The start of ‘Demelza’s’ return to Cornwall – Gordon Ogden’s report

Members will remember that last year Ros Bennet started her ‘Cornish Crabber Challenge’ in aid of the Bristol charity ‘for-ethiopia’, involving sailing her Cornish Crabber ‘Demelza’ from home, at St Just in Roseland, near Falmouth, along the south coast, up the Thames then along the Kennet and Avon canal to Bristol for the winter. This year the ‘circumnavigation of the south of England’ will be completed by taking ‘Demelza’ back round Land’s End to her home port.

Gordon crewed for Ros on the first leg from Bristol heading for Padstow on June 7th. It was calm with no wind at the start and they motored past Weston-super-Mare. Then, instead of the forecast NE wind a WSW F5-6 blew up. A wind like this against the tide in the Bristol Channel makes for impossible sailing conditions in a small yacht, and they gave up when near Minehead and returned to Watchet, where a very helpful Harbour Master assisted with mooring. Conditions were still unfavourable next day and they left the boat at Watchet and came home.

You can follow Ros’ progress from her blog on http://cornishcrabberchallengeblog.wordpress.com

Ros reached Padstow on Tuesday June 16.