Padstow to Penzance

[Caladh]

We are aiming to do this trip within the next 4 weeks. My misgivings are about getting out of Padstow in good time in the morning to ensure a daylight evening arrival in Penzance. Web searching indicates it can be done, others indicate a stop at St Ives and wait for the tide. The yacht should make 6 knots. Advice gratefully received.

 

[[3889]]

Never been to Penzance but done Padstow Newlyn several times. Never more than 10 hours in a 36' AWB leaving Padstow harbour at HW-2.

 

[Javelin]

I did this trip a couple of years ago.
Carried the tide down to lands end with no problem with a f4 to 5 NW, although we had to leave at near HW due to our draft.
As we rounded the corner taking the inside route the wind died and then built again from the South and it took an age to get round Gwennap Head against the foul tide and the sea state pushed us out to near Runnel Stone but once past there it was pretty easy.
We were aiming for Newlin but as we approached we realised the tide would alow us to lock into Penzance so we took that option.
Entrance was interesting in the f5 to 6 southerly which had built by then but the ship that services the Scilly Isles was there which provided some cover whilst waiting for the lock.

 

[cagey]

Couple of worries that I'm sure you've thought about but just in case,
Daylight hours in 4 weeks will be lessening very quickly.
This season has been very windy and September in Cornwall is particularly so.
North and West Cornwall after Padstow have very few places to run and hide.
St Ives is a drying harbour and any anchoring is outside and exposed, Hayle is only really viable in good weather in daylight, in calm weather. The tide in and out is frightening to watch when ashore I wouldn't want to do it for the first time in a yacht although there are quite big boats tied up and ashore.
You'll be getting to the trickiest part of your trip in failing light whilst you will be feeling tired.
Don't forget the lobster pots.
I like Newlyn and Penzance but if you're in Penzance harbour the gate opens at the wrong time to get round the Lizard.
Be safe and enjoy it's a lovely trip.
Keith

 

[alant]

We are aiming to do this trip within the next 4 weeks. My misgivings are about getting out of Padstow in good time in the morning to ensure a daylight evening arrival in Penzance. Web searching indicates it can be done, others indicate a stop at St Ives and wait for the tide. The yacht should make 6 knots. Advice gratefully received.

Not much water in St Ives when the tide drops.

 

[Flossdog]

In westerly winds, St Ives is a possibility to break the journey but only if you have strong constitutions to endure the severe rolling even in calm weather on the visitors' buoys outside the harbour. Don't even think about going into the drying harbour if you can take the ground. We did on a very calm day and were bounced on the bottom by the unnoticed swell on taking the ground and lifting off it.

 

[fisherman]

Hayle is a half tide entry and route tortuous and poorly marked. Good to ask someone local, or maybe the NCI St Ives. We used to get in at three hours, 3ft draft, and to be safe in any weather/swell never on the ebb. Muddy bottom inside, some hard some soft. Once inside, extremely safe.

A recent pic: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.1968458,-5.4341624,2355m/data=!3m1!1e3

If you zoom in you can see the buoys outside the bar.

 

[ghostlymoron]

There are some useful back eddies around lands end which can extend the fair tide if you take advantage of them. Details are shown in the pilot and tidal atlas.

 

[wotayottie]

We are aiming to do this trip within the next 4 weeks. My misgivings are about getting out of Padstow in good time in the morning to ensure a daylight evening arrival in Penzance. Web searching indicates it can be done, others indicate a stop at St Ives and wait for the tide. The yacht should make 6 knots. Advice gratefully received.

Penzance is well lit and largely pot free so the timing issue is more about rounding lands end in daylight when you can see the pots and getting to penzance whilst the gates are open. But if you miss the gates then there always is Newlyn or you can pick up one of the Penzance buoys which are free in practice.

Done this journey many times. The key is timing the rounding of lands end . Almost always by the inner passage.

If necessary you can leave padstow on the last of the lock and anchor off so you can set off when you want. Never found it necessary myself.

 

[cagey]

Ok in a cat but if op has a keel then not an option as estuary dries although I have seen boats anchored in various pools,can't say what their keels etc were tho.
K