050:07.039 N

005:31.808 W

Penzance and Land’s End

Bit of a mini-adventure today, we took a bus ride to Land’s End to check out the rock situation off the corner.  We could eyeball the Isles of Scilly beyond the Longships Lighthouse, it felt good to see this area ahead of sailing it, and it has eased our minds ahead of going there in a few days’ time.

The constant shipping passing up and down the gap was steady, the impressive swell and white crests grew as we watched the tide turn and felt the wind increase, it felt good to be on terra firma today.

We returned along the coastal path to stop for a pasty, a cuppa and local ice cream; we found a spot above stunning Sennen Beach with its white sands and bright green sea, such a beautiful and dramatic coastline.

We jumped off the bus in Newlyn to visit the Harbour Office. We need to move there for the night before heading off as being locked in here at Penzance doesn’t give the full tidal boost to get to the Isles of Scilly. It was absolutely howling there, the spume from the waves hitting the harbour wall reaching about 50ft high.

The noise in the rigging of the fishing boats and handful of yachts sheltering there was daunting, and it isn’t much better here in Penzance this evening; we’ve just recorded 50 knots on our windex despite being in the lee of the Penzance Harbour Office.  

It was interesting to see the repositioned Penlee Lifeboat Station now in Newlyn. We vividly recall the lifeboat disaster in 1981, and remember our parents being so shocked and in miserable solidarity with the Mousehole community, knowing then, as we do now, the Yarmouth lifeboat crew so well. We remember them struggling to contemplate the Mousehole loss.

Apparently, the wind will peak this evening… we’re so happy to be tied securely to a concrete wall.