Onwards to Salcombe, Teignmouth and Lyme Bay

A final, leisurely morning at QAB, following the Plymouth Festival of Sail, was spent sorting ship, re victualling and taking on water.

We took the tide and wind eastwards to Salcombe, crossing the bar on the early flood in benign conditions.  There were no free moorings in the "Bag" so we motored further up and anchored peacefully, on the second attempt under "Stone Point" for a further rest.

This part of the cruise had started with several options, including the Scillies but the most likely forecast, suggested relatively light conditions suitable for Lyme Bay from the next day.  To take full advantage we forewent a walk to the Sharpitor museum, for another time and rounded Start Point in a freshening north westerly.

By late afternoon, in a freshening northwesterly, we realised that we would not arrive at Teignmouth until 19:00 ish, by which time the tide would be less than half.  A telephone call to the Harbour Master, reassured us that, despite the high pressure and the Shell Pilot's warning not to enter before half tide, there would be at least 1.6 m in the channel at low tide!

After a cracking beat past Torbay, we took all sail off outside and entered against the fast flowing ebb, in the remarkably narrow channel and found  a suitable boat to raft to, on one of the two visitor's pontoons in the surprisingly sheltered and picturesque port.

In the morning we inflated the dinghy and motored ashore.  We had a swim in the Lido, a coffee in the town and bought provisions.  Having returned aboard, Julie returned to the Lido to collect David's telephone and also returned the Warren Bakery's mouldy rolls, that we had bought for lunch before finding many local bakeries in the town. 

We still departed fairly near the top of the flood and back into Lyme Bay in the early afternoon.

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.

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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.