Day 9 Thursday 24 May Falmouth to Newlyn

Vega
Irving & Cate Benjamin
Thu 24 May 2012 18:11

Benj slipped our berth while Cate snoozed on at 0750, to catch the tide round The Lizard, in a light haze which soon burnt off to a full sunny day with wall-to-wall blue sky. I thought our wind instrument must have failed as it registered zero for the first time, but it became quickly apparent that that was an accurate reading, and one which persisted all day.  So we motored along happily for 6 hours, clearing The Lizard's overfalls by a safe 3M, and taking turns one hour on one hour off watching for fishing pots.  Difficult decisions awaited regarding the need to refuel (I should have done it in Falmouth) for the long haul to Padstow next day: Penzance has fuel on the quay, but you can only get to it close to HW (which would be 1800), while Newlyn can provide diesel, but only in jerry cans from the Harbour Master.  We tried to raise either port by VHF and by mobile phone, but with no response, so we made a snap decision and entered the very busy fishing harbour at Newlyn at 1330.   A long trek found the HM office (but no HM) and eventually a place to buy fuel.  I emptied 20L from our spare jerry can into the tank, and trekked back again for a refill, which I carted down to the pontoon on our folding trolley and filled up with that too.  That would give us enough fuel for at least 48 hours motoring if needed.  The next and more tricky dilemma was how to achieve the passage to Padstow (60+ miles) so as to avoid foul tide round Land's End and to arrive at the dreaded DOOM BAR (like the beer) at Padstow harbour close to high water.  Actually whichever way you do it the sums don't quite add up, so compromises are needed.  The other factor is that while the weather is lovely today and set fair for tomorrow, by Saturday it is supposed to be seriously sh***y, so we need to get to Padstow and hole up there waiting for the long passages to Wales and then Ireland.  After much head scratching, pencil rubbing out, and a word with the coxwain of the RNLI here in Newlyn, I decided to leave at 2200 for our first night sail.  Cate had been to stock up on provisions and we prepared tortellini al' arrabiata (don't think we don't live well aboard Vega) and rested up for the departure.  The rest will be a story for another day. 

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