Plymouth long weekend, 13-16 October 2022   – report by Alex Barry

Phil Steele  . Skipper, Geoff Norwood  . Acting Skipper., Alex Barry  . Crew.

Dufour 34 Celtic Flame 2 

After many days of Windguru scrolling, the forecast for the three days sailing solidified to light winds on the Friday and Sunday with a patch of bright red and purples, (F5-6 SW) on the Saturday.

We arrived at Plymouth Yacht Haven on the Thursday afternoon. After unpacking and a G&T on deck we took a short walk to the end of the Mountbatten breakwater and then to the Clovelly Arms via the road, the footpath from the marina being closed. It was apparent that after 50 minutes of waiting our order had been forgotten. Eventually after some frantic kitchen sounds and slamming of oven doors, we were served a somewhat underwhelming meal but washed down with beers and good company.

Back on board with further drinks and revelations of Geoff’s former boat ownership and sailing pedigree, coupled with his desire to obtain skipper hours for Coastal exam, Phil proposed Geoff as acting skipper for the trip which he duly accepted. The play proposed was a servant and two masters.

Saturday we prepared in autumn drizzle, low visibility and zero wind and such was the low hanging over us that it was discussed if it was worth our while heading out at all and not simply going home. However, as sailors and beings of eternal optimism we departed at 09.15, destination Fowey, the servant handing up offerings of mugs of hot tea and bearings through the murk. Outside the harbour Act two found us in a light s/w wind and sunshine, however the uneasy swell brought on the servant’s sickness and retiring below the journey was spent listening to the sounds of unravelling and ravelling up of sails, motor being turned on and off and the confident tones of the acting skipper being followed by the reasoned calm tones of the ancient skipper. We arrived Fowey at 16.30

More early evening drinks served before a better dinner of scallops and fish pie in the Lugger.

Back on board much discussion of the next day’s weather forecast and options, including staying put for the day (as the others on the pontoon had stated their intention), but it was agreed that a following wind on a headsail alone was a reasonable proposal and the southeast forecast for the Sunday would have made returning then more difficult. It was also agreed that 24 hours tied to a pontoon would not give scope to the acting skipper’s full stage potential. Next morning we departed at 8 am, destination Yealm, with the intention of arriving 3 hours before low water.

This was exciting sailing under full genoa alone in sparkling sunshine on a white-capped sea, wind SW F5-6 on the starboard quarter with a 2-3 m swell meant turning the boat downwind to the sets of larger oncoming waves before correcting course which saved much splashing of the original skipper who was comfortably seated on the windward bench. A dolphin was sighted briefly jumping. Boat speed was often over 6 Kn and the boat handled well. The 24 NM trip took just over four hours into Wembury Bay which the acting skipper took us into on a cone bearing on the church. Here we dropped sail and motored into the river via the two porthand buoys, then transits and tied up to the visitor mooring.

With no river taxi running, this left a long interval without a bar. We eventually succumbed to the lure of our own copious supplies and finally dinner where the servant served his premade Boeuf Bourguignon to general appreciation.

The night was wet and windy and interrupted at 3 am by the announcement of a blocked heads. The two skippers set to work whilst the servant slept on or at least pretended to. Success was unattainable and a port of refuge in the form of a bucket on a string was found.

After a quick breakfast we headed out early in still conditions, not before allowing the other visiting boat to practice their fending off skills. Passing the first red buoy adjacent to the sand bar it was noticed that the white theatrical smoke was in fact the real stuff coming from our own engine which had overheated. Quickly turned off, the two skippers, one electrician and a mechanical engineer, disappeared below, leaving the servant to ease the boat away from the adjacent rocks under a rotating windvane with only a foresail and a rudder to assist in the challenge. If there was one place one would not choose to breakdown this was probably it. Luckily a slight following wind and river current did move us out into the bay before a twenty-boat racing fleet left the river, interestingly enough sailing directly over the much-discussed sand bar.

Skippers worked their magic and a replacement impeller fixed the problem. Feeling greatly relieved we hoisted mainsail and sped on to Cawsand further offshore but on the same heading as the racing fleet who passed within what looked like an arm’s length of the Mewstone. Then back via the east entrance into the harbour.

Approaching the Plymouth Yacht Haven Skipper gave sharp instructions that we fend off the dreaded gin palace which was our neighbour and such was the portside concentration that we fell foul to the strong ebb tide and beam wind pushing us onto the starboard boats which allowed him to provide a full demonstration of what he meant by us practising our ‘bumps and scrapes’. A total of 55 NM sailed. 7.5 engine hours. 13 litres diesel used.

With thanks to original skipper Phil who had agreed to come out of winter hibernation for the trip and acting skipper Geoff who has been nominated for an Oscar and tipped for the lead in Impeller 2, the Sequel.