Weekend from Plymouth May 27 – 29 2022  – report by Brian Adams

Skipper: Phil Steele  ’ Crew, Reg Morris   , Alex Barry  , Steve Sawkins  and Brian Adams 

Boat: Bavaria 36 ‘Sea Shanty  ’, chartered from Plymouth Yacht Charter at QAB.

We arrived at 1845 hours after the handover taken by Reg Morris as we got stuck in heavy traffic approaching Avonmouth to Weston-super-Mare with a detour at J23 to pick up Phil at his home. Traffic then eased and flowed all the way through to Plymouth. Handover finished we stowed all our gear to have a briefing and sampled a drop of my home-made cider. The weather forecast was gentle wind speeds SE the next day and veering winds, we discussed our best bet was to visit Salcombe.

I cannot express enough, how everybody on board enjoyed my taste in music. Bruce Springsteen’s Streets of Philadelphia. It was commented on throughout the weekend. Time and time again and again and again, the only problem being, was the timing, 0400 hrs Sat morning when all were fast asleep.it was my alarm call from the previous week for an early flight back from Portugal. Even so I say, a bit of Bruce is good at any time of the day. Alex fell out of his bunk with excitement but Steve and I were the only ones not awakened by it.

Breakfast over we made our way out from QAB into the Sound and exiting the easterly breakwater channel. We gently motored for couple of miles to break out the sails and actually make some way under sail. The wind getting better as we passed Stoke point rising to 10 kts. achieving 4.5 knots speed against 1 kt of tide. Very satisfactory. The wind increased due to sea breeze 14-17 knts, easing the main for a comfortable lunch, the weather remained sunny but cool. High water was at 17:00 therefore we were able to enter Salcombe 1545 took a mooring V7. Oh I must add Reg brought along his new toy, a self-threading boat hook for mooring to a buoy or suchlike. Every boat should have one, (Sea Shanty has one) very successful piece of kit.

We were rafted along-side very nice chap called Roger who making his way to Plymouth tomorrow same as us. He had a beautifully kept Gibsea 37 with many expensive improvements of which he was proud after spending a lot of money - his retirement present to himself after selling his business. Only one improvement necessary was to refurb the galley and change the cooker because his wife wished it and after all it was her domain not his! (his words not ours).

Such a beautiful place Salcombe (£16.50 for mooring), Water Taxi (£1.60) ashore to seek out a restaurant to eat, no joy, all fully booked or no chef at the Ferry Inn and Yacht Club, ended up with fish and chips on the quayside. It goes to show we should all book up well in advance at least a week if possible. Back to boat to finish Reg’s victuals. All in all a great day, good weather and a lovely flat sail.

SUNDAY. Got underway 0800 hrs. raised sails to a north easterly 15 kts of wind. Sailed a broad reach and were making good progress with the tide in our favour. Took a closer look inland to the scenery that brought back happy memories to Alex and his family Christmas behind Bolt Tail. It was nice to see some cliffs with greater detail rather than be offshore a couple of miles where it all blurs into a mass of distant rocks and hills.

A couple of hands on board, namely Alex and Reg, wanted more adventure so I had to don my lifejacket and harness to go on to foredeck to assist Reg and change sail setting to goosewinged making use of the pole on board. I am sure we would not have achieved it , but with Phil’s expertise it went up easily.

We made good way along the coast and sailed around Rame Head to Hope Cove a sheltered bay. Dropped anchor and some lunch with some jet-skis buzzing around.

Up anchor manually, and a good sail back to Queen Anne’s Battery. Refuelled, then alongside to berth 18. We cleaned down the boat and made away from base. The car park fee is now £5.00 per day with the 50% discount from PYC .

Needless to say it was an excellent trip with very good sailing conditions.