A long weekend on the boat.

[DAKA]

Great report Henry, thanks for sharing

Re fender boards, we carry these on board, just tie them in a line

http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/fenders-buoys/avon/inflatable-fenders-5857-586239.bhtml

 

[Quest]

More good stuff. Excellent. Enjoying the thread very much.

 

[jonnybuoy]

Great reading, it's gonna be a cut-out-and-keep guide to West Country cruising. I do hope you're going to say next stop Scillies...

Jon

 

[matm]

Thanks Henry for a great thread and pics!

We're leaving PS for Dartmouth first thing tomorrow morning then pootling back to the Solent over the next week or so. I was going to ask the forum for some recommendations if I went further West but don't need to do that now!

Maybe see you en-route! Weather still looking good

Mat

 

[Pennpromo]

Great thread Henry, probably just the trip that most South Coast boaters dream of and the weather has been reasonably kind too. So why not try Christchurch on the way home ?: interesting place, tricky to get into but as long as you are close to a high there's a good 1.5M in the Channel. Would be really interesting to know how much fuel etc you think you used. Simon

 

[henryf]

No Chain Locker?

The barrels were from there !

Henry

 

[henryf]

Day 12 of our long weekend

Buddha says that if there were not mountains to climb along our journey we would not appreciate the joy of freewheeling downhill. There were always going to hellish days but I didn't think they would be this bad.

Woken up at the crack of 8.30am by a stream of sunshine pouring through the large cabin windows. This was unrelenting sunshine which never gave up the whole day. At times we had to pop the air conditioning down a degree or two. Sitting on the flybridge ice melted in your drinks. Wandering the picturesque streets made you want to shower, fortunate I suppose we had our towels and shampoo with us and were heading for the Roylal Fowey Yacht club.

I was forced to brave seas of many inches in the dinghy to bring you pictures away from the protection of the harbour. Oh, I'm not after sympathy - you lot revel in the misery of being strung up by your scrotum so what hope of compassion amongst your number? If I'd wanted support I'd have posted on Mummy.net. no, I'm just telling you the way it was.

A town so busy that eating dinner ashore was untenable and we were forced to prepare locally sourced ingredients on board. As the day progressed the harbour filled to such a capacity that we constantly felt guilty for having the best spot away from the madness. Guilt made all the worse by our comfort and refreshment whilst thousands stood for hours in fear on the streets.

Why were these people so worried? Because at 6.30pm on the dot we were terrorised for 20 minutes by 10 aircraft flying so low and so close to each other it is a wonder I am here to write this report. They filled the sky with smoke which seems to linger for ever - oh, did I say there was almost no refreshing wind?

Speaking of wind that reminds me there were historic gaff rigged boats racing within the harbour so close to us we could almost touch them. Bernie Ecclestone wouldn't let you get that close to the action, he and the harbour master need to have a chat.

But I'm not one to complain. In amongst all that hardship we somehow managed to salvage a day. I'm a pot half full kind of guy.

So Thursday in the Fowey regatta is Red Arrows day and what a vantage point. I can't compete with previous images of them posted on here, I don't have the technical ability, but in the flesh they were amazing and made you proud to be British.

A few bits of technical help for anyone planning a trip to Fowey. The harbour master operates on Channel 12 and they are fantastic. Very happy to oblige where ever they can I never saw anyone turned away even when the Red Arrows were performing. People anchored in the harbour, grabbed what ever buoys they could and the harbour master team calmly worked on in the background.

There are no shore based harbour facilities as such. If you need water this can be obtained from either the town quay pontoon or the lifeboat pontoon. As with places like Salcombe you can moor alongside temporarily to take on water. In the absence of showers and such like the 2 yacht clubs genuinely welcome visitors. Showers at the Royal Fowey Yacht club are due to be renovated in early 2014 but for the moment are a bit crude when compared to many modern marinas. They are however wet, hot and cost a pound a pop. Don't feel embarrassed about going into the Yacht Clubs.

The town gets busy during regatta week. Thursday when the Red Arrows perform is probably the busiest so don't expect restaurant spaces to be readily available. Sams is a popular eatery but it doesn't take reservations. Get there early and if necessary drink in their bar until a table becomes free. I know -taking a hit for the troops or what !

Ashore Fowey is pure Cornwall. Narrow alleyways, pretty cottages, steps leading to nowhere and a rich maritime history. Berthing opportunities are plentiful, you're going to be mid channel rather than walk ashore so it's either use the dinghy or use the water taxis. There are also Ferries which cross the harbour.

Fowey is the home of Gaff rigged racing and it takes place several times a week in season. A wonderful spectacle and there is much rivalry amongst the teams. Finally if conditions and your dinghy allow there are areas and beaches to explore within and just outside the harbour. They can get busy during peak season but you will always find somewhere. Remember tide heights are significant round these parts though so drag your tender well up the beach and possibly secure it to something. If you do venture out then take your hand held VHF with you just in case.

Before this trip a lot of people recommended Fowey and I can see why. Walking around the town it's large enough to lose yourself in and you can go on a voyage of discovery. There are also so longer walks to take which will definitely give you beer credits later in the evening. You don't have to go far before you're climbing steps or very steep inclines. The whole area has a rubber tape measure when it comes to authority and a genuine can do attitude which means if you put in a bit of effort and try to muck in they'll do the rest for you.

