Peter Schranz on TELA

Late evening departure from my mooring on the Exe, at low water neaps , with a gentle breeze allowing me to sail as far as Teignmouth with a hazy moon visible ahead. Motored the last hour into Torbay and my anchorage at Elberry Cove. Woke to a glorious morning 😊.

A glorious morning leaving Salcombe . Sailed in 12 knots of wind round Start Point and the favourable tide continued to lift me beyond Berry Head. Shirt detour to visit a friend Bruce on his Sadler 29 , who kindly took a photo of Tela, then with a following wind and a bit of swell, sailed all the way under Seafeather control to the Exe entrance . Good to be back after two and a half months away.

Having repaired the Genoa , I set off in light W winds on a broad reach out of Cawsand Bay . once I'd reached the Great Mewstone the wind filled in and that took me across Bigbury Bay. approaching Bolt tail the wind died so I motorsailed the final few miles to Salcombe where I was fortunate enough to meet up with Derek on Thalmia our SYC Cruiser Secretary , rafting up on a mooring and having a lovely pizza and pint ashore ..Great way to end the day.

So....I was all set to leave Cawsand Bay anchorage this morning in a fresh breeze to whisk me to Salcombe, when I noticed another rip in the Genoa . I went over to QAB marina , topped up fuel and they kindly let me run up to the chandlery for spare needles ( I'd broken three) sail tape and I picked up a speedy stitcher.This really did make a difference so once I'd gone back to Cawsand, dropped the sail, quick repair ( it was a 1 metre rent) and 2 hours later back on my way. phew.

After a settled night at anchor. I left Gillan Creek, very sheltered from westerly winds , caught the lovely WSW force 3-4 which allowed a broad reach past At Anthony's Head, reaching the Dodman an hour before the favourable tide kicked in but making 4.5 knots over the ground. The wind remained steady all the way to Rame head and round into Cawsand Bay off Plymouth. Early start tomorrow to catch the tide east .

Slight delay leaving Penzance harbour due to the arrival of two ships meant I was an hour late departing. Thankfully the moderate SW wind and favourable tide allowed me to sail up to and just edge around Lizard point before slack water. Once past Black head a stringer adverse tide and less wind meant I had to motorsail up to the Manacles buoy and onto Gillan Creek off Flushing , a snug anchorage overnight .

I left at 0500 expecting,or possibly hoping for the predicted westerly wind. Sailed off having cleared Doom bar and was able to beat towards Trevose Head. From then on I found boisterous conditions with wind against tide and gusts of 26 knots which meant I was late arriving to my waypoint abeam St Ives. Because the wind was SW rather than W there followed a long, slow motorsail with waves breaking over the boat several times. At last I found the inshore eddy having cleared Pendeen point which, though it made the seas worse. at least allowed better progress and eventually the Brisons and then Longships lighthouse and its rocks came into view, once I gybed round Longships the waves were bigger. from.the quarter and for a while. very confused seas but I managed to sail back finally . ( I'd been hand steering for 14 hours while nothing due to busted tillerpilot). I picked up a waiting buoy outside Penzance harbour at 2230 hrs and entered the wet dock at 0330. Glad to be secure .

This morning was still and flat calm as I left Milford haven for the 70 mile passage to Padstow. I tried flying the chute briefly and sailed for 3 hours but motored the rest of the way, joined by several pods of dolphins including some larger bottlenosed ones. Despite the heatwave, the weather along the way was pleasant, high 20s and a following north wind . A bit of moonlight helped. However ten miles from Padstow I was suddenly hit by this wall of oppressive heat. The wind shifted to the south , with thundery rain. I reached Padstow at high water and there was the harbournaster waiting to help. I'd called earlier and left a message .. Apparently he rang back but I didn't recognise the number and so didn't pick up. Padstow is jam packed and I'm rafted up outside two other boats. Safely in, time for a nap.

This morning was a hot one with no wind. I departed Fishguard just as the large ferry was coming in. I had to push the adverse tide for 15 miles until I reached St David's Head at slack water to go through Ramsey Sound it was like a millpond and only 1-2 knots running on arrival so I got the timing right. once through I initially planned to sail around Skomer but conditions were so good ,I decided to go thro Jack Dound. Here the water was a bit more lively with areas of turbulence but still plenty of room to get through. finally on rounding St Ann's head a welcome NW breeze kicked in so tonight should be more comfortable.

A glorious morning with a north easterly breeze and excellent visibility made it a stress free crossing of the Irish Sea. four ships encountered but none requiring any course adjustment. I treated the crossing as I would an English channel crossing when working out a Course to Steer. I planned to arrive uptide of the outer harbour at Fishguard. The S shaped course track tallied with my passage plan. The breeze eventually died 15 miles out and was accompanied by an invasion of hundreds of flies that thankfully left later evening with a refreshing breeze returned. As I type this at 2300 hrs at anchor in the Lower Harbour, the regular ferry arrived into the outer commercial harbour.