Back to Falmouth
True Colours
James Scrimshaw
Sat 28 Feb 2015 21:47
Good internet (and good cappuccino) at Melini's, and we managed to book our flights back to the UK arriving 11th May.
With the forecast still showing wind strength and waves increasing right through to next Thursday, we decided yesterday to take True Colours back to Falmouth. After a delayed start - marina lost meter readings and then had their lunch break - we motored around against a wind of mainly 20/25 kn, with occasional gusts of 30. Our speed, initially 7.5, dropped to 6.5 as we turned to the east past Johnson's Point and even with the protection of the reef the sea was fairly rough. Amazing sight, a ray about 60cms span jumping out of the sea; saw it jump once, James called Rosemary when it jumped a second time, and we both saw the third jump.
After passing Carlisle Bay we faced the full sized waves, speed dropped to 4.5kn so more engine revs and we completed the remaining 3 miles in 40 minutes. But not as bad as we feared; although we had a lot of spray and water over the bow and running down the decks, True Colours was only occasionally slamming in them - it seemed that the distance between the waves suited the length of the boat.
Arrived in Falmouth at 15.35, and picked up a mooring reserved for us. Pretty busy on shore last night - prize giving for the RORC Caribbean 600, but it will probably get quieter now as the racers move on.