29/06/18 Change of Plan
Saro's Gyda
Derrick Thorrington
Sun 8 Jul 2018 15:57
Although we had
abaondoned the OCC Azores Rally through lack of wind, we still had a desire to
see some of the islands. At this point we were poised behind Finisterre and
the wind had suddenly started blowing beautifully from the NE in a very
settled manner. Unfortunately, the following day we had some bad news from home
and felt that we needed to be more on hand should it be necessary to return
quickly. A quick look at the Biscay forecast and we were off. Not to the Azores,
but to Scilly, 450NM to the north!
The passage was
variable with winds mainly from northerly and westerly directions so alot of the
time we were close hauled but making fast progress. Once again we were
accompanied for a large portion of time by playful common dolphins. Always
lovely to see. We arrived 3 1/2 days later in the mist, just making out the
Bishop lighthouse at end of the western rocks. We followed the coast around
St Mary's to one of our favourite anchorages, Watermill Cove and settled in for
a well deserved sleep.
I needed to get
home, the flights were all cancelled for the next 2 days due to
the forecast of poor visibility. There was space on the Scillonian ferry
for the next 2 days but this didn't get into Penzance until the evening, leaving
insuffiecient time to get home by train. We decided to sail. The wind was good
so we sailied on the evening tide and anchored off Penzance just before
midnight. The following morning D dropped me off on the quay. He then returned
to Scilly for a few days whilst I went home by rail. (Travel is so much easier
in a country that you know!)
After 5 days apart
we decided to rendezvous at Padstow. D started from St Ives at mid morning and I
started from home at the same time. A car, 3 trains and a bus later, I
arrived in Padstow at exactly the same time as D. The travel was completed by a
dinghy ride to Saro's Gyda, anchored in the beautiful sandy Camel
Estuary.
The Camel Estuary
from Pentire Head
Although the estuary
is beautiful and Padstow itself it very quaint, we felt that it was spoiled by
its reputation of being the "Place to go" for food by Rick Stein. It was very
busy and seemed to have lost it's character being full of the normal shops (all
my favourites, I have to admit) such as Seasalt, Joules, Crew etc and a host of
souvenir/tack shops. We decided to go over Doom Bar early and anchor off the
surfing mecca of Polzeath. There was no surf of course as the wind was in the
east.
Polzeath minus
surf
Thank goodness for
paddle boards. Holiday makers at Polzeath were still having a lovely time on the
water!
Since arriving back
in the UK the previous week, we had had wall to wall sunshine. So beautiful
compared to N Spain. We made the most of the weather with a lovely walk around
Pentire Point, followed by a Pasty, and (only me of course) a swim back to the
boat.
Pentire Head looking
towards the "Rumps". (A certain person found this name
appealing!)
Ahh. (I WAS sitting
on a lower rock!)