Rollercoaster round Lands End

Peter Schranz on TELA

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 .