Isles of Scilly in strong winds.

Bav34

Bav34

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We are setting off on our hols in the next few days for hopefully 3 months, weather dependant.

One of our destinations is the I of S.

Having read all the pilot books etc a concensus is that St. Marys can actually be untenable in strong W - NW winds and suggestions are given for alternative, safer, yet still uncomfortable anchorages.

I know that weather forecasters get a lot of stick for forecasting say a SW4 mid-Channel when it is actually a NW5-6 but that is often a question of timing as to where a weather system may be at a given time.

However we all know that a Low Pressure is a Low Pressure and should be able to guestimate speeds and directions.

Given enough warning of an approaching Low what is the best course of action from your experiences?

Run for the mainland or be prepared to move around anchorages in what is, by definition, poor weather?

OR, as an afterthought, only consider The Scillies under High Pressure weather systems?
 
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St Marys will get very uncomfortable especially if you are rafted on a bouy but there are alternative anchorages which will be quite sheltered but you have to be prepared to move and anticipate the change in wind direction and to anchor. Lots of local advice availlable when you are there including Scillpete. So it's perfectly safe to stay but choose reasonable weather and forecast for a couple of days when going.
 
It's a well-established principle that there are no anchorages sheltered from every direction in the islands. If you keep tabs on the forecasts you should be able to move in advance of wind shifts. There are some transfers that take you out of shelter so spending time there with a lot of wind about like the current situation it's probably best to stay away.

If the waves are coming into St Mary's then you can go round into Porth Cressa on the other side of the island for example. Any decent cruising guide will tell you what the options are.
 
The Isles of Scilly

A wonderful cruising ground - do not miss them - you could easily spend a week there - and I have! But don't call them the Scillies - the locals get a little bit upset!

There are bolt holes to cover all wind directions so don't worry e.g. if there's a NW blow, then anchor in Port Cressa - just as close to Hugh Town.

And do plan a day to explore Tresco - wonderful place - the Northern half is similar to Land's End, and the Southern half to France - have you ever seen gold crested pheasants before! And the New Inn is definitely worth a visit - complete with showers and WiFi - conveniently in the middle!

People often fret over pilotage - and whilst most of the marks are granite (ouch) it isn't that difficult really.

PM me if you want any more info.
 
One can stay in a summer gale

I've certainly been anchored in the Isles of Scilly during a few August gales or near gales, although admittedly never in a real F10 storm.

The key issue is obviously that the winds will shift as a typical summer depression passes, from SE through S to SW then NW.

My top recommendation is St Helen's pool. Easy to get to from Hats, protected from waves from all directions, deep and easy to find room - it's never been crowded while I've been there. It's pretty dramatic in a good NW blow because all one can see to windward are breakers, but these do stop the waves albeit not the wind.

The other place I've ridden out a gale is New Grimsby. It can be damnably rough - I've spent 24 hours being unable to get ashore once it veered to NW - but should be safe in any summer weather. In quiet conditions I prefer Old Grimsby because it's quieter, but the holding is none too good so I don't recommend it in poor weather.

N side of St Martins is also quite a good bolt hole: although you have to clear out if the wind comes round to the North. But then it's usually lost its sting and you can go round to Port Cressa or the Cove or it's fair for a passage back to the mainland. The same applies to Watermill cove.

Pilot books often recommend St Mary's harbour, but I don't like it so much. There are lots of substantial visitor moorings and so it's doubtless pretty safe but very exposed to the W or NW - and typically that's what heppens as a front passes.

Some have suggested Porth Cressa: this is sheltered from the NW, but wide open and a bit of a trap in a SE wind, so I only go there if the wind is likely to remain from SW through NE. Even if the strong wind is forecast to come from SW through NE I'd chose the Cove between St Agnes and Gugh in preference since this can be got out of even in darkness.
 
Being as you are on a boat with a deepish draft your options are more limited than those that could take the bottom or creep right into shallow corners.

