rickp
Active member
Having failed to make it to Scilly last year, we figured we'd try again this year - only a few weeks earlier to get more settled weather. Hah!
Once again, I've got the tracks online (bar the last bit home - due to operator error!).
Undeterred by the forecasts, Dad and I moved the boat down to Plymouth a week before the family holiday. It was a delivery trip but Saturday wasn't too encouraging and we took quite a bit of water over the boat getting across Poole Bay, so stopped in Swanage for the night. Saw and spoke to Geoffs who was anchored there - but we got an early night in anticipation of a better forecast for Sunday. We were not disappointed....
The sunrise over Swanage was superb
We were underway by 4:30am (see, it was a 'delivery' trip!) and an hour later, the sun rose over the Purbeck hills
We saw the CEFAS Endevour coming up on our port quarter as we took the inshore route around Portland Bill. It blatted through the Portland race like it wasn't there. We figured it was headed to the MSC Napoli as it passed behind us headed in that direction
Duncan had recommended Hope Cove as a stopping point a year or so ago - and we took the opportunity to stop for lunch and watch the Grand Prix.
We left around 3pm and had almost reached Plymouth when we heard the coastguard calling for any vessels able to assist a fishing boat. We ended up towing in a 27ft boat who had blown the UJ in his leg. Of course, being a leg-driven boat meant that he didn't have a rudder and in the beam sea, that made the tow somewhat 'interesting'. You can see on the track where we head SSW to the boat and the wiggle tow back to Plymouth (trying to find a comfortable angle in the swell).
The fisherman supplied us with a lobster and crab for our efforts which were delicious! We were tied up in QAB by 6:30pm and enjoyed our lobster supper (for which I had to go and scrounge some butter from the Chandlers bar there).
A week later, the holiday proper started. Saturday night saw us in the Yealm - lovely weather so we had an explore. Fanastic sunset:
There was a distinct possibility of a weather window to get to Scilly later in the week, so we moved on Sunday to an almost deserted Fowey and then onto Falmouth. Wednesday saw a weather window and although the sea was still settling down from an early blow, we struck out west towards Scilly. There was a decent sized swell and as we closed on Scilly, we decided our best bet would be New Grimsby Sound between Tresco and Bryher. We came around the top, passing Round Island:
The weather was now superb and we anchored just north of Cromwell's Castle
A bouy came free later, so we moved onto that to be a bit further in. The swinging space was a bit tight, but wasn't an issue. The views were superb!
We did the gardens on Tresco, including the Valhalla museum
Some more views of the sound itself
We spent 3 nights in New Grimsby Sound enjoying both Tresco and Bryher, as well as trips to St Marys. For our last night, we moved around to the Cove anchorage, between St Agnes and Gugh
Quite a few other boats had done the same. I did wonder if the Windy (between us and the shore) was gjgm's, but it turns out it wasn't - but the owner does read the forums (but not post). Hi - if you're reading!
The bar at sunset
We ate at the Turk's Head and ended up talking to some sailors from a boat called 'Picaro' I think. We gave them the 6pm shipping forecast and they decided theyd be heading back to Falmouth the next day - just like us. They left a bit earlier than us, and we passed them on the way. We both ended up in Mylor though in the same pub the following night!
The return trip was via Dartmouth (as spotted by jimg) then Swanage. A great holiday despite the best efforts of the weather - and we had truly fantastic weather whilst at Scilly, whilst the rest of the UK was battling floods!
Rick
Once again, I've got the tracks online (bar the last bit home - due to operator error!).
Undeterred by the forecasts, Dad and I moved the boat down to Plymouth a week before the family holiday. It was a delivery trip but Saturday wasn't too encouraging and we took quite a bit of water over the boat getting across Poole Bay, so stopped in Swanage for the night. Saw and spoke to Geoffs who was anchored there - but we got an early night in anticipation of a better forecast for Sunday. We were not disappointed....
The sunrise over Swanage was superb
We were underway by 4:30am (see, it was a 'delivery' trip!) and an hour later, the sun rose over the Purbeck hills
We saw the CEFAS Endevour coming up on our port quarter as we took the inshore route around Portland Bill. It blatted through the Portland race like it wasn't there. We figured it was headed to the MSC Napoli as it passed behind us headed in that direction
Duncan had recommended Hope Cove as a stopping point a year or so ago - and we took the opportunity to stop for lunch and watch the Grand Prix.
We left around 3pm and had almost reached Plymouth when we heard the coastguard calling for any vessels able to assist a fishing boat. We ended up towing in a 27ft boat who had blown the UJ in his leg. Of course, being a leg-driven boat meant that he didn't have a rudder and in the beam sea, that made the tow somewhat 'interesting'. You can see on the track where we head SSW to the boat and the wiggle tow back to Plymouth (trying to find a comfortable angle in the swell).
The fisherman supplied us with a lobster and crab for our efforts which were delicious! We were tied up in QAB by 6:30pm and enjoyed our lobster supper (for which I had to go and scrounge some butter from the Chandlers bar there).
A week later, the holiday proper started. Saturday night saw us in the Yealm - lovely weather so we had an explore. Fanastic sunset:
There was a distinct possibility of a weather window to get to Scilly later in the week, so we moved on Sunday to an almost deserted Fowey and then onto Falmouth. Wednesday saw a weather window and although the sea was still settling down from an early blow, we struck out west towards Scilly. There was a decent sized swell and as we closed on Scilly, we decided our best bet would be New Grimsby Sound between Tresco and Bryher. We came around the top, passing Round Island:
The weather was now superb and we anchored just north of Cromwell's Castle
A bouy came free later, so we moved onto that to be a bit further in. The swinging space was a bit tight, but wasn't an issue. The views were superb!
We did the gardens on Tresco, including the Valhalla museum
Some more views of the sound itself
We spent 3 nights in New Grimsby Sound enjoying both Tresco and Bryher, as well as trips to St Marys. For our last night, we moved around to the Cove anchorage, between St Agnes and Gugh
Quite a few other boats had done the same. I did wonder if the Windy (between us and the shore) was gjgm's, but it turns out it wasn't - but the owner does read the forums (but not post). Hi - if you're reading!
The bar at sunset
We ate at the Turk's Head and ended up talking to some sailors from a boat called 'Picaro' I think. We gave them the 6pm shipping forecast and they decided theyd be heading back to Falmouth the next day - just like us. They left a bit earlier than us, and we passed them on the way. We both ended up in Mylor though in the same pub the following night!
The return trip was via Dartmouth (as spotted by jimg) then Swanage. A great holiday despite the best efforts of the weather - and we had truly fantastic weather whilst at Scilly, whilst the rest of the UK was battling floods!
Rick
