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

[Fr J Hackett]

I will be clear - don't do it in that boat.

It's a perfectly feasible project open dinghies have done it from Newlyn, choose a good forecast when there is little swell and keep an eye on the forecast once in the Scillies choose your window for the return trip and there would be no problem. There are plenty of places in the Scillies to find shelter if needed once there. The only thing I would do is go from Newlyn and not the Helford to shorten the trip as it seems to be the OPs first "big trip". Of the many times I went to the Scillies I often ended up motoring at least part of the way. He may find the TSS a little daunting but with AIS and good visibility he should be able to cope with it.

 

[Scillypete]

I will be clear - don't do it in that boat.

we've had Macgregor's here before that have sailed . . . yes sailed over, so no reason not to so long as he picks the right weather to do it.

We even had a narrowboat visit here a good few years ago now and they're only meant for canals . . . . surely

 

[Concerto]

I will be clear - don't do it in that boat.

If I remember rightly, a few years ago someone sailed a Mirror dinghy to the Isles of Scilly from the mainland.

 

[Yealm]

I’m planning to do the same trip in June.

Could I ask- what’s Newlyn like for visitors- are the pontoon moorings (I need at least 1.7m)? I don’t want to moor against a wall. Or are there visitors buoys outside the harbour?

many thnaks

It's a perfectly feasible project open dinghies have done it from Newlyn, choose a good forecast when there is little swell and keep an eye on the forecast once in the Scillies choose your window for the return trip and there would be no problem. There are plenty of places in the Scillies to find shelter if needed once there. The only thing I would do is go from Newlyn and not the Helford to shorten the trip as it seems to be the OPs first "big trip". Of the many times I went to the Scillies I often ended up motoring at least part of the way. He may find the TSS a little daunting but with AIS and good visibility he should be able to cope with it.

 

[cagey]

I like Newlyn, no nonsense working harbour full of noise and atmosphere but remember it is a working harbour. Mooring is onto pontoons and one part is shallow but you will be allocated a berth dependant on depth, ring ahead and they are very helpfull. No pets allowed ashore or on pontoons.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I’m planning to do the same trip in June.

Could I ask- what’s Newlyn like for visitors- are the pontoon moorings (I need at least 1.7m)? I don’t want to moor against a wall. Or are there visitors buoys outside the harbour?

many thnaks

I doubt it's changed so there are visitors finger pontoons, you will share the harbour with fishing boats that quite reasonably have priority, don't expect an all mod cons marina but a working harbour and friendly atmosphere. The harbour master is helpful.

 

[Scillypete]

I’m planning to do the same trip in June.

Could I ask- what’s Newlyn like for visitors- are the pontoon moorings (I need at least 1.7m)? I don’t want to moor against a wall. Or are there visitors buoys outside the harbour?

many thnaks

you could always test your anchoring technique and gear by anchoring just outside Mousehole in the shelter of Clements isle . . . . a good preparation for a week or two of anchoring in Scilly and much nicer than Newlyn.

 

[MikeFloutier]

Many thanks for all these additional comment guys, very helpful.

I promise to select a departure date with settled weather.

Also I do have a radar reflector plus a 50hp OBM for quick escapes and I'm not planning on going alone; I'll either be with a more experienced sailor or in flotilla with the same.

Thanks so much for the inspired suggestion of anchoring off Mousehole. I just bought a 6kg delta to supplement my Fortress and grapnel in preparation for Scilly so it will be a good trial, as you say. Also it will make a good warm-up trip; ie. just Mousehole and back PLUS could use Mousehole as a staging point AND/OR port of refuge in the full Scilly trip.

Lots of food for thought, thanks again, and I do take the warnings seriously and am conscious that I've never experienced heavy weather at sea.

 

[fergie_mac66]

I’m planning to do the same trip in June.

Could I ask- what’s Newlyn like for visitors- are the pontoon moorings (I need at least 1.7m)? I don’t want to moor against a wall. Or are there visitors buoys outside the harbour?


many thnaks

Newlynn is very entertaining , and a long walk from Penzance after ten pints.The swordfish did have some nice beer,2 and a 1/2 at a time ,while waiting for the chinese takeaway the live entertainment kept us occupied (nice chicken mushroom and cashew!)

