Salcombe, and on to Dartmouth

A heavy mist hung over Salcombe so we delayed our departure in the hope and expectation that the sun would soon prevail and we would have an enjoyable, sunny sail to Dartmouth with an opportunity to appreciate the coastline. Earlier there had been a mix up with the showers. We had decided to use the ones at Salcombe Yacht Club in preference to those at the end of the pontoon for visiting yacht crews. The yacht club facilities were much better. However, during official closing hours the facilities were made available via a somewhat hidden side passage leading directly to the showers. Safely after leaving Salcombe I learned that certain crew members had not located the correct side passage and had instead forged a way past the bins and in through another door, and in the absence of a clear route to the men’s showers had made use of facilities clearly labelled for the use of ‘ladies who launch’ only; sadly I must add that use of the facilities was made by torchlight too, since the aforementioned facilities were not lit or ‘switched on’. I would like to say that it is not official Blue Star policy to misuse facilities in this way but sometimes you just can’t get the crew!

Anway, the sky had brightened in Salcombe so we resolved to leave. (A good job too bearing in mind the shower debacle!) As we motored (the wind was on the nose in normal Blue Star fashion, so no sailing) clear of the river we set a course past Gammon Head and towards Start Point en route for Dartmouth. It seemed like a lovely sunny day was to pass, but once clear of the river we passed the Nation Coastwatch Institution lookout point at Gammon Head and a heavy mist returned. Visibility was reduced to about 300 yards so electronic navigation, navigation lights and radar were used. We had to stand several miles out from Start Point as there were strong overfalls causing uncomfortable waves closer in. Even at our distance the boat’s motion was very erratic because of the waves. Slowly, in the murk, we inched our way past Start Point (although we could not see it). We had several ‘engagements’ with other vessels – fishing boats, yachts and motorboats) that we ‘saw’ on AIS and radar and manoeuvred to avoid, catching the odd real glimpse of them in the mist as they passed by. Half a mile out of Dartmouth the fog lifted and suddenly we were experiencing a hot sunny day in Dartmouth!

Joke:

When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble.

The Ferry Inn at Salcombe

The mist over Salcombe seemed to be lifting

Motoring out of the river at Salcombe

The NCI lookout at Gammon Head

A sunny day in Dartmouth!