I almost didn't post this picture because I didn't want to put you off making a similar trip but you might as well see the hardships you have to endure on off days like day 12........

Henry

 

[andy59]

You can go of people sometimes you know !

 

[rbcoomer]

Henry, you have my deepest sympathy for all the endurance and hardship you have encountered in your efforts to keep our spirits up under such difficult circumstances. I think many of us would genuinely swap places if we were able and felt it would help, but rest assured that you are in our thoughts!

(Great write-up by the way and hope you can keep this going through the winter...)

 

[longjohnsilver]

Didn't see you in Fowey. Yesterday was just perfect for the Red Arrows. The town had a real buzz about it, everyone seemed to,be having a great time. We went upstream in our tender to Golant where we found a great pub. You have to wait till about 3 hrs before high water to get under the bridge and then you can tie up just outside the pub and watch as the tide slowly rises flooding the road and any unsuspecting cars parked there. And on Wednesday afternoon the working boat crews descend upon the place and serenade all and sundry with their shanties.
Great pics Henry, where are you now? It's Dartmouth regatta next week which will probably be even busier than Fowey!

 

[henryf]

Didn't see you in Fowey. Yesterday was just perfect for the Red Arrows. The town had a real buzz about it, everyone seemed to,be having a great time. We went upstream in our tender to Golant where we found a great pub. You have to wait till about 3 hrs before high water to get under the bridge and then you can tie up just outside the pub and watch as the tide slowly rises flooding the road and any unsuspecting cars parked there. And on Wednesday afternoon the working boat crews descend upon the place and serenade all and sundry with their shanties.
Great pics Henry, where are you now? It's Dartmouth regatta next week which will probably be even busier than Fowey!

Currently in Dartmouth for the weekend.

I have to say as with every trip west we have merely scratched the surface but for me that's wonderful, it encourages me back for more. I could easily spend 3 months here and still find new places to visit. I just wanted to open the account on Falmouth and Fowey and pay a return visit to a few places whilst going there and back.

Unfortunately I do have a job to get back to at some stage and Emily has to go to school.
We were on the 3rd big yellow buoy as you entered the harbour. You could see us on the flood, as the tide ebbed we were hidden by our next door neighbour the V78 !


Dinner at the Seahorse tonight so let's how their chefs compare to our efforts last night on board

Henry

 

[rafiki_]

Fantastic post again H, and Fowey is definitely on our visit list with the Snazi! It is a beautiful natural harbour, and looks food for exploring. We plan to do the reverse trip of yours, coming down the north coast and around Lands End. We can also call into Padstow for some Rick Stein food on route.
Love your Red Arrows pics, thanks. They are always awesome to watch, although British GP always springs to mind for me when I see them, alongside the helis and other air displays. Always best for me at Clearways!

 

[harstonwood]

Outstanding thread Henry, really enjoying it.
Made my day when I spotted we have the same table mats!
We managed a couple of nights away this year at new anchorages and marinas......makes it all worthwhile.....its so nice to getaway from home base
Your thread has inspired us to further and longer next year
Cheers
Mark

 

[Ian h]

Fantistic thread Henry,
Have enjoyed each update tremendously,
And as others have said there mostt definately is boating outside the Solent,
May be we should all take the plunge sometime and leave the confines,

I know when i visited Lulworth Cove in May it was my first time out of the Solent since owning the Hunton.

Must now try and plan more trips

 

[longjohnsilver]

Might see you tomorrow then. We should be back on our mooring just off Darthaven marina. Many good reports about the Seahorse.

We did see the V78 but you were obviously hiding in its shadow! The river was packed yesterday, great to see so many people having a good time. Quite a contrast to today, with the grey skies and heavy rain.

Pleased you found the pontoons up the river Fal, we spend at least 2 or 3 nights there every year. It's very special when you can't see a single house or light at night, and all you can hear is the local wildlife. We were on the next pontoon just past the King Harry ferry. I woke up on our last morning to see a herd of deer grazing in the grounds of the boathouse. A good few years ago I took my dinghy up the creek just before the pontoons. Did probably several miles till I was effectively in a ditch so narrow I could not turn it around! I landed on someone's compost heap and found a great pub. Then had to punt the dinghy backward until it was wide enough for me to turn it round. Great fun!

 

[AndieMac]

IMO you've earned a high distinction for the cruise report Henry, fabulous thread

 

[Quest]

Loving it. Keep it coming Henry.

 

[Hurricane]

Excellent report, Henry - fantastic photos.
Sorry I'm away at the moment or I'd have popped in to say hello.

 

[matm]

Spotted!

Came across to Dartmouth in one go from the Solent today. First time here and to arrive by boat, simply great! Having an excellent time already - spotted these guys on the way up the river. Sorry to use inappropriate marine etiquette (I honked!) but you were busy washing down. Hope you're still having fun Henry.

Pre-honk..

Post-honk..

Cheers, Mat.

 

[henryf]

Ah, we wondered who it was

Just taking on some water.

You'll not get a much better day for making the crossing than that. Are you up stream on a buoy?

Not the most flattering view with fenders out but always fear the worst with people rafting up against you

Henry