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.