Scillies

[howardclark]

I’m hoping to go for the first time in a couple of weeks. I know that the weather needs to be settled but from the experience of those who go regularly in what conditions is it not practical to visit.eg is a W or SW F3 or F4 OK?

thanks in advance

 

[Goldie]

I’m hoping to go for the first time in a couple of weeks. I know that the weather needs to be settled but from the experience of those who go regularly in what conditions is it not practical to visit.eg is a W or SW F3 or F4 OK?

thanks in advance

I think the real challenge is getting weather for the trip out. Once there, there are anchorages offering protection from every direction but no one anchorage protected from every direction so be prepared to move around. Friends just returned from the islands tell me they’ve never seen it busier so don’t rely on being able to find a buoy! Make sure your ground tackle is A1 and expect to use it and please please please, respect the COVID distancing measures as the islands have been mercifully little affected so far and I worry about the impact of this year’s mass influx.

The islands are wonderful, but IMHO best when less crowded!

 

[johnalison]

Those who know the place well can be more specific but I have been there a couple of times and I think the problems, at least for summer sailors, are sometimes overrated. If you plan properly, there is shelter from most directions, though a serious wind shift can give problems. We were fairly comfortable in New Grimsby Sound when it was blowing up to F5 from the NW, to which it is exposed. If you are free to move around, and especially anchor, you can almost always stay safe.

 

[howardclark]

Thanks - we will get the anchor ready!

 

[TiggerToo]

All the above matches our experience. Plus, it is alleged that St Helen's Pool can work as a veritable hurricane hole


We have never had to stay there, and just moved around as the weather shifted. This is part or the allure of the islands. Truth be said, we have never been on the islands in anything worse than an F8. So I pass this on as "hearsay".

@Scillypete may have better ideas. He is my "goto" for any reliable information about this particular bit of heaven.

 

[longjohnsilver]

All the above matches our experience. Plus, it is alleged that St Helen's Pool can work as a veritable hurricane hole

View attachment 117593
We have never had to stay there, and just moved around as the weather shifted. This is part or the allure of the islands. Truth be said, we have never been on the islands in anything worse than an F8. So I pass this on as "hearsay".

@Scillypete may have better ideas. He is my "goto" for any reliable information about this particular bit of heaven.

Whether or not it’s rough we love anchoring in St Helens pool. We’ve been there in gale force conditions and been perfectly comfortable, although possibly a bit rolly at the top of the tide until it drops to expose various reefs. And I’ve never seen it crowded, even when all other anchorages and mooring buoys are heaving.

A few small islands to explore, and within easy reach of St Martins and Tresco in a decent dinghy. And for the children there’s a lovely beach On the SW arm of Tean, sandy and thousands of colourful shells to pick up.

Can’t wait to get back, it’s heaven on earth.

 

[TiggerToo]

Can’t wait to get back, it’s heaven on earth.

you and me, both....

 

[alexincornwall]

I've sailed to the islands and back twice in the last four weeks and yes, it's busier than I've ever seen it, particular St Agnes Cove and Porth Cressa. That said, we still managed to secure a mooring in St Mary's harbour and were lucky enough to land one of the prime positions in Tresco Sound. The anchorages around St Martin's and St Helen's were relatively quiet. Be sure to provision well as the queues outside the coop were pretty lengthy.

 

[st599]

They're also asking for you to take lateral flow tests before departing the mainland and test regularly whilst in the islands.

 

[longjohnsilver]

They're also asking for you to take lateral flow tests before departing the mainland and test regularly whilst in the islands.

Seems a reasonable request. Pick up a pack of 7 for free from your local chemists, my partner and I took our tests earlier today, easy to do. Results in 30 minutes.