050:05.790 N
005:06.830 W

Frenchman’s Creek, Helford River

We sat in the cockpit last night gripped by the haunting sound of Tawny owls that began about an hour after sunset. They’ve just started again this evening, such a classic haunting sound.

There was plenty going in the River today, the pirate ship “Johanna Lucretia”, the stunning flagship of The Island Trust based in Plymouth taking young people to sea had a full compliment of crew being shown the ropes. She then headed off and raised her sails at the entrance to the River, a very impressive sight. Behind her was a familiar scene of lots of kids sailing Pico dinghies up and down the beach, home from home.

We’ve spent the day at this beautiful anchorage in the Helford River and wanted to visit Frenchman’s Creek. After looking at both the Almanacs and Google Earth, it was obvious we had to visit at high water, there’s a lot of mud at low water.

There are two anchorages in the River near the entrance where we are, then heading up stream are 100’s of permanent and visitor moorings off Helford Village and the Sailing Club. A third space for anchoring leads up to a row of yellow marker buoys indicating the start of Oyster beds and no further anchoring permitted.

As a result, once past the yellow markers, the River is absolutely clear of moored yachts and the place opens up. Frenchman’s Creek is a tributary off this part of the River and is a beautiful stretch of water with huge deciduous trees stretching right down to the water’s edge.

Having arrived at the entrance by outboard, it only felt right to row up the Creek as once inside it was incredibly peaceful; difficult to imagine we were only a short way from 100’s of moored yachts.

Buzzards flew overhead, an Egret perched high up on the branch of a dead oak had its beady eye watching us paddle past, Oystercatchers squabbled in the trees, House Martins and Swallows darted above us and Pigeons could be heard answering to each other across the water way. We heard a crashing and saw a Grey Squirrel running over a fallen tree crossing the narrow stretch of water, then we heard a splash and realised it must have fallen in…. did it mean to do that…..do they swim!?

It was fun to visit the Creek having read Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel many decades ago, time to re-read it when we get home.

We returned to TC via the “Shipwrights”, a bustling pub right on the water’s edge with fabulous views out across the River. The floor was still rocking after our very rolly Sunday and two rocky anchorages since.

Beautiful evening light lit up Wednesday evening racing, and just now the fourth full moon of our trip has just risen, rounding off a beautiful day.