St Mary’s, IOS, evening arrival options

[chris-s]

After our first trip to the Scillies back in May, we are hoping to make another short visit sailing out on Saturday.

The tide at the Lizard turns westward around 11am so I expect to arrive after 6pm. By that time of day Porthcressa will no doubt be full as will the mooring balls in St Mary’s harbour. We would prefer to stay at St Mary’s the first night rather than try out somewhere like The Cove where we have not been before, so just trying to work out what our options would be for a 23ft bilge keeler at St Mary’s.

Clearly there is the possibility of anchoring off Porth Loo, not sure how much space there would be tho. The pilot guide talks about ‘inshore moorings that dry’ but I can’t find any mention of them elsewhere, it also mentions rafting on the buoys, not sure how obliging people would be on that front tho.

Chris

 

[Barnacle Bill]

I was there 4th to 6th July and there was plenty of room on the mooring buoys (yellow - green are for larger boats & more expensive) in St Mary's Pool, main harbour. It was busy, but not full.

 

[neilf39]

St Mary's was full when we left 2 days ago with some rafting. It was our first trip and we went straight to the cove and anchored there with no problem. Wind direction will dictate which anchorages are likely to be busy. The Cove and porthcressa were busy when we arrived as the wind was NW.

 

[Scillypete]

Saturday is currently showing a good easterly breeze I would expect a fair influx of visiting yachts. It’s currently quite busy you may or may not get lucky and find an empty visitor mooring.. There are not really any other options for St Mary’s in easterlies if the moorings are full then anchor outside somewhere between Taylors and newford islands it’s not ideal but it’s safe enough until you decide where you want to explore next, and anchoring there is free.

my mooring is empty until Monday (first row of red bouys just past the yellow visitors towards porthmellon) although the harbour staff may ask you to move the next day, it has two pick up bouys one pink one white marked with my boat name and phone number

 

[jdc]

I know it's not what the OP actually asked, but may I ask why the preference for St Mary's on arrival? I find the opposite: I much prefer to arrive elsewhere so the timing isn't critical and I can be sure of space. Neither Porth Cressa nor the Cove are good in a south easterly, but there are other places: Sampson inside Puffin Island, Old Grimsby, New Grimsby, Appletree bay Tresco if you are shallow draft or can dry out briefly, St Helen's pool or Teen will all do fine.

Since tide turns W at the Lizard at local HW + 3, and it's 42 miles to Hats buoy which means around 7 - 9 hrs depending on your speed. HW + 3 + 9 = HW +12 = HW, so you'll have enough water to go where you will, and it'll still be daylight.

Have fun whatever you decide!

 

[chris-s]

I know it's not what the OP actually asked, but may I ask why the preference for St Mary's on arrival? I find the opposite: I much prefer to arrive elsewhere so the timing isn't critical and I can be sure of space. Neither Porth Cressa nor the Cove are good in a south easterly, but there are other places: Sampson inside Puffin Island, Old Grimsby, New Grimsby, Appletree bay Tresco if you are shallow draft or can dry out briefly, St Helen's pool or Teen will all do fine.

Since tide turns W at the Lizard at local HW + 3, and it's 42 miles to Hats buoy which means around 7 - 9 hrs depending on your speed. HW + 3 + 9 = HW +12 = HW, so you'll have enough water to go where you will, and it'll still be daylight.

Have fun whatever you decide!

Mainly due to familiarity and probably a little lacking in confidence/experience compared to some of you more seasoned sailors. It’s only our second visit and as we expect to be late arriving it’s one less worry for us.
Chris