Falmouth/Helford > Scilly in May/June/July - company wanted

Thanks for the tip about NOT dumping the ballast, sounds very sensible given the likely conditions associated with needing a quick escape. Not only would I have more stability, the prop would spend less time out of the water.

Thanks also to Scilly Pete for the great YouTube videos, just watched all 5, following your progress on the charts; there certainly are a fair numbers of rocks!
 
MikeFloutier said:
Thanks also to Scilly Pete for the great YouTube videos, just watched all 5, following your progress on the charts; there certainly are a fair numbers of rocks!
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you watched all five? ? ? ? . . . . . . and stayed awake? ? ? that's impressive

Don't get too hung up about navigation between the islands just use the tides and your eyes. The water is clear (most of the time) so you can make out all the dodgy bits before you hit them and with practise you can quickly judge the depth when negotiating shallow patches . . . . . . . don't follow the tripper boats they sometimes cut things a bit fine

I guess you have also seen this one http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/archive/secret-isles-of-scilly-1314
 
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I am planning on heading that way from Falmouth around 15th/16th May ( sub weather and changes to plan). single handed 36ft AWB and if you are going the same time would be good to have moral support of another boat. Was planning via Newlyn . Have fun whatever you end up doing.
 
ibbo said:
I may be going over this weekend if anyone else is then I'd be happy to meet for a beer.

Mike
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good luck with getting your beer . . . . . its the world championship gig weekend, a great sight to see on the water but you will find it standing room only in the pubs with Sunday evening being carnage.

I'm sailing the other way so won't be around
 
I once left St Mary's in a wind over tide situation. I wouldn't want to repeat it.

So check winds as well as tides for your arrival.
 
Hi SeaJayAre, many thanks for the offer, I would definitely be up for that if it wasn't already such a busy week for me, have a great trip. Mike
 
Just to let you know that my MacGregor and I made it from Falmouth to Scilly, and back, last week; thanks so much for all the helpful tips and cautions.

It was fairly windy on the way with up to 20kts, over the deck, mainly due to point of sail and getting the current right around the Lizard. I had taken the precaution of reefing the main and gradually furled the genoa as the wind got up.

To give you an idea of how quick a passage it was, I saw the sun set over the Manacles and rise again as I passed the airport on St Mary's, and not a single ship in the TSS.

I was able to run aground on the Bar between St Agnes and Gugh and got a couple of hours rest before exploring St Agnes. I then enjoyed a very pleasant walk around the island, rounded off with a pasty from the Turks Head before re-floating and wending my way back home to Falmouth.

The return trip was more leisurely due to there being much less wind but I easily hit the Lizard in my target window, once again enjoying the benefit of the current.

Thanks again for both the encouragement and the caution; I needed both!
 
We arrived in the cove just as you were leaving! Still here, now St Helen’s Pool but back to the cove later today.
Good to hear you had an enjoyable time.
 
Lovely job and great photos. Fortunately, you were just a little bit lucky with the weather and my original comments about the suitability of your Mac for this trip still stand if you want to make this kind of trip a habit.:)
 
mainsail1 said:
my original comments about the suitability of your Mac for this trip still stand.:)
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Well thank goodness we MAC owners have people like you to remind us. Seems to me that that the OP planned this trip carefully knowing the limitations of the craft, chose an appropriate weather window and when conditions were right he went for it. And appears to have had a super time.

Wouldn't you do that?
 
pen2413 said:
Well thank goodness we MAC owners have people like you to remind us. Seems to me that that the OP planned this trip carefully knowing the limitations of the craft, chose an appropriate weather window and when conditions were right he went for it. And appears to have had a super time.

Wouldn't you do that?
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Nope, I have sailed a Mac and wouldn't take it out of sheltered waters or the Solent.
But you can, of course, do what you want and no doubt will:)
 
Hi all,

Have just been reviewing this thread a year later and realised that I hadn't posted a link to my MacGregor association magazine article covering the trip. Here it is - https://drive.google.com/open?id=192EeScE3qwiyv5zQW301zO6gbDKkgEFZ

Many thanks again to all for your helpful caveats and encouragement.

Kind regards,

Mike

PS I've now sold the MacGregor but have been offered the use of a friend's Mirror dinghy and would love to repeat the trip. Just need to find a 1st Mate:)
 
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