Getting Underway

This sailing season, Doug had decreed that we should seek the warmer, southerly climes in contrast to our decidedly chilly sail northwards to the Orkneys last year!

So, having spent the past week preparing and packing everything onto the boat, we left our mooring at Weir Quay on Tuesday 13th June, bound for Falmouth - for Doug to firstly take part in the 2023 Sea Shanty Festival with the "Tavy Tars".

On the way, we moored between 2 buoys for lunch next to the tiny fishing harbour of Polperro - something we had wanted to do for a while but needed this really settled fine weather for.

Then on to Falmouth to join the crowds gathered for the Classic Yachts and Sea Shanty Festival weekend of 16-18th June.

Tavy Tars performing at the Indidog Stage

The Parade of Sail

The Tars completed their fifth and final shanty performance on Saturday evening.  Then on Sunday, we climbed up to the viewing point on Pendennis Point to admire the parade of sail for the classic yachts.

Next day, we said goodbye to our temporary yacht-lodgers and fellow Tars, Carol and Bruce Horner before setting off to sea in light F3 SSW winds.  Taking a punt that we could make it by nightfall, we headed for our destination of the Scillies and arrived at Hugh Town on St Mary's island at 8pm, just before nightfall.

Sunset looking out over the islands from Hugh Town

Our aim this year is to head for the north coast of Spain and then work our way home over the following 90 days (the maximum time allowed in the Schengen Zone under post-Brexit regulations).  However, with southerly winds forecast for the rest of this week, we decided to enjoy a trip to the Scillies while we waited for the wind to change.

View of Hugh Town from a walk to the Garrison on the hill above

I hoisted Doug up the mast to take a look at our misbehaving navigation lights.

Firstly the all-round white anchor light and the tri-colour at the very top:


These were both badly corroded and beyond repair.  Luckily we have other lights lower down that can do the same jobs.

Then down to the lower spreaders to fit a new steaming light with a deck light.  This was successful!


The next day we hoped to dry out alongside the harbour wall to do some hull cleaning before the long sail south but the only 2 suitable places were already taken.  So we chose to head off instead, while the tide was still high enough, on the "overland" route to the anchorage in Old Grimsby Sound off Tresco.

Old Grimsby Sound

The Scillies are a great place to enjoy this sunny weather before the big sail southwards!

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