Scilly Isles - first timer

Tim Good

Tim Good

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Ok so we are headed to the Scillies from Dartmouth this Saturday.

I have legs on my boat so intend to use them wherever possible to avoid uncomfortable nights at anchor. Are there any veterans of the area and know some especially good places to dry out?
 
Drying out can be fraught with problems and as a generalisation you have to be very careful where you dry out. Any sort of swell during the period before you are solidly down (or up when re-floating) can cause you damage to keels and/or the rudder so you need to plan the timing and location (ideally soft mud but that is not so good for your legs) very carefully to avoid problems apart from the obvious things like drying onto a rock or stump!
Apology if you are very experienced at drying out your boat in which case you will be well aware of all the possible problems.
 
St Margaret's (against the wall) on firm sand
New Grimsby
Old Grimsby
Blockhouse Point

to name a few starters


We dried out on every inhabited island over a three week period. As always be mindful of rocks and debris (old ground tackle) A 'waterscope' would have been useful, but we had 14yr old keen snorkeler and water generally very clear. Always on sand/gravel to muddy sand.

We experienced every season every day. Glorious!

Suggest at least three anchors minimum for optimal drying. CQRs pretty rubbish, would have preferred danforth/fortress, but manually dug anchors in after drying out! Bring a shovel...
 
I'm on a buoy in New Grimsby now and it's been very peaceful for the past 4 days with very little rolling. With winds from the SW this is a good place to be. There appears to be a rally of Welsh bilge keelers dried out just off Bryher, but I guess it becomes more of a problem for you as we get on to neaps next week. But there seems plenty of lovely spots you can choose around Tresco and Bryher, seems the winds are staying predominantly Southerly which Unfortunaty precludes the cove and Cressa.
 
northcave said:
Ok so we are headed to the Scillies from Dartmouth this Saturday.

I have legs on my boat so intend to use them wherever possible to avoid uncomfortable nights at anchor. Are there any veterans of the area and know some especially good places to dry out?
Click to expand...

By the time you get here it will be neap tides which, unless you beach high up, means you will be afloat through the middle and early hours. Depending on how far up you are will dictacte at what hour you again take the bottom and the slightest surge will no doubt give you a wake up call so pick your anchorages of choice with all that in mind.

On the upside as you are able to take the bottom your options for where to go are many indeed but there is nowhere called 'St Margarets' as posted by Sapurdie they mean St Mary's ;)

The water is clear so you can check what is below and be sure you are not going to come to rest on a boulder. The advice to carry several anchors is good as you can keep yourself well positioned in some of the smaller bays, however, there is nothing wrong with useing a CQR they are fine I have had no problems anchoring with a CQR for the last 20 years, just be sure you have it dug in properly.

Pop in for a chat when you get here then depending on the current weather at the time and whatever is forecast I can give you my opinion on the best places to go.
 
We've just been there as first timers and spent 5 days on a mooring in Hugh Town. We spent those days exploring St Mary's and took a few day trips on pleasure boats around the islands and a day trip to Tresco.
Whilst the weather was very hot (and I sunburned my feet!) there was no swell or any issues in the mooring area and quite cheap (well, cheaper than Fowey, Salcombe, Dartmouth, Falmouth & Weymouth). New Grimsby Sound looked lovely with quite a few moorings, some of which were empty.
Wonderful!
 
If you decide to anchor after all, it is worth googling clear bottomed buckets ( as mentioned) and Flopperstoppers if there is swell.
 
Blueboatman said:
If you decide to anchor after all, it is worth googling clear bottomed buckets ( as mentioned) and Flopperstoppers if there is swell.
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I have crew who like to get wet so I can thrown them overboard with snorkel.

Also I have a builders bag for rolling. That said, I haven't tried using it yet for that purpose but would assume it would work if suspended off the end of the boom?
 
northcave said:
Also I have a builders bag for rolling. That said, I haven't tried using it yet for that purpose but would assume it would work if suspended off the end of the boom?
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I can imagine it will need a substantial weight in the bottom, to make sure it sinks quickly on the down-roll. Given that, I guess it's worth a try. Messing about with it will distract you from the rolling for a bit, anyway :)

Pete
 
I've just watched the Isles of Scilly episode of Hungry Sailors.
Apparently there are only light breezes and flat seas and everyone is sitting in the sunshine eating wonderful food and being jolly nice to each other.
Wish I was there.
 
DanTribe said:
I've just watched the Isles of Scilly episode of Hungry Sailors.
Apparently there are only light breezes and flat seas and everyone is sitting in the sunshine eating wonderful food and being jolly nice to each other.
Wish I was there.
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Wish I was there too. We were hoping to go next week, but the winds look to be on the nose from Plymouth.

I think you'll find the Hungry Sailors episodes were filmed last year, which is probably why there appear to be quite a few free mooring buoys available.
 
Appledore said:
I think you'll find the Hungry Sailors episodes were filmed last year, which is probably why there appear to be quite a few free mooring buoys available.
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T'was indeed filmed last year, September if I remember correctly, and they flew in and stayed ashore in hotels the whole time they were here before flying out again leaving the boat crew to do the sailing to and from the islands.
 
Scillypete said:
T'was indeed filmed last year, September if I remember correctly, and they flew in and stayed ashore in hotels the whole time they were here before flying out again leaving the boat crew to do the sailing to and from the islands.
Click to expand...


So really they weren't Hungry Sailors, just day trippers, haha!! Now the rest of the episodes will be an anticlimax.
 
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