17 July

He did indeed come home for Eleanor's prom and it was lovely for her to see him.
He only intended in staying a couple of days and then low and behold he had a viral tummy  bug which really threw out for a couple of days. Just slept  etc.

David went back to the boat last Wednesday (dropped him off at Newport Station on my way to work in Cardiff). Tony joined him on Friday night and they did a long sail from Milford Haven to Holyhead.  Taken about 24 hours and arrived there Sunday afternoon.

 More updates later!!

28th June 2012

Fiona....
He's home...again!!
This time a special reason - Eleanor's Prom Night.
Coming home from Milford Haven is relatively straightforward so why not as from then onwards - he definitely will not be able to pop home... a wee  bit difficult from Ireland, or Anglesey,  Isle of Man or where-ever....
Sir will be writing up his latest leg from Newlyn to Milford Haven -  about 34 hours sailing - solo!
Catch you later.

26 June 2012

24 June

21 June 2012 – Newlyn

Still here!  A real blow last night and from the East so the swell came in through the harbour entrance.  The disadvantage of a working harbour is the sea gulls and their droppings.  By last night the boat had a large number of droppings; fortunately the driving rain overnight has cleaned them off.

The next leg is Milford Haven some 125 nm away, about 30 hours sailing on my own – a bit worrying. The weather looks promising from the weekend so here’s hoping.  

19 June

19 June 2012 – Falmouth to Newlyn

After the strong winds over the weekend I finally set out from Falmouth to Newlyn.  My original plan was to go to Penzance as Newlyn has a poor reputation both on the web and in the Shell Guide regarding the relationship between fishermen and Yachtsmen.  It is, after all, a working fishing harbour!

I decided, in the end, that Penzance was not viable as it has a sill and is only accessible for 3 hours each tide.  Doing the calculations indicated that I would have to hang about for several hours before I could go in and exit several hours earlier than I needed to get the correct tides for Lands End.

In the end it was “a no brainer” – it had to be Newlyn.

To get the tide around the Lizard I slipped my moorings at 05:30 in a really beautiful morning.  The sun was shining on the houses behind the harbour and there was a gentle breeze.  Y main worry was that I had miscalculated the tides but the sight of 10 other yachts heading the same way reassured me.  Unfortunately, while I had the sails up, There was insufficient wind to drive the boat at more than 1.5 knots (why is it this trip either has gales of no wind?).  So we all set out under motor – the big boys shooting ahead and the small ones dropping behind. 

The tides were exactly as I wanted them and we shot down the coast and I, being conservative, had allowed the 3nm clearance the books recommended for the Lizard.  Some of the boats started to cut across and I went with them to some extent, but when I saw them rolling about I went back to my old course. Even so I did roll about for 30 minutes.

The rest of the trip was a very pleasant motor sail.

Newlyn really is a fishing harbour.  The EU has spent a lot of money upgrading the facilities including putting in pontoons. While the fishing boats have priority they tend to moor alongside the central quay allowing yachts to use the pontoons.  When you talk to the fishermen they all seem fine – more chatty than many of the yachtees!  There are limited facilities – public loos (which are kept clean but could do with an update), showers at the Fisherman’s Mission- but a good co-op close by and some electricity on the pontoons.  At £18 a night a good deal.

6 June -13 June Summary

6 June 2012 – Plymouth to Falmouth

The weather forecast for the days immediately after Michael, Laurie and Robert was horrendous – Force 9 gales. Having experienced being in a marina during a gale and being on a train route that would get me to Temple Meads without any problems I decided to go home (as good a way to get my washing done – by me I should add; Fiona was working!).  It was also helped that Fiona was working in Exeter on Monday so volunteered to drop me back.

I have to say I am extremely glad I did.  The marina had Force 9 with gusts of 70 knots (hurricane level winds!).  A pontoon had been ripped away and a couple of boats damaged but Akira looked ok.

10 June 2012 – Plymouth to Falmouth

A nice easy start (11:00) and motored out of Plymouth on the company of 20 odd boats.  Once outside the harbour put up the sails but virtually no wind and a very uncomfortable sea running – the remains of the gales and wind over tide.  Put the motor into neutral and the speed dropped from 5 knots to 1.5 which was barely steerage way in the awkward seas so carried on under engine.

The wind ended up directly on the bow and no matter what I did I couldn’t get it to work so put the sails away and just motored to Falmouth.  As the day progressed it started to drizzle then rain so not the most pleasant trip. The best part was coming into Falmouth.  It is a beautiful location and the marina staffs are really helpful.

When getting ready to leave Plymouth I discovered some damage the gales had caused.  The screws holding the spray hood to the coach roof had been ripped out and only when I lowered it did the fitting fall off. So that will need mending along with a couple of other bits that have come loose.

11/12 June – Falmouth

Spent a couple of days sorting the boat out and doing the little repairs that need doing and waiting for Tony and Tim to come down for a few days.  By the way the weather was “average”

To repair the attachments for the spray hood involved taking some of the cabin roof lining off, drilling holes through the deck, putting sealant on, putting bolts through cutting them to length and putting it all together again.  A job Stuart can do in half a day took me a day and a half!  Fortunately there was a chandlery on the quay for all the bits I needed.

13 June 2012

Tony and Tim arrived last night.  The original plan was to meet up in Penzance and they would come with to Milford Haven (about 120 nm), but, surprise surprise; the weather had not been very good so they came to Falmouth to go round the Lizard.  In the end we decided to just explore the River Fal and spent the day sailing/ motoring to Malpas.  The notes in the Shell Guide say that it is possible to get all the way to Truro but we decided not to.

Along one of the reaches (Tolverne) there are often moored tankers and other commercial ships waiting scrapping.  When we went past the spot there was only a Ro Ro ferry and a MV called the Windsor Castle.  

The following day the weather not any better so we got the bus to Truro.  Yes it is navigable to the bus station as there were a couple of old, dilapidated yachts there but I am not sure I would want to try it.