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The Last Supper (Of the Holiday)

Feeling recovered we set off from Studland on Saturday morning. Without enough tide to take us all the way home, we choose the easy option of stopping for one last night in Newtown River.
We were making good progress so we slowed down for some fishing off Christchurch ledge, and for the first time caught Mackerel as easily as they are supposed to be caught. Every time the line went out we hooked one. So we caught just enough for supper then cracked on under full sail.
The weather even brightened up for our last afternoon lazing around on the boat. (For a bit anyway)--
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Sabbacombe Bay with Lyme Bay stretching out behind.

On arrival in Dartmouth we decided to go up the river to Dittisham. We picked up a blue visitors buoy and settled in for the night. It was lovely and a bit quieter than the pontoons near the town. After a little wander around the village admiring more unaffordable property we went to town for provisions. The plan was to anchor in a bay to be ready for the big push across Lyme Bay. We slowly motored out along the coast at about 4 pm, fishing as we went. Only one unfortunate pollock on this occasion. We anchored for the night at Sabbacombe Sands, which provided an easy straight line route east for a good clearance off Portland Bill, we the massive spring tide we have.
We hatched a plan that involved leaving at 2AM and kept us well off shore and picking up the west bound tide to take us as far as Durlston Head. (Swanage)
The plan worked well, sailing wise anyhow, and we were off at good speed soon after weighing anchor. I enjoyed the night sailing alot, the sky was clear and a good North Westerly and pleasent sea state kept us bowling along nicely. The boat sparkled with flourescens as it cut through the water, and there were literaly hundreds of shooting stars on this moonless night.
Unfortunatly Briony didn't fair too well, and after trying to sleep below, once we were up and running, she felt a bit ill, and then couldn't shake it off for the rest of the trip.
But we made good time only having to report to engine off Peveral Ledge and up into Studland Bay at 3PM, where we are recouparating at anchor.
Probaly back home on Sunday, taking the relaxing option rather than an early start tomorrow.--
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After an excellent day out from Fowey to Goran Haven ewith Jan and Rob, (they got the best weather in August so far) we left Fowey to start back East in ernest, stopping at some of the places we missed on the way out.
It was a very grey and wet day on Monday but we had a good wind behind us and made good speed in the company of quite a few other yachts for most of the trip. We were the only ones who attempted the entrance to the River Yealm however, but the notorious was fine in these conditions, and we found a mooring quite easily in the usually packed river.
We stayed two nights in the Yealm and finaly the mist lifted and we got to see the beautiful suroundings in the sun. The locals also got good conditions for the beer race-a team rowing and drinking race between the three pubs of Newton Ferris and Noss Mayo.
Today started with very fine conditions but has now clouded over a little as we approach Bolt Head. We are heading for Dartmouth, or that area.--
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Here we are in Looe drying out against the wall. Despite the contradictory information in the almanacs this turned out to be quite easy and a lovely spot. The passage here from Mevagissey was a little uncomfortable, with more swell than we've had on the trip so far and we both felt a bit queasy. The weather continues to be disappointingly cloudy, though it is quite warm. We'll be here until the tide lifts us off again and then back to Fowey to meet Mum and Rob tomorrow. --
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Mevagissey - Outer Harbour Blithe Spirit left of pic.

Started Heading back East, as the weather is not as settled as it was last week, with Atlantic depressions consistently tracking across the uk, creating strong winds where they meet the Azores high sitting just South West of Cornwall, so conditions not ideal for a nice time in the Scilly Isles. Were still watching the weather as it looks like the high may take hold on Sunday, but it's getting a bit late for us and it probably won't last, if this weeks is anything to go by.

After Helford we headed back up to Falmouth and up the Fal river, simialar to Helford but used as a home for unemployed ships, due to it's deep water. Quite bizarre to see huge ships in amongst the wooded banks of the river.

We found a nice anchorage in Channels cove at the bottom of the grounds of Tressilick House.

Channels Cove and Tressilick House

The weather on Wednesday was miserable and it convinced us to start heading East, for some of the place we missed on the way down. We chose Mevagissey, which is great as it is not frequented by yachts too often, without many facilities for us either. You either rise and fall on a rough wall or pick up a fore and aft buoy in the centre of the outer harbour. Luckily we got the buoy, which meant we didn't have to tend our lines, and watch our topsides, although it gets quite tightly packed with fishing boats at the end of the day. It seems to have a much larger and more active fishing fleet than alot of much bigger ports we have visited, although many of them prefer to make there money taking tourist trips in season. At least we did get the use of shower with our mooring fee, even if it was the fishermans, next to the bait store on the Fish Quay.

Fish Quay Shower!

As we liked Mevagissey so much we decided to stay another night and spend a day visiting the Lost Gardens of Heligan. We found them, and was pleased to find that the steepish entrance fee seems worth it, and you can easily spend a long relaxing day there. It seemed quite strange spending so long on land, and so far from the sea! (Couple of miles!)

We also found an excellent Portuguese restaurant, making the most of the local seafood.

Helford River

With some strong winds and offshore gales forcast for mid week we delayed out trip to the Scillies as it could get a bit uncomfortable in the anchorages with increased swell from the Atlantic

So we have taken the oportunity to spend a bit of time in the Helford River. We started out with a night in Gillan Creak near the mouth of the River, where I tried out my new bargin fishing rod, as I was just moving the lures beneath the water to see what they looked like, I saw a flash and hooked a reasonable sized Pollack, typical, we had just bought some Mackerel! So the Pollack joined the Mackerel on the barbeque, and I stopped fishing for fear of catching more than we could eat!

On Sunday we moved into the river proper, and found a spot to anchor above the moorings but downstream of the oyster beds, and therefore escaped mooring fees, and also have a perfect view upstream of the river and it's lush wooded banks.

Today fine weather has at last appeared, it being mostly rather grey and wet since Friday, so we have made some explorations of the creaks by dinghy. There seem to be fairly few visitors here, and most of the time we have had the whole river to ourselves. We explored Frenchmans creak, then all the way up to Gweek Quay. The banks of the river don't really feel like England, more like New Zealand where the tiny population has made little impact on large area of forest, as from the river you can only see the odd bit of farmland on hills above the trees, but surely the wood don't extend far before the fields start.

The Relaxing Dinghy Trip!

The head of Frenchmans Creak