Where to stop in the Scillies?

[Mike_Alpha]

It is the time of the year to start planning next summer's cruise. We like to move our boat from the Baltic to the Azores (and further to the Canneries for the winter). Still being wage slaves we will have to do this in stages; for the trip from Amsterdam to St. Maria (Azores) we have just 3 weeks in May/June, which means not more than one stopover on the way. This could be Falmouth, where we have been before; weather permitting I would prefer to anchor for one or two nights in the Scillies.
Boat draws 2.1 m, we have an excellent modern anchor with 60 m chain and 60 m rope and of course a tender with o/b. Looking for save and nice anchorage, pub in reach and ideally some place to buy fresh food. Thank you for your recommendations!

Michael

 

[KINGFISHER 8]

Between New Grimsby on Tresco, and Bryher ... or ... Porth Conger or The Cove, St.Agnes, wind direction depending.

 

[Mike_Alpha]

Between New Grimsby on Tresco, and Bryher ... or ... Porth Conger or The Cove, St.Agnes, wind direction depending.

Thank you,
had a look on Google earth - one of these places should be fine in any wind.
Lots of yachts on the photos by the way, must have been taken in high season!

 

[Gwylan]

Isles of Scilly

It is the time of the year to start planning next summer's cruise. We like to move our boat from the Baltic to the Azores (and further to the Canneries for the winter). Still being wage slaves we will have to do this in stages; for the trip from Amsterdam to St. Maria (Azores) we have just 3 weeks in May/June, which means not more than one stopover on the way. This could be Falmouth, where we have been before; weather permitting I would prefer to anchor for one or two nights in the Scillies.
Boat draws 2.1 m, we have an excellent modern anchor with 60 m chain and 60 m rope and of course a tender with o/b. Looking for save and nice anchorage, pub in reach and ideally some place to buy fresh food. Thank you for your recommendations!

Michael

Look out for Scilly Pete - he has endless advice and a very nice book on the islands.
At 2,1m you will need to be careful in many places and have the echo sounder calibrated correctly.
Watch the weather forecast and be ready to move

Take the majority of supplies you might need, there are small shops, fresh vegetables are on sale from little stalls on the islands.
Diesel, gas and petrol are expensive and only really available in St Mary's - so stock up before you get there.
Water can be a problem too, again you can fill up in St Mary's but other accessible water points are harder to find.
Wine is expensive.
Moorings generally free so that's a bonus.

Off Bryher in Greenbay
Portcressa - on St Mary's
Between St Agnes and Gugh the south side
The south side of St Martin's

 

[snowleopard]

The important thing to remember about the Scillies is that there is no one anchorage that suits all wind directions. You must keep your options open until you have a reliable forecast.

 

[Mike_Alpha]

Hi Gwylan,
very helpful informations there, thanks!
Will not need diesel and make our own water, but vegetables (maybe meat too) for the next couple of weeks to the Azores would be welcome.
The deeper keel of our new boat makes navigation more interesting, indeed (used to have 1.6 m).

 

[Gwylan]

Not the greatest choice for supplies, that's all - there is only one 'super market' on St Mary's and the rest are small shops and not always the greatest choice or bargain prices.

If you stop at Newlyn or Penzance - effectively the same, then there is a Lidl that will supply everything you might need.

Try this for the best guide to the Scilly Isles - http://www.gibsonsofscilly.co.uk/onlineshop.htm

Or, not used by us but found in the pilot book pile
Title Isles of Scilly
Volume 5 of South England pilot
Authors Robin Brandon, John Garey, Royal Cruising Club (Great Britain). Pilotage Foundation, Fay Garey
Edition 4, illustrated, revised
Publisher Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson, 1999
ISBN 0852884117, 9780852884119

or, really nice and useful for the south coast of the UK - now updated I think but the old one is recommended

"West Country cruising companion: a yachtsman's pilot and cruising guide to ports and harbours from Portland Bill to Padstow, including the Isles of Scilly [Book] by Mark Fishwick in Books

By Mark Fishwick - Nautical Data (2001) - Paperback - 256 pages - ISBN 0333904540

And finally

The Admiralty or Imray portfolio of charts for the Isles of Scilly - you can generally see everywhere, it's all so close. But it is useful to know the charted depths and the route to a point is not always a straight line from where you are

Or, if you want to meet the postage and promise to mail them back to me then I could lend them to you.

