Month: August 2022

Overt the last couple of weeks we have gone back and forth a bit between Plymouth, Helford and Falmouth, but yesterday Thu 25 Aug we finally arrived in the Isles of Scilly. We have dropped anchor in Porth Cressa on the South side of St Mary’s and plan to move again on Saturday. Going back a couple of weeks we arrived in the Helford to be greeted by the Red Arrows.

We spent an enjoyable week in the Helford as the weather gradually broke. We managed to do lots of geocaching, visited the NT garden at Glendurgan (and completed the maze). On the beach at Helford Sophie found a ‘Mermaid’s Purse’ – more specifically the leftover egg-case from Sharks and Rays. Following our detective work and a visit to the National Aquarium in Plymouth we think this one is from a Spotted Ray. Not to be outdone I found a complete Scallop, the shell being about the size of my palm. Just about big enough to eat, but we decided that it could become a bigger Scallop, and 1 small one does not go very far.

Getting short of water and needing some supplies before heading to The Scilly Isles we set about finding a marina that could fit us in. (Did I mention that we also wanted to do a big wash of bedding & towels, we still have to do the mundane). Falmouth were too busy, and ultimately returning to Plymouth became the best option – especially as we learnt that the National Firework Championships were occurring on the 17/18 Aug. Additionally, Andy Willet and family were also in Plymouth and it was an opportunity to say Hi. Even better, Andy was moored in Sutton Harbour with a grandstand (well a waterside perfect) view of the display. Wednesday was dry and mild, and the display was amazing. The format is 6 of the best display companies in the UK each out on a 10 min show, 3 displays per night. Each is trying to outdo the other, and at the end a National Champion is crowned.

As the forecast gradually showed some better weather on the way, we started making plans to get back across the bay and on to The Scilly Isles. A trip to Falmouth was enjoyable. Trago Mills was a chaotically wonderful as ever and we had the pleasure of meeting Kaizen and her intrepid crew. Kaizen have been away sailing around the world for the last few years, covering the Covid lock down and numerous other challenges. Falmouth last week was their return evening to the UK and it was a privilege to have dinner and drinks with them. A lot of useful information was gleaned. On the way they sold a boat in Tahiti, got stuck in Australia and bought a boat in New Zealand. Restocked, we departed Falmouth, but a very wet forecast saw us just pop back to the Helford for a night to wait for the sun. Whiling away the time we thought about a spot of fishing and managed to get a decent mackerel. A fresh mackerel starter went down a treat. Both girls gave it a big thumbs up. Then it was off to St Mary’s. The day was sunny, increasingly breezy, but a great dolphin display early on brought a smile to all faces. Finally we made it, anchored in Port Cressa and settled back down to the routine of morning school work and afternoon exploring. There was time before breakfast for Lucy to catch her first fish – mackerel is back on the menu.

Yesterday, Fri 12 Aug we got out the kayaks and explored up the Helford. Our ultimate aim was to use the flooding tide to assist us to Gweek where we would stop, have an evening meal and wait for the tide to turn and use the ebb to take us back to our boat. Gweek is about 3 miles upstream of our position in the Helford.

First stop though was the picturesque Frenchman’s Creek, evocatively brought to life in the novel of the same name by Daphne Du Maurier. The creek itself is about half a mile long and once through the entrance the steep wooded sides quickly enclose you and remove all of the bustle of the pleasure boats on the river. Nestled away in the small nooks and crannies are the remains of once large sailing barges – maybe one of these was rotting away when Daphne Du Maurier passed this way. The girls are now reading the novel, and we will get them to write a short comparison of their memories of the creek compared to the description in the novel. Should cover the English home schooling for a week or so.

After our exploration, we then continued up river via Tremayne Quay and Boat House – built in 1847 in preparation for a visit to Trelowarren by Queen Victoria. Unfortunately the royal barge never made it, but it is now NT property and the quay has public access. After a bit of exploring and geocaching we continued on our way to Gweek. Arriving at the hamlet it is daunting seeing all the large barges and classic boats towering over you. Eventually we found our way to the bridge and set off to get food at the pub – before we were distracted and diverted by the Friday Pizza Van. Every Friday in Gweek the Pizza Van parks by the village green and serves up scrumptious pizzas and garlic bread. Opposite was the lovely village shop that had amazing homemade cakes/cookies and yummy ice creams – dinner and pudding in one place, all sat by the river with the swans, cygnets and other happy holiday makers.

After a tiring paddle home (albeit with tidal assistance) a very tired family (about 7 miles kayaking) returned to Valent in time for an amazing moonrise.

Finally we managed to pack up our house in Woking and get away. After numerous trips to the tip, charity shops and neighbours, not to mention posting parcels to various friends, we have escaped. We got down to Valent on Monday 1 Aug, and then it took us a further few days to get everything stowed away in various nooks and crannies. Valent is now well stocked, and on Thursday we finally set sail – only not for the Canaries and our trip.

Unfortunately it has become apparent that Valent needs to have a couple more items addressed, 1 of which is potentially a safety critical item. In order to get this work done we will need to return to Southampton around 9 Sep and Valent will get 2 weeks of focussed attention from Andy Willett and his team. The main item is possible stress fractures in the bolts securing the foredeck plate. These are responsible for keeping the forestay attached to the front of the boat, and ultimately for stopping the mast from falling into the sea. The second item is some delamination in the upper deck – not safety critical, but good to address now before it leads to water ingress (particularly as it is above our bed).

So, instead of a leisurely trip across Biscay, down the Spanish coast and across to The Canaries, we are having a 5 week South Coast/Channel Island cruise before returning to Southampton. On completion of the work we will be ready to depart pronto around the end of Sep. This will make for a rapid trip across to warmer climes, with the aim to arrive in The Canaries by 24/25 October.

In the meantime, we are enjoying this wonderful summer and have so far spent an uncomfortable night in Worbarrow Bay (near Portland), a very pleasant few days in Salcombe and are currently in Plymouth, departing tomorrow, Wed 10 Aug. Our plan is to keep going West and aim for the Helford River/Falmouth and possible The Scilly Isles.

In the meantime I keep fixing the little things – the outhaul block split, the galley pipework sprang a leak and we needed a catch enhancing so we can lock the cooker in place.

For those interested in knowing where we are at any time, please take a look at the new page added, “How to follow us at sea”.