Isles of Scilly shelter?

[cliffdale]

I'm thinking of going to Scilly towards the end of this week. Weather is likely to be NW 3 to 5, then going SW.

If it is NW 4, what's the shelter like if anchored in Porthcressa or St Marys? I'm taking daughter and I'm really don't want the boat to be snatching on the anchor chain and rolling around.

Wind turning SW after weekend but no strength in it.

Any comments on anchorages appreciated.

Thanks

Cliff

 

[jdc]

St Mary's harbour is rather rolly in a NW but Port Cressa would be fine in both a NW and in a light SW. The Cove between St Agnes and Gugh would also be pleasant in these winds.

 

[cliffdale]

Thanks for the tip. I would also like to visit Bryher and Tresco. Not been for many years now so I expect many things have changed. Last time I sailed to the Isles, my nav equipment was a RDF, wasp log and compass!

Nav charts and almanac are on the boat, any visitor buoys between Bryher and Tresco, fin keel 1.8m ?

 

[sjdtuk]

For Tresco we anchor in St Helen's pool.
Anchorage is very good. One can move about to find better shelter in different wind directions

There are buoys between Bryher and Tresco.

 

[jdc]

For Tresco we anchor in St Helen's pool.
Anchorage is very good. One can move about to find better shelter in different wind directions

There are buoys between Bryher and Tresco.

+1 for St Helen's pool.

As said, there are buoys in New Grimsby (between Tresco and Bryher), so many that anchoring is now dubious. Some are starting to appear in Old Grimsby, but there's still plenty of space to anchor. We usually anchor in Old Grimsby in order to visit Tresco, and it would be perfect in a gentle SW. We draw 1.95m so you should be fine.

Once the Wind goes round to the SW you could consider exiting St Helen's pool via the N passage and round to St Martin's; the long sandy beach in St Martin's Bay inshore of Mackerel Rocks is peaceful and scenic.

 

[longjohnsilver]

+1 for St Helen's pool.

As said, there are buoys in New Grimsby (between Tresco and Bryher), so many that anchoring is now dubious. Some are starting to appear in Old Grimsby, but there's still plenty of space to anchor. We usually anchor in Old Grimsby in order to visit Tresco, and it would be perfect in a gentle SW. We draw 1.95m so you should be fine.

Once the Wind goes round to the SW you could consider exiting St Helen's pool via the N passage and round to St Martin's; the long sandy beach in St Martin's Bay inshore of Mackerel Rocks is peaceful and scenic.

Have the hotel and pub been re-opened on St Martins?

Also hope to be there towards the end of the week. Cliff, what boat do you have now?

 

[Scillypete]

I'm thinking of going to Scilly towards the end of this week. Weather is likely to be NW 3 to 5, then going SW.

If it is NW 4, what's the shelter like if anchored in Porthcressa or St Marys? I'm taking daughter and I'm really don't want the boat to be snatching on the anchor chain and rolling around.

Wind turning SW after weekend but no strength in it.

Any comments on anchorages appreciated.

Thanks

Cliff

Big spring tides this weekend coming and a likely good ridge of high pressure to push it down a bit further, might concentrate the anchoring areas a little. There's no anchoring in St Mary's harbour anymore but there are visitors moorings which will not be all that comfy in a NW'ly (snatching) and rolly in SW'ly. Porthcressa will be fine as said, even though there are 14 moorings there for visitors (£20 per night) there is ample room to anchor still. The Cove on St Agnes will also be ideal but be aware when the bar is covered there will be a fairly strong stream running through the centre of the anchorage which is less noticeable further out or off to one side or other.

St Helens pool, Great bay St Martins, Watermill Cove St Mary's and if you want a quiet spot try the Eastern isles.

Enjoy your visit and don't forget the suncream

 

[Scillypete]

Have the hotel and pub been re-opened on St Martins?

Sevenstones pub is now open again with new owners, a deal has been agreed for the hotel which is planning to be open (partially) from August

 

[cliffdale]

Have the hotel and pub been re-opened on St Martins?

Also hope to be there towards the end of the week. Cliff, what boat do you have now?

Hi John

Still have the saily boat.

The plan is to leave falmouth Thursday morning. All depending on sea state and wind direction, if all is good I will be holding course South to the French coast on a solo passage.

If daughter is on board, or sea lumpy, I will be turning right at the Lizard!

(Still trying to get an answer out of Lu whether she is coming or not)!

Cliff

 

[Heckler]

Thanks for the tip. I would also like to visit Bryher and Tresco. Not been for many years now so I expect many things have changed. Last time I sailed to the Isles, my nav equipment was a RDF, wasp log and compass!

Nav charts and almanac are on the boat, any visitor buoys between Bryher and Tresco, fin keel 1.8m ?

Was there last year, visitor buoys in deep water, £20 a night with buy two get one free. Anchoring ok but make sure you dig in well, lots of big seaweed.
S