After the pasting we had on our first day, days 3 and 4 have been much quieter, albeit with plenty of use of the engine. We left Plymouth on Sunday morning after topping up the diesel tank and never found enough wind to sail so we had a fairly monotonous trip ending in the Helford River rather than our original destination of Falmouth.
Helford River is usually a very busy spot so it was very nice to find the anchorage West of all the moorings empty. We had a very peaceful night in beautiful surroundings. Next morning we started a long haul round to Padstow, on the North Cornwall coast, a trip of about 90 miles. Following a published passage plan we managed to get a fair tide around the Lizard, the most Western Headland in the English Channel, across Mounts Bay, around Lands End and for a good few hours on the North Coast into the Bristol Channel. We sailed for a while but, as predicted, the wind dropped and the engine came on again, and stayed on until we rounded Lands End when we found a nice Northerly force 4 helping us on our way. Just short of Newquay, when it was getting dark, the wind failed us again and the engine went back on.
Padstow harbour has a tidal gate so we knew we could not get in until about 0600. We had made such good progress so far that we throttled back and idled along at 1.5 knots for 4 hours,very boring for the deck watch but quiet for the off watch sleeper. Still arriving too early we eventually turned the engine off, hove to, and drifted for another couple of hours.
The approach to Padstow Bay was worryingly misty but the headlands gradually appeared out of the mist in the right places. Approaching the aptly named Doom Bar a trawler, who we had been watching on the AIS most of the night came by, obviously in a rush to get in so we had a good marker to the best route across the bar and, after a call on the radio to the friendly Harbourmaster, were
settled in Padstow Inner Harbour at 0700. An hour or so's kip, full breakfast at the cafe on the quayside and the sun's out. All is well with the world!
K
We do feel a bit like living in a goldfish bowl as Padstow is busy with Easter holiday makers, all peering down at the boat as they wander by or fish for crabs off the quay wall (none in the cockpit yet!).
Posted with Blogsy
What a great adventure. We are enjoying reading your account as with our retirement approaching next year, we have designs on some longer trips. We are moored just up the pontoon from you in Torquay for this season. Coping with a F10 on day one puts you in good order for the rest of the trip - well done!! Keep the reports coming, have fun and stay safe. David and Sandra (Sea Jade).
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