The Isles of Scilly - Advice please

[Jinks]

SWMBO and I have an ambition to visit the Isles and I'd be grateful for comments, advice and information.

The boat is 25ft. with a single diesel (Yanmar 240) which is regularly serviced and has always been extremely reliable.

The plan would be to travel down to Padstow, overnight and re-fuel then on to the Isles; a few days visiting the various Islands then the same in reverse to get back. I've done Padstow before - about 4 hours - so have no real worries about the distances but I'm conscious that I've never been out of sight of land which does present something of a phsycological barrier.

I'm confident enough in the boat and my (limited) ability so I'm not really sure what question I'm actually asking here other than comments on any preparation I should make that I wouldn't normally do. Are there any conditions I should be aware of or hazards that are not apparent on a chart or a pilot?

All information, both on the journey and the Isles themselves, would be welcome.

 

[hlb]

Well first, you need good navigation. Doubt if you have radar, so any sign of fog, of which there is alot. Turn back. (It's a cross roads of shipping)

You will find the sea much bigger as you approch lands end, the swell is not necesarily a problem, but can be quite daunting.

Follow your course on the chart and tick of the rocks and light houses as you pass.

You will probably not see the scillies till maybe five miles off, they are very low lying.

The pilotage into St Marys is quite easy, but again, you have to be accurate. There are thousands of rocks, but most well marked. (Get a good pilot book).

There are quite a few excelent anchorages round the islands, but none of them protected in all winds. Most places there are mooring buoys.

Tresco and St Martins are well worth a visit.

If thing start looking pair shaped. Head for Newlyn.

In some ways, it might be easier for you with a smaller boat, as can tuck further into the anchorages.

If I've missed anything, ask. But the charts and books are on the boat, so can only go of memory.

 

[SpiderDiver]

I did this trip a few years ago for the first time on an MBM cruise so was in company most of the time and weather was good. Once there the shelter is not very good as islands low lying so you need a good spell of settled weather really. Having said all that I would have no hesitation in going again on our own although we have 2 engines of course! It's a great feeling when you see land again - not much to see until quite close as so low lying. Personally though I would not do the trip on one engine unless in company.

 

[[23929]]

The Scillonian ferry takes around 3 - 4 hours from Penzance to St. Marys. Padstow to St. Marys is a decent passage in what may be quite a swell. For me the issue is that the North Cornish coast lacks easy harbours in case you need to nip in somewhere. Newquay. St. Ives and Hayle both dry out.

As Haydn said, Newlyn is an option but is all around Land's End on the South Coast, however, there are some decent pontoons and facilities there now - more suitable for visiting boats.

The Scillies are beautiful but look out for rocks - at least the water is crystal clear

 

[hlb]

Thats why I said Newlyn. It's only 35 miles from St Marys and a straight line more or less. Deap water Harbour. Cheapest fuel in the country. (At the moment). Maybe not convenient. But safe.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Fantastic islands, like a bit of the Med but off England. The crucial factor is to have a a few days of settled weather in the forecast and be confident in your ground tackle. As hlb has said, you need to be prepared to up sticks and move to another anchorage if the wind changes. You also need a good pilot book and large scale charts as there are a lot of lumpy bits to avoid
Well worth the effort though. There was an article in MBY many years about Tim Bartlett doing the trip in a 25 footer so maybe worth getting a reprint

 

[hlb]

The first time I went, it was hm foggy, not that bad on the way across, but then again not easy to see the shipping. Think we were only a mile or so off the islands before we saw them. But of couse, all was well with chart plotter auto pilot and radar. Did not move from St Marys as the fog hung about for days, then a bad forcast, so slung our hook off to Newlyn. Far easer than plodding through the rocks to find a better anchorage.

Next time was superb weather. Stopped in St Marys, Played hell with HM and refused to pay him, cos boats were so close, they bashed each other and I had to get a diver to bring back my air intake pannel.

Lovely young girl, nice big tits, swimming about in the clear blue....... Anyway, a bottle of wine and she was sorted. Well partly....

Worked my own route round to New Grimsby Sound?? Tresco. The swell was humoungus. We must have been going up and down 40ft whilst stood still, trying to pick our way. Not uncomfortable or paricularly difficult, except you had to wait for the next swell to see anything at all from the fly bridge.

Found New Grimsby on second attempt and glided in. Unbelievable, south sea island, golden glistening sand. Posh hotel garden. Palm trees all around. Hot sun. But then pissed off smartish, back to Newlyn as the weather front moved in.

Actually to be fair, I think New Grimsby sound on a buoy would be OK in any weather'ish. Not saying you would want to be on a 25ft boat. Or even a 35ft boat. But think it would be quite ok to use the hotel. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Trouble with the Scillies, is you have to know it like the back of your hand, and only the locals know that. Maybe best to park up in St Marys and take the local trip/ferry boats round the Islands. Book a hotel and leave the boat on a buoy.

Mind, we set off to Tresco in the dinghy and finished up on St Martins. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Boathook]

Decent charts (Admiralty SC883 and possibly SC34) and Mark Fishwick's book West Country Cruising Companion. Found the book very good and worth the £20 a few years back. This covers the Isles. Just need other charts to cover from Padstow.

 

[hlb]

Yep I got the new Mark Thingies book, it is very good. As was the old one. The Scillies are quite easy to get to, only a few miles, not that difficult in good weather. Dont think the boat is going to come to much harm in St Marys. All the local boats seem fine. Mind they do have the best spots.

Think next time, I'd keep watch on the weather, and if wishing to stay., Just leave the boat well tied to the buoy and get B& B if it was that bad. The boat being ok, not necesarilly you!!

 

[Jinks]

Many thanks all. It would seem that other than only having one engine, crossing shipping lanes, lumpy and swelly seas, variable anchorages, moody HM's, fog and unpredictable weather, hidden rocks and a few other things it's really a doddle; don't know what I was concerned about!

Some very helpful comments which will give me a much better idea of how to prepare. I think the most important thing is to be as certain as I can about the weather window which is never easy in this country and to make sure that my ground tackle is up to the job. I don't think I'd trust what I have at the moment.

I'll update the post if we decide to go.

 

[miket]

If concerned about the 30 miles from Lands End to Isles on your own, then;
Car to Penzance.
Helicopter to the Isles.
Super Hotel.

Probably still cheaper than the fuel bill!!!!!

 

[gerrya]

We visited the Scillies last summer for the second time, last visit some 10 years previous. In late july and august the anchorages are quite busy as the french are all on holiday there. The moorings in st marys are very srtong and designed to hold boats in very bad conditions but you are mostly rafted on them and in a swell from the sw they can be rolly. You need good fenders!! Both new and old grimsby sounds also have a number of visitors moorings which are good and strong and usually less rolly, particularly new grimsby sound. You can get across the Flats between St Marys and Tresco qite easily in good vis with enough rise of tide and this avoids the longer trip around the outside. Deisel and water are available now by going alongside the main quay in st marys. ask the hm who we found helpfull.