In Brixham

It is about 50 miles from Brixham to Weymouth, our next port of call, that is about 10 hours at sea. If things go wrong, or the weather turns bad, you just have to manage the situation or tough it out for several hours that might seem an eternity. So we wait until we are confident of good weather at least and thus here we are still in Brixham. Nuff said.

Yesterday we walked into the town and met Charlie who is re-fitting his old sailing lugger, which has no engine. ‘How do you get it out of the harbour?’ we asked. ‘I drop an anchor over there’ he said, pointing to a position just out from the harbour wall, ‘and haul her off the quay then just raise the sails’. Hhmm. Easy then? ‘What about bringing her back into the harbour, you must need some help for that?’ we asked. ‘Well I just sail her in and run her onto the mud, then let the sea do the rest as the tide comes in’ he answered! Anyway we got ourselves invited aboard Iris to view things from deck level. Iris looks very smart, but apparently there is still much work to do below deck! We retired for coffee and scones at the shop just across from where Iris was berthed. Later we walked to Berry Head and looked out from the cliff-tops over the sea we had sailed in from Dartmouth. Berry Head was fortified from iron-age times but more recently in the 1700s to protect against an invasion attempt by Napoleon. It was also a defence post in WW1 and WW2 and now hosts a lighthouse and radio beacon to assist modern traffic. It also has a coffee shop!

Today was the food and music festival of the sea in Brixham. We took a quick look then made the journey to Dittisham, by bus and river ferry. It is still just as picturesque there as when we last visited. We also spoke with a group of sailors on the table next to us in the Ferry Boat Inn; they were very impressed to hear of our shortly to be completed circumnavigation of GB and asked how they could make a donation to our cause, which was very kind. The marina here in Brixham has also given us a free night which is also very welcome! Thank you Brixham marina. Tomorrow we plan to depart around 0630.

Joke:

Broken pencils are pointless!

Charlie's Lugger, Iris

The crew talking to Charlie

Looking out from Berry Head towards Dartmouth

Old Brixham trawlers ready to take part in the festival

Dartmouth to Brixham

The forecast was for the wind to strengthen during the day so we decided to leave as soon as convenient in order to make our passage before the worst of the weather. First things first though – we motored proudly along the river Dart with our huge ‘Woolcool’ sign showing on our hoisted mainsail! As we motored out of the river the wind died to near nothing, then out in the bay it suddenly rose to force 6; we immediately put 2 reefs in the mainsail and rolled away some of the headsail to wrest back control of the boat which was rolling and yawing rather wildly. That task completed, things were in more control but we still romped away out to sea on a broad reach. The waves were quite high, 2-3m perhaps, and we had to concentrate well to maintain control. After a while we gybed the sails and headed for Berry Head, just off Brixham. The sun shone, and it was exhilarating sailing. After rounding Berry Head we hardened up to reach up towards the marina at Brixham, and after tacking to get a little closer we dropped the sails and motored into the marina. Once in the marina we were visited by a film crew who were making publicity material to appear on the marina website; they filmed Blue Star on a 360 degree view film accessable via the marina website where they said they would put a link to Blue Star's website. They were very impressed by all our sponsor's stickers! We haven't yet wangled a discounted marina berth though!

Joke:
Velcro - what a rip-off!

How to write good:
1. Always avoid alliteration
2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with
3. Avoid cliches like the plague, they're old hat!
4. Comparisons are as bad as cliches
5. Be more or less specific
6. Writers should never generalise
seven. Always be consistent
7. Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous
8. Who needs rhetorical questions?
9. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement

Showing off Woolcool

Belting along in F6!

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!

Plymouth, and onwards to Salcombe

This morning we walked to Plymouth Hoe where we had coffee and scones and fed the birds with our crumbs. We identified the bowling club where Drake played (J) and then continued our walk into the town to get some more supplies. We departed the marina soon after lunch, bound for Salcombe. There was little wind so we didn’t hoist the sails, but the uncomfortable swell that we experienced yesterday was still with us today as we rolled our way along the attractive coastline. We passed Hope Cove where past holidays have been spent, and on into Salcombe where we berthed alongside the town quay pontoon. Woolcool, as represented by Keith, bought dinner out in the nearby restaurant for everyone! Thank you Keith! After dinner we visited the local yacht club for a final evening drink-  and familiarisation with facilities!

Joke:

Plymouth’s a right laugh! Hoe, hoe, hoe!

Keith, with Plymouth Sound behind

Coffee and scones! Yum yum!