 

[Mike_Alpha]

Not the greatest choice for supplies, that's all - there is only one 'super market' on St Mary's and the rest are small shops and not always the greatest choice or bargain prices.

If you stop at Newlyn or Penzance - effectively the same, then there is a Lidl that will supply everything you might need.

Try this for the best guide to the Scilly Isles - http://www.gibsonsofscilly.co.uk/onlineshop.htm

Or, not used by us but found in the pilot book pile
Title Isles of Scilly
Volume 5 of South England pilot
Authors Robin Brandon, John Garey, Royal Cruising Club (Great Britain). Pilotage Foundation, Fay Garey
Edition 4, illustrated, revised
Publisher Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson, 1999
ISBN 0852884117, 9780852884119

or, really nice and useful for the south coast of the UK - now updated I think but the old one is recommended

"West Country cruising companion: a yachtsman's pilot and cruising guide to ports and harbours from Portland Bill to Padstow, including the Isles of Scilly [Book] by Mark Fishwick in Books

By Mark Fishwick - Nautical Data (2001) - Paperback - 256 pages - ISBN 0333904540

And finally

The Admiralty or Imray portfolio of charts for the Isles of Scilly - you can generally see everywhere, it's all so close. But it is useful to know the charted depths and the route to a point is not always a straight line from where you are

Or, if you want to meet the postage and promise to mail them back to me then I could lend them to you.

Nice offer, Gwylan!
I'll try to buy one of those guides; thank you very much again!
Michael

 

[jimi]

If there is a lot of swell around then it can be difficult to get an entirely peaceful stay!

 

[DanTribe]

A little snippet of conversation overheard in the Atlantic pub St Mary's.

"Are there any more flights due in today ?"

" I hope not, I'm the Air Traffic Controller!"

Super place, Went on the Scillonion but planning to return on my own boat soon.

 

[Spuddy]

I like tha idea of Canneries as a destination. Could stock up on sardines.

 

[Mike_Alpha]

I like tha idea of Canneries as a destination. Could stock up on sardines.

 

[TiggerToo]

If there is a lot of swell around then it can be difficult to get an entirely peaceful stay!

true, but you are in paradise

 

[jhr]

Have a look here, though it degenerates into Scilly-ness

 

[Sybarite]

Thank you,
had a look on Google earth - one of these places should be fine in any wind.
Lots of yachts on the photos by the way, must have been taken in high season!

Between New Grimsby and Bryher might be delicate with a 2.1m draft. You don't have a lot of choice for this depth at low tide.

I prefer Porth Cressa which is well sheltered from the prevailing winds but be prepared to move if the wind blows between S and E.

 

[simon barefoot]

Fantastic cafe at porthcressa- Dibble and Grub.
The owner, Gareth, also runs a deli, which may help with supplies.

 

[DanTribe]

Fantastic cafe at porthcressa- Dibble and Grub.
The owner, Gareth, also runs a deli, which may help with supplies.

Yes v.good food.
Based in the old fire station, older folks will understand the name.

 

[Mike_Alpha]

Good morning,

thank you to everyone for the good advice! And thanks to jhr for the lovely pictures that started my interest in this destination a few monthes ago.

Seems that I will have to buy a book and some charts now!

 

[Scillypete]

Good luck with your voyages. If you do make it to Scilly where you can anchor safely will depend much on the weather and tides at the time, especially with your draft. Some of the more comfortable and secure anchorages are not that close to pubs or shops, however, if the conditions are in your favour then Porthcressa fits the bill being close to town on St Mary's. Pubs, there are plenty to stagger between, but as for topping up with fresh food you are truly limited. There is a local produce market held in the town hall about once a month but do not expect to pay cheap supermarket prices as the veg is good quality and indeed never been anywhere near a chiller so will be longer lasting. The farmers can be contacted to obtain veg in between markets. It used to be available at the butchers come grocers but he has now closed down, maybe the local producers will get together and sort out a shop for themselves but don't expect it anytime soon. The only real alternative is the Co-op where the shelves can be stripped of the fresh goods in a matter of hours of them being delivered by the freighter.
Other anchorages you may consider would be, The Cove St Agnes, Watermill cove St Mary's, St Helens pool, Outside the harbour limits between Newford island and Taylors island and New Grimsby as previously mentioned. There are many others but you would need to be here for at least a couplle of weeks to explore them all.