First time to the Isles of Scilly

[BlueChip]

I'm thinking about a first time visit to the Isles of Scilly from Plymouth in a 37' 1.8m draft yacht in August.
Which pilot book is recomended and can the forum offer any tips or advice.

 

[Baggy]

I have always used Newlyn as a start off point, only about 6 hours sail, using the tide..
and viky verky... if bad weather is on its way

ps... the scillies are beautiful

 

[Anwen]

First time to the Scillies, I was advised to go to St Marys and stay on one of the mooring buoys and then use the local trip boats to visit the other islands. We went during a period of warm settled weather and this was excellent advice.

I bought Scilly Pete's book which is very good, but since we didn't move, I didn't need to use it for transits, bearings etc!

 

[Skysail]

We did the same as DJ above and regretted it. The weather became unsettled and we should have moved, the swell was very uncomfortable. So don't commit yourself for more than a day. But do go for it. Arrive in daytime to ease the pilotage.

 

[doug748]

I have the old Robin Branden pilot and its updated version by the Cruising Association (I think). Both are a bit too complex for me.
A fourumite (Scillypete?) I believe is responsible for the: Sailors Guide to the Isles of Scilly. It looks excellent, simple, good snaps, and inexpensive. Failing that, Reeds is good enough for a first visit, or West Country Cruising -Fishwick which you probably already have.
The small scale Admiralty charts are difficult to do without.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I'm thinking about a first time visit to the Isles of Scilly from Plymouth in a 37' 1.8m draft yacht in August.
Which pilot book is recomended and can the forum offer any tips or advice.

Doesn't Fishwicks book cover the Scillies?

We had a wonderful holiday there a few years ago, but I haven't got there by boat yet. Highly recommended though

 

[snooks]

Whether you get there is dependent on the weather.
If you don't get there this year, there's always next year
Newlyn is a good port for departure. (avoid the smugglers restaurant though)
Listen to the forecast and be prepared to move daily to a more sheltered anchorage.
Take enough fuel and water to last you, and some
Make sure your tender and OB are working before you set off
Do take a few tripper boats to other islands

Enjoy it, it is paradise when the sun's out

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I'm thinking about a first time visit to the Isles of Scilly from Plymouth in a 37' 1.8m draft yacht in August.
Which pilot book is recomended and can the forum offer any tips or advice.

We did our first visit there this Spring.

St Mary's was ok for the first night as it requirds little thought to get in there, but you are a long way from shore, it can be bumpy, and it is the least attractive of the islands in my opinion.
We had Mark Fishwicks book, the Shell Channel Pilot and the RCC book on board. Fishwicks is the best.
Pick an anchorage based on wind and swell and be prepared to move.
Between Tresco and Bryer is excellent.
There are new mooring buoys on the east side of Tresco that are not in some of the books. They are in deeper water just off the island hotel. Very nice in a westerly and easier to get ashore than in nearby Chapmans Pool.

 

[sighmoon]

We're also planning a trip there this summer.

Whether you get there is dependent on the weather.

I've heard that said a lot.
I hate to show my ignorance (though never let that stop me), but why is it more weather dependant than any other destination? It looks to me like there would be somewhere sheltered to anchor whatever direction the wind is coming from. Is that not the case?

 

[snooks]

I hate to show my ignorance (though never let that stop me), but why is it more weather dependant than any other destination? It looks to me like there would be somewhere sheltered to anchor whatever direction the wind is coming from. Is that not the case?

When it's been blowing for a few days before from the north, north east, north west, south, south east, south west or west it can be a rough

And no real shelter on the way there except Newlyn

Then there are the tides.....

 

[SimbaDog]

We plan a trip there every year, normally spend most of it stuck in Falmouth in storms
ScillyPete's book is worth having

 

[snooks]

We plan a trip there every year, normally spend most of it stuck in Falmouth in storms
ScillyPete's book is worth having

You can have a weeks worth of fun in the Fal if it's blowing a hoolie

 

[doug748]

...more weather dependant than any other destination?


A spiffing place but if you did cop a spell of poor weather there is not a lot of stuff to do, particularly when off the out islands. After three or four days of dodging into shelter, in the rain, it would get a bit trying.
Leaving a boat there is not an attractive option. The buoys chop about in the harbour, people come and go, not always with great care. People raft, there are bangs and scrapes. Even after getting back to the mainland on the ferry, Penzanze is still a long way from centres of population, knowing that you have to slog back to pick up the boat, with a good chance of at least superficial damage when you do.
Far better to lurk and retire in good order if the weather outlook is poor.

 

[BlueChip]

We plan a trip there every year, normally spend most of it stuck in Falmouth in storms
ScillyPete's book is worth having

When we were based in the Solent we tried many times to make Scilly it but always ran out of time or didnt have the weather, now we are based in Plymouth we have a better chance and hopefully we'll get there this year or next.
Agree about spending a week in Falmouth in bad weather we've done that already this year after two horribly rolly nights at anchor off the town marina we moved right up the Fal above the ferry, where it's like a different world and not a ripple on the water, two nights of blisss then dropped down the river into the maelstrom and a rather exciting reach back to Plymouth .

I've tried to get Scilly Pete's book but no one has got it in stock, even Amazon dont have it. Is it out of print now?

 

[Sans Bateau]

I've tried to get Scilly Pete's book but no one has got it in stock, even Amazon dont have it. Is it out of print now?

He's probably made enough money now so has stopped production.

 

[Scillypete]

I've tried to get Scilly Pete's book but no one has got it in stock, even Amazon dont have it. Is it out of print now?

It was only ever available at a few places, Sea chest at QAB Plymouth, Bosuns locker in Falmouth and at the retreat boatyard Topsham for a while. I still have stock left available from our website below or from our shop once you are in Scilly.

Enjoy your visit to the islands I'm sure you will not have too bad an experience its hardly ever as bad as has been mentioned, especially if you keep up with the forecast.

 

[Scillypete]

He's probably made enough money now so has stopped production.

I Wish

 

[Mavis]

It was only ever available at a few places, Sea chest at QAB Plymouth, Bosuns locker in Falmouth and at the retreat boatyard Topsham for a while. I still have stock left available from our website below or from our shop once you are in Scilly.

Enjoy your visit to the islands I'm sure you will not have too bad an experience its hardly ever as bad as has been mentioned, especially if you keep up with the forecast.

Hope you have enough left, I have just ordered one.
We have tried and failed to get out there once already this year, and will have another go later. Then there is always the Redwing Championships which hopefully will be out there again next year.

 

[no28]

Hope you have enough left, I have just ordered one.

+1

 

[Sans Bateau]

I Wish

Hee He! so your keeping an eye on the thread then? If we do get to you, there is a glass of wine or two in the bottle for you.