Peter Schranz on TELA

Left Salcombe at 0400 with the last of the moon. 12 knots of wind all the way to Torbay went it all went calm. never mind! Dolphins came to play.

14 knots from the East meant a beat up into bigbury bay and along bolt tail. night time entry into Salcombe. harbour patrol wirkinh at 9.20 pm ! Early start tomorrow.

After a rolly night at anchor I set off in bright sunshine, broad reach all the way to Plymouth sound, with Flo the seafeather windvane at the helm.

Leaving the Exe at the top of the tide, no wind on exit so motorsailed to Torbay. anchored fir the night

A beautifully still night at anchor in Hope Cove tucked behind Bolt tail. Up at 0300 and weighed anchor by 4 . Reefed main and Genny and flo did the rest. This seafeather handled wind against tide with a force 5 round Start Point. wind mainly northeast which allowed me to work my way northeast in long tacks. Up the Exe 2 hrs after low water and back to the mooring. A fine last sail of the season. What is that grey box in the picture you may ask? Well basically I couldn't find my hearing aud having put it somewhere safe. turned all the lockers out, even rang Falmouth marina to check the life jacket locker I'd used on Sunday ! Yep ,after the third, proper look in my rucksack, there she was!! 😀

Unfortunately the threat of strengthening easterly winds later on in the week meant I had to start heading back while I could. I left a grey Falmouth anchorage just as Viking Sky was arriving. Light winds in the early part of the trip meant motoring but soon there was enough wind albeit not quite from the right direction, to allow some sailing past Plymouth and across Bigbury bay. I tucked in to Hope Cove as far inshore as I dared , trying not to snag any of the moorings! Predawn departure tomorrow in order to get to Start pt by slack water.

A glorious morning at Cawsand and a steady 10-12 knots of SSW wind allowed me to sail from Rame Head to the Fal entirely using Flo the Seafeather. I love night time entry into port , identifying the various lights and marks. The anchorage off Falmouth town is always slightly challenging , finding a spot with enough swinging room was a bonus ! Nite nite!

A beautiful morning in Salcombe, after a chilly night... Topped up water at the short stay pontoon and headed off to catch the remainder of the west going tide. Very little wind as we set off but once I reached Bolt tail there was enough wind to set Flo up and enjoy the day. Long beat into bigbury bay and then close hauled to Cawsand.

Northwest 4 when I left the Exe and quickly hooked up Flo the seafeather. Sudden dark clouds and a squall with a 60 degree wind shift made for interesting times. several of these on passage but clear visibility in between and having taken the inshore route round Start point it was not long before entering Salcombe.