Long weekend from Falmouth, April 29 ­ May 2 – report by Bernard Smyth

Skipper: Bill Thomas. Crew: Becky Goddard, Ceri Russell, Lesley Reed, Martin Woollett and Bernard Smyth.

Winds F5-7

We were shunted to a different boat, You-Go, a Bavaria 36, because there had been an engine fire on our booked yacht, New Recruit. This gave us a bit more room, but the boat was a bit ‘tired’ with leaking hatches, although it sailed well enough.

After arriving at teatime on Friday we motored to the Helford River to a buoy and had fish pies brought by Becky, who catered extremely well yet again. Oh, and one or two glasses of wine. There was thunder and lightning that evening with an accompanying downpour.

The next day we spent some time giving the new members some boat handling practice in the Helford and going on to buoys under power. The plan was to sail to Fowey but when we set off next day, tacking out of the Helford, reefed in, it was a bumpy ride and two at least crew members felt queasy so we headed for St Mawes to moor for lunch. Afterwards, we blasted up and down the Carrick Roads a few times - with two reefs in the main and half the genny rolled away, taking advantage of the strong north-easterly wind and the comparatively calm sea conditions. You-Go managing a very respectable 7+ knots through the water at times.

We spent the night at the Falmouth visitors¹ pontoons and had an excellent dinner at a seafood restaurant recommended by the skipper, the Seafood Bar, just near the marina exit.

On the Sunday we sailed close-hauled with only half a genny to Turnaware on the river Fal and motored on up the Truro river to Malpas, as far as you can go upriver by yacht. It was an interesting new trip for some of us. After lunch we did some pontoon bashing before heading to Falmouth for dinner in the marina restaurant and a restless night as the weather worsened, all set for the Bank Holiday Monday. We handed back the clean boat at 10am and some of the crew had a horrendous car trip back to Bristol via a clogged M5.

But all in all it was an enjoyable trip with what the skipper called ‘challenging’ conditions and the only other disappointment was that Ceri did not get a chance to wear the bikini she was alleged to have taken with her! The skipper managed to wear his shorts twice though! The older members hope that the newbies enjoyed themselves and will come on future trips.