Tim L

Eight days in Falmouth waiting for the weather to break. Plenty of opportunity to fix: - leak in engineer water cooling - ripped bolt rope on foot of sail - Flooded bilge (at 11pm) from probable leaky water tank - battens to correct length - fender board for later harbours - new mount and arm extension on AutoTom which now functions properly Plus a trip into Penryn and day in Falmouth. Pendennis Castle was a surprise treat but disappointed that Gyllyngvase Beach Cafe no longer does mackerel baps. Made up by suprise find of Gyllyngdune Gardens and a cream tea at the castle. Sail over in gusty force 4/5. Used second reef which made it very manageable. Job reefed to first tell tale. Knocking on the door of 6th most of the way. Mirrored into head wind up river. Today’s neighbour of note is Yacht Rock and Roll.

A period of strong winds are forecast so heading to Falmouth for a few days refuge. Left the anchorage with a 1st reef in because of the squally forecast. Shook the reef out off St Anthony’s head and sailed right into Falmouth watching some cutters race around black rock. Incorrect reefing set up ripped part of the bolt rope away from the foot of the sail. Great day’s sail though. Very cold.

Went in search of an anchorage further down the coast. Another fine sail down to Dorman point but wind on the nose and building thereafter so on with the engine to get to the shelter. Tucked right in under the headland to shelter from the F4 SW in Parc Caragloose Cove south of Portloe.

Planned on spending two nights at the UNESCO world heritage site of Charleston Harbour. Went ashore in the tender to find that the tall ship’s renovation museum closed eighteen months ago and there was only one small uninspiring cutter on the quay and the remnants of another under it. Moving on to an anchorage near Portloe after one night.

Finally the weather is clearing up. Left a murky Plymouth with light winds and cloud and finished the sail at the Yealm with a Force 5 and sunshine. Crept past the sand bar at low water, the benefits of a twin keel with a draft of 96cm. Approached via a windy estuary the harbour is slowly revealed as you round the headland. It feels like it is probably twinned with Brigadoon.

Hiding from the weather for another couple of days in Plymouth until the low pressure systems have passed. Left it a bit later leaving the mooring to head back down to Mayflower Marina. A few squeaky bum moments picking a way through the shallows.

Tom has now departed so this is the first solo trip albeit under engine to head up the Tamar to explore for a couple of days. Bit of a cheat really but engine all the way on the last of the rising tide to pick up a mooring at the Cargreen Yacht Club. That said yet another squall passed through just as I left Plymouth so it was pretty unpleasant to begin with. Mower rubbish weather due this week before it breaks towards the weekend.

Started off with great wind and sunshine. Reefed when we saw a squall heading our way and a good job we did. When the squall passed the wind ended up as a F5/6 on the nose so we ended up motoring most of the way.

Great sail in a decent breeze. Snowdrift really likes a stronger wind to really get going. Force 6 measured at Prawl point as we came in.