 

[ex-Gladys]

Newlynn is very entertaining , and a long walk from Penzance after ten pints.The swordfish did have some nice beer,2 and a 1/2 at a time ,while waiting for the chinese takeaway the live entertainment kept us occupied (nice chicken mushroom and cashew!)

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Interesting book about West Cornwall which describes the Swordfish and Star pubs in Newlyn... It's actually called Starfish and Star...

Not pubs nice people used to go to...

 

[mainsail1]

Many thanks for all these additional comment guys, very helpful.

I promise to select a departure date with settled weather.

Also I do have a radar reflector plus a 50hp OBM for quick escapes and I'm not planning on going alone; I'll either be with a more experienced sailor or in flotilla with the same.

Thanks so much for the inspired suggestion of anchoring off Mousehole. I just bought a 6kg delta to supplement my Fortress and grapnel in preparation for Scilly so it will be a good trial, as you say. Also it will make a good warm-up trip; ie. just Mousehole and back PLUS could use Mousehole as a staging point AND/OR port of refuge in the full Scilly trip.

Lots of food for thought, thanks again, and I do take the warnings seriously and am conscious that I've never experienced heavy weather at sea.

I am sorry to say this but...... you don't need all the gear if you don't have the right boat. If you want to sail to the Scillies you need a different boat which does not have to be any bigger, just of a more seaworthy design... and Yes, I have had the experience of sailing a McGregor in a real force 5 and I do not want to do it ever again!

 

[davidej]

My memory of Newlyn is the Royal National Mission to Fishermen where you could get magnificent breakfast fry-ups (and other meals) and the kind ladies did your washing and ironing.

I believe it is closed now- what a shame!

 

[fergie_mac66]

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Interesting book about West Cornwall which describes the Swordfish and Star pubs in Newlyn... It's actually called Starfish and Star...

Not pubs nice people used to go to...

Def the swordfish we were in https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel...ish_Inn-Newlyn_Penzance_Cornwall_England.html

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

I will be clear - don't do it in that boat.

I'll second that.

I'll also add that the Cruising Log of Murrelet that you linked to is written by a man suffering from the worst case of 'confirmation bias' that I've ever seen. Please don't take anything written there as evidence of anything.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I really don't understand this "don't do it" you will die stuff, all sorts of dinghies from Wayfarers to Mirrors have crossed to Scilly with no problem and in my many crossings it was not uncommon to have to motor on occasion once the entire journey. It is perfectly feasible if attention is paid to the weather forecast and you are aware of the TSS. Visibility is probably the biggest worry with mist or fog. Whilst the boat would not be my choice if I had to I would have no qualms about crossing given the aforementioned precautions and once in Scilly you can find shelter in virtually any conditions.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Pete, if paid enough I'd sail a dinghy or a MacGregor to the Scillies with a decent forecast, but I wouldn't be happy to let a fairly inexperienced sailor do it. If the OP can't see through the claims made in the website and videos that he linked to, then he is not experienced.

I'd suggest that he takes the boat out in 20kts and seeing if thinks a bit more would be comfortable.

 

[MikeFloutier]

Ok, probably time to call time on this.

I fully take on board all the warnings, especially the weather and my lack of experience.

Special thank yous to all those who pm'd me with offers to sail with them in their (bigger) boat or to go in flotilla.

If it's any reassurance I won't be going alone, the first time, in my MacGregor.

But I will let you know how it went when I get back along with pics and vids.

Many thanks everybody for all your contributions.

 

[lpdsn]

Ok, probably time to call time on this.

I fully take on board all the warnings, especially the weather and my lack of experience.

Special thank yous to all those who pm'd me with offers to sail with them in their (bigger) boat or to go in flotilla.

If it's any reassurance I won't be going alone, the first time, in my MacGregor.

But I will let you know how it went when I get back along with pics and vids.

Many thanks everybody for all your contributions.

Enjoy the trip. Good luck and err on the side of caution with the forecast for the trip out (if it hasn't been said enough already).

 

[fergie_mac66]

Fill up , turn up the power , you'll be there in no time.50 hp ?

 

[pen2413]

I have had the experience of sailing a McGregor in a real force 5 and I do not want to do it ever again!

We regularly sail our Macgregor X (not M) in Force 5 without any concern. It is a light boat and properly reefed behaves perfectly well.

If things turn nasty, don't dump the ballast but drop the sails and motor.