Fireworks Trip 5 -7 November 2021 – report by Don Hirst

Skipper: Phil Steele; Crew: Don Hirst, Ewart Hutton, Emilia Langley-Bunce and Harvey Freer.

Boat: Bavaria 36 ‘Sea Shanty’

The crew, Phil, Ewart, Emily, Harvey and Don assembled at QAB on Friday. Three of the crew were treated to a very comprehensive handover brief from David Franklin. We are getting known now, the previous 4 hour handover was halved.

The second priority was to book an evening meal for the crew which proved problematical. The Waypoint Marina bar took last orders at 8pm. We could not guarantee a full crew by that time so we sought restaurants on the far side of Sutton Harbour, which worked more adult hours and still had vacancies. Newly opened Platters was found just short of the Dolphin. The food was good and plenty of it.

On the way back to the boat we saw the Fireworks. Trip objective achieved. We had post-meal drinks, safety brief and sailing planning. David’s suggestion that he was not concerned about getting the boat back on time on Sunday as he did not have a charter Monday spawned the idea to “Go easy early” to break tradition with Westerlies to head west first. instead to go east to allow new crew to bond under easy conditions. This was the first sail with BSA for new members Emilia and Harvey.

Saturday started with a contradictory forecast for WSW Force 5 gusting 7, two forces higher than previous forecast. The consensus was to still head for Salcombe. The sail was lovely using Genoa only on a broad reach. We were escorted part way by a pod of Dolphins. Towards the end conditions livened up with Force 7 squalls. Nevertheless we arrived an hour early to cross the Bar and anchored by depth, on reflection slightly too close to the Bar, but well within limits on a rising tide. While at anchor the boat did drag anchor slightly when hit by a squall, the soft sand did not make for a good hold. Learning Point Anchor to seaward side of the large isolated detached house on the west bank. Make sure you can clearly see the leading line before attempting the bar, binoculars are required in daylight. We motored to the Normandy landing pontoon for an easy walk ashore, which we had pre-arranged with the harbour master. Normally mooring overnight is not permitted and enforced in high season. The Pontoon is cross tide. Care is needed on a fast-flowing incoming tide as it can wash you off particularly if it has the help of the remains of an unhelpful Force 7 Westerly Squall. Putting a centre line ashore first is well worth it. It was suggested in Plymouth that visitor mooring buoys were readily available and a dinghy could cross to shore in the absence of water taxis, which are unavailable in winter. At the time we observed that the water could move very fast. One would be well advised to check the state of tide before making outward and return crossings in a dinghy

Learning from experience we set out to find an eatery at 6 pm. The closest one was full as was the next one. Panic was setting in. We finally found The Ferry Inn, (turn left at the end of the pontoon, follow the main road, look to left). we dislodged two customers and took the last places. The meal was excellent, well worthy of being put on the BSA approved list.

Sunday was initially forecast as being more challenging than Saturday however the weather gods seemed to be having a day off and there was even the unthinkable prospect of motoring back, however, soon after clearing Bolt Head the wind settled to a N W Force 3 giving an easy close-hauled sail to Cawsand Bay for a slightly late lunch on anchor. During lunch, as is not unknown to BSA, the other yachts left to be replaced on the breakwater side by a frigate keeping an eye on us. Hint taken we refuelled, cleaned and left the boat at 8 PM after thanking the Skipper for a super trip.