As has been said you can move around to stay in a sheltered (from the wind) anchorage or you could just sit it out on a mooring either in the harbour or Tresco channel or Old Grimsby channel. The harbour moorings can be uncomfortable when any depression goes through, firstly they will seem nice and sheltered when the wind is in the south but then the swell will build and the rolling will start, a little later the wind will veer to the west or NW and drive the swell into the harbour. This is the most uncomfortable time as there is a good chance of snatching on the moorings, depending on how bad the depression was. At the moment there are several yachts hanging about out there and all seem to be coping ok.

when a series of vigorous depressions pass the islands it is difficult to find any anchorage without any kind of swell, its just that some are better than others.

Most of the time it is fine and there will be somewhere to shelter, just make sure you are up to date with the weather, as has been said already.
 
We sat out a SW gale comfortably anchored in watermill Cove. When the wind veered NW, we moved around to Porth Cressa with the move being entirely in the lee of the island. As others have suggested, plenty of safe options.
 
Porth Cressa certainly beckons - but be sure to have a very close look at the chart. On my first visit there, we wondered why everyone already there was anchored on the western half....

The whole eastern half is like the far side of the moon, when the tide drops down.

And there's that famous RNLI video ( not the 'Scillyrobin' Y-Toob vid ) of the anchored yacht overwhelmed in Porth Cressa and the all-weather lifeboat plucking its sole occupant from the surf.

St. Agnes offers a couple of interesting options.....

:)
 
Steve, good advice generally here, but if "Modom" is with you, then only go if settled weather - or you may be looking for a new crew!!!!

Good sailing.

Sitting in Mykonos - its been blowing 20- 30 knt for the last week and forceast to continue to Saturday!
 
Many thanks to all for the responses and offers of help.

They have given me a lot more confidence than I had.

My main concern was/is the need to shift anchorage in the middle of a storm i.e. to avoid poor conditions in St Marys move to Porth Cressa ... but what if the wind change is at midnight?

Do I really want to be moving around to a new anchorage at that time in those conditions?

As nobody has posted a 'doom and gloom' scenario I guess it's just the normal matter of common sense.

The difference this time is that other exposed anchorages that we have been to i.e Alderney, Sark, Chausey, Glenans, Brehat etc have readily available bolt holes.

The I of S is just that bit further out but Mrs Bav has heard there is a Tesco there and she likes their finest range so we have to go.

I keep trying to tell her it's Tresco but she never listens :D
 
If you can dry out, then my choice would be Green Bay, Bryher. You could walk ashore and ask the locals if you can use one of their massive local moorings, where they have kindly moved all the stones out of the way. But CQRs and Danforths no use here. At least a delta required, and check it is dug in at low tide, because unusualy the sand is very hard here. For those that cannot dry out, have a look at St Agnes for a few options. Most sandy places the sand is so light that CQRs are useless (leave them at home). If it is not too Springy, St Helens Pool is another good choice if you plan to stay aboard as it can be too windy for tenders and no where to go for a walk.
 
St Helen's pool

Channel Sailor said:
...If it is not too Springy, St Helens Pool is another good choice if you plan to stay aboard as it can be too windy for tenders and no where to go for a walk.
Click to expand...

Glad there's another 'vote' for St H's P, but why do you say 'if not too springy'? Do you mean that the shelter from waves is less at HWS because Gloden Ball Brow is more covered? It's plenty deep enough (4m to 7m at LAT).
 
Bav34 said:
Many thanks to all for the responses and offers of help.

They have given me a lot more confidence than I had.

My main concern was/is the need to shift anchorage in the middle of a storm i.e. to avoid poor conditions in St Marys move to Porth Cressa ... but what if the wind change is at midnight?

Do I really want to be moving around to a new anchorage at that time in those conditions?

:D
Click to expand...

The visitors buoys in St Marys are very substantial. Provided you put a strong enough strop on you will not move although it could get pretty uncomfortable.

IMG_1015.jpg
 
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