Scilly

[Captain_Chaos]

OK, I'm a wimp butI dont like leaving the boat unattended when at anchor.

I dont want to start a mooring v anchoring debate but I would like to go to Scilly for a few days and as there will only be 2 of us on board, being able to spend a day or so on a mooring to allow us to explore the islands would be ideal.

Has anyone been to Isles of Scilly recently and can give me an update on availability of moorings?

<hr width=100% size=1>74.56% of all statistics are made up.

 

[snowleopard]

ther are many visitor's moorings at Hugh Town (St. Mary's). Normally plenty of space outside the summer hols peak time and not too expensive.

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[charles_reed]

Last time I was there, they'd laid mooring buoys in St Mary's, but in-season they're about 8 boats hanging onto each one.
There are also a whole lot of estate-owned buoys off New Grimsby. Both these cost a bit. Old Grimsby is reasonable holding in line with the old quay and OK except in a NW.

I always used to drop the hook in Coveen or Conger (between Gugh and St Agnes), depending on wind direction - but I believe that someone has put buoys down in Coveen and unless you're shoal draft Conger is a trifle shallow.

The trouble with the Scilly, is that with the exception of Porthcous, none of the anchorages (except, perhaps, St Helen's Pool, where the weed is 2m deep) are safe in all wind directions. Ally with that lots of weed OR thin sand on granite and you've got bad holding.

It used to be a nice long weekend sail there and back from Pwllheli and I made lots of friends. Only the Maddalena compares with Scilly.

In settled weather it's safe enough to leave a boat for a few hours - if in fear let the launches know and take a handheld vhf ashore, they'll let you know if anything is amiss.

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[AndrewB]

Check - the only places with visitors moorings are the harbour at Hugh Town and off New Grimsby on Tresco. And in summer demand is high and its all pandemonium, not exactly what one goes to the Scilly Isles for.

Sorry Captain_Chaos, but the time has come to get the lump out of its locker. Thousands of others do it - so can you! At least in the Scillies its possible to keep an eye on the boat from practically whever you walk ashore.

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[Sybarite]

Try Porth Cressa just behind Hugh Town. Usually protected from the prevailing winds and I have had no problem anchoring there.

If strong easterlies--> southerlies are anticipated, then pop round to the moorings in St Mary's - which are otherwise not all that comfortable being exposed to the south west. And you have to pay a fee but I have found the harbour personnel very helpful.

John

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[Scillypete]

At the moment there are 38 visitors moorings in St Mary's pool and this morning there were only a few visitors on them. They do have busy periods in the school holiday period, most notably when it is blowing hard from the east which brings boats into the islands and the harbour is then a very sheltered place to be. Although yachts may be required to raft up on the bouys this is more a rarity than the norm and again usually only during easterlies.
Contrary to some other comments there are numerous good anchorages in Scilly where it is reasonably safe to leave the boat and go ashore. the holding on the most part is good and space (in the unlikely event of having to share the bay) is plentiful. All depends on draft and willingness to explore, having shoal draft and even the ability to take the bottom ie bilge keels or lifitng keel or catamaran widens the choices no end.
There are also moorings availbale in New grimsby sound and Old Grimsby sound administered by the Tresco harbourmaster, space can be booked in advance by giving Henry Birch a ring. Also in Tean sound there are a few moorings belonging to the St Martins hotel which are for visiting yachts and I have yet to see these full.


<hr width=100% size=1>Rather a bad day on the water than a good day at the office.