked as if three laps as far as Cannis Rock would be possible but, in the event, the breeze faltered and the course was shortened to one or two laps dependent on size.

"Susan J" managed to fill her water tanks and "Picottee"'s jerry can at Albert Quay but only on the second attempt.  Being almost August, her bowsprit seemed less intimidating to the uninitiated holiday makers and their rubber dinghies,on the outer side of the pontoon,remained longer than usual!  

Gelvynek

Once again we out board motored over in the dinghy (it sems to have survived it's ducking two weeks previously!), being, again, beaten by Jeremy rowing Gelvynek!  We weaved through the beautiful racing Troys and assembled for the Prize Giving.  It's not about winning at Fowey but " Susan J" was  last in class following Roxane and a local Itchen Ferry," Wonder". "Picottee" had retired and "Obsession" an Ohlson won!  The racing results will, no doubt, be published in due course but I believe that "Cynthia" was just beaten by "Ayesha", with "Sibyl of Camae" third in the beutiful big classics class.  

In the meantime Martin and Jan of "Roxanne" were awarded the "'ansome Transom" for the best overall boat and "Our Boys"' dog, Poppy, for the best boat dog.  "Mata Hari" another Helford classic, earned a well deserved award for the most improved boat and, of course, the Gribbin Cup to "Gelvyenek", the best under 18 foot!  All this was followed by an amazing "Tapas" buffet, more beer and the prizes for the Troy's.

Later on the evening ended at the invitation of martin and Jan, aboard "Roxanne", with John and Graham of "Perriwinkle" enjoying rum and hopefully not Covid, on this occaision!

Those returning to the Tamar had left soon after dawn to catch the tide while "Mati Hari" "Susan J" and Picottee left around 10:00.  Rather grey and drizzly with a building SW wind on the nose meant an 11 hour beat for "Susan J" picking up our mooring at 21:00 but at least knowing all the lights work!  "Mati Hari" passed us soon after the Dodman and "Picottee" anchored off Porthscatho to wait for another tide in the morning.

Fowey Classics has for the second time for us, proved to be a wonderfully relaxed and pleasant event and Karen's organisation seems to be just right!

 

                  Our Boys                                                                          Picottee

South Devon In unusually settled conditions

Rested after the Plymouth Rally, we departed Cawsands with a fresh wind on our quarter, which had largely given up by lunch time, off Salcombe. The tedious motor in gloriously fine weather was enhanced by listening to Boris's resignation on the wireless through our new cockpit speakers on longwave!  Flat calm at Start meant further motoring to the Dart. 

It was clear that we were in for a week or more of very calm weather and we abandoned our plans to cross Lyme Bay and visit grandson,  Alfie and his parents in Poole.  So we didn't even try to find a berth in Dartmouth or Kingswear, which were heaving but continued up to Dittisham, where there were several moorings available.  We ended up near "Rocket" another Heard 28 with an even taller mast, belonging, we believe to the broadcaster David Dimbleby. 

 

 

After a run ashore to the Red Lion Inn for stores and a beer, the next day we explored the river in the dinghy. We tied up at Totnes before high tide and had several hours ashore in lovely weather, 

 

enjoying lunch at the Steam Packet Inn and walking through the town to the castle, form where a splendid view is to be had.

    

Returning down wind and tide we met Mark T and "Flirt", who had visited the Maltsters Arms instead. At the same time, Gil and Caroline H, who had just returned to their nearby mooring after a cruise in "Mischief" appeared.  We all repaired to their lovely garden overlooking the river for some drinks.  The Sunday was another calm hot sunny day, so we dinghied over to the NT Greenway House, one of Agatha Christies many houses in the area.  We had a grand leisurely walk around the gardens and visited the house, where murals form the WW2 requisition, are still preserved.

After 3 pleasant days "on holiday" we set off down river, passing the Classic Channel fleets preparing to race in what turned out to be decent wind for them and sailed on towards Salcombe.  

                            

We went inside the skerries and allowed the tide to swing us close to Start Point.  It was so settled that we had a prolonged lunch stop at anchor just inside Prawle Point, at Elender Cove, before anchoring for the night just inside Salcombe harbour, at Mill Bay.

The following day we gently sailed around Bolt Head and Bolt tail to Hope Cove.  A busy anchorage with people, zooming around near silently, on electric surfboards.  One particular one returned regularly to his gin palace anchored not far away, presumably to recharge the batteries.  Unfortunately to do so, he had a noisy generator running continuously all day until dusk.  Nevertheless we enjoyed a couple of walks ashore.  Not a place to revictual, though. Even the recycling facilities were for "residents" only!

                                

It remained abnormally settled so we motored gently to the mouth of the Erme, where we anchored, initially alone, and went ashore for a cliff walk towards the Yealm, before a peaceful night in a normally untenable anchorage.

                               

 

The following day we returned for a night at Cawsands, where we "discovered" a well stocked CoOp up a side street and enjoyed a pint and impromptu supper at the Halfway House Inn, as the weather had turned slightly damp and decidedly cold.

                            

From there it was pleasant sail back to the Helford the next day, anchoring at the entrance for the night and then motoring back to the mooring as the weather finally broke.