Allan Stibbs

Lovely weather; too good to miss.

Sunny and warm, but with a brisk SE’ly breeze kicking up a bit of a lively chop in the Sound. HMS Queen Elizabeth anchored out in the bay and her escort HMS Dauntless inside the breakwater. Gentle cruise around Drake’s Island and then exploring Hooe Lake to find the former Virgin Atlantic Challenger.

Tried some fishing, for a change, in the river Tamar and the Sound. Via Mayflower pontoon. Dutch tall ship Morgenster alongside. Super-yacht Aviva anchored in the Sound.

A bit of a fresh breeze from the East kicking up a short sea out in the Sound. Not unpleasant, but a bit bouncy. Ideal conditions for those under sail. Motored through the calm anchorage under the lee of Jennycliff - lovely spot for on a sunny afternoon.

Evening trip around the Sound in lovely calm conditions. Went alongside the new Mayflower Visitors Pontoon (not yet showing on the SailTies chart) and then ashore for fish and chips at the Barbican. Gentle trip back up the Plym.

Another lovely summer evening; too good to miss for another trip around Drakes Island.

Ideal conditions for a trip from Plymouth to the river Yealm, and back. Rendezvous with PP24 Oyster Catcher and owner Huntley, at the Yealm up-river visitors’ pontoon. Spent an hour alongside. Temporarily, 3 Plymouth Pilots rafted together , Oyster Catcher, Mananui and the Yealm Harbour Master’s PP18. Must be the prettiest harbour on the south Devon coast?!

Another lovely afternoon in Plymouth Sound. Just a short trip on the water “ because we can”! Checked-out the ‘new’ Mayflower visitors pontoon at the Barbican landing stage. Took advantage of “5 mins free” for crew drop-off and pick up - to grab a coffee ( ice cream shed was closed !!). Brisk westerly making the open Sound a bit choppy against the last of the ebb; but circuit of Drake’s Island part of the adventure.

Beautiful conditions in Plymouth today. A nice westerly breeze with to cool the heat of a brilliantly sunny day. Ideal racing conditions for the gigs in the lee of Drakes Island.

Gusty SW’ly causing a big swell outside the breakwater. Good sailing in the Sound. Anchored off Kingsand for lunch - delightful haven sheltered from the westerly wind.