The birds help out with the crumbs

Err!? Where Drake used to play?

The coastline, Hope Cove towards the left of the picture

Blue Star on the town quay in Salcombe

Fowey, and on to Plymouth

We left the marina at Penmarlam at 0900 and motored the short distance to the life-boat pontoon in Fowey. After radioing the harbour master we received permission to stay a while and we walked into town and found a coffee (and croissants) shop that looked out over the river. The plan was to sail out to the Eddystone lighthouse on our way to Plymouth, but a damp heavy mist hung over Fowey so we resolved to stay a while longer, postpone the trip to Eddystone and hoped the weather might improve. A local shop selling Cornish pasties beckoned which we felt we should respond to prior to leaving Cornwall. We wondered whether we would come across border guards off the Cornwall-Devon coast? More gloom arrived in the form of a phone call about the cost of a new hot-water tank. Gulp!

After lunch we decided that things might be less grim at sea, as the sky out at sea looked brighter. Once at sea we did find a brighter sky, but the sea state was less than comfortable with a 1.5m swell rolling in on us and causing an uncomfortable motion of Blue Star. We motor-sailed for a while, then the wind dropped to near zero so we took down the sail to stop it slamming from side to side with the motion of the boat. We passed Polperro, and Looe, and eventually the sea state improved. We continued mopping the engine bilge every hour when we made a log entry and plotted our position. We spotted warships far in the distance and speculated which faint silhouette that we saw might be the Eddystone lighthouse. Eventually the murk came down again as we motored past Plymouth break-water. We passed through a lock into Sutton Harbour where we rated the facilities as 9.5/10!

Joke:

I used to be a banker, but then I lost interest.

The marina at Penmarlam near Fowey

Pollux (quite!) was moored opposite the marina

Coffee and croissants in Fowey

Looking out at the murk whilst we had coffee

Blue Star on the pontoon in Fowey

Plymouth breakwater appears out of the mist

Blue Star in Sutton Marina, Plymouth

Boat maintenance and a trip to Fowey

Yesterday's Post

We departed Falmouth with new crew (Chris, Jean-Francois and Keith) mid-morning and motored for a while in the river whilst we identified the source of a water leak into the engine bay. After much groping around and feeling of hoses etc. we concluded that the problem lay with a leaking hot water tank. When the water was heated, by use of the engine or by immersion heater, the pressure built up and the tank leaked. Looking for the source when moored in the marina was impossible however as all seemed well and the bilge remained dry. Earlier Jean-Francois had exercised his skill with self-amalgamating tape applied around one of the electrical leads that passed through the roof at the base of the mast where another leak had manifested itself. That problem seems now to be solved; as for the water tank, we will have a new one installed as soon as we are able to, and in the meantime keep on soaking up the water with cloth!

The sea state was slight and proved comfortable, and the wind was about 10 knots as we sailed out of the Fal bound for Fowey. Several other boats accompanied us, but we couldn’t keep up with them under sail alone. Presently we rolled away the headsail and started the engine. Sandwiches were prepared for lunch. Eventually we passed Gorran Haven and Mevagissey and Charlestown, the latter being a private harbour where training is offered on square rigged vessels that have appeared on TV programmes such as Poldark and The Onedin Line. Fowey soon appeared before us and we motored past the main town into the marina at Penmarlam. J-F and I walked to the pub at the ferry crossing and watched the England. Roger was chef of the day and had prepared a delicious chicken and apricot dinner on our return.

Joke:

A police officer called the station on his radio: "An old lady has shot her husband for stepping on the floor she had just mopped". The Duty Sergeant  replied "Have you arrested her?". "Not yet - the floor's still wet!"

The troublesome hot water tank

Jean-Francois and Keith look out as we pass Gorran Haven

Entering Fowey

In Falmouth

Blue Star has had a 2 week stop over in Falmouth prior to continuing her voyage. In that time I visited with Diane. Cliff and Ash came to stay with us, and also Angie and Keith from Woolcool visited. It was rainy when Diane and I arrived but a lovely rainbow soon gave way to lots of sunny weather. We took the opportunity to explore the River Fal, the Helford River and St Mawes.

New crew arrive this weekend, but the weather forecast isn’t very encouraging! Still, only 2 more weeks of sailing and we will have crossed the finish line!

River Joke:

Mr Thick wanted to cross the river. Mr Tricky shouted to him from the other side: ‘Hey, I’ll shine this torch across the river. All you have to do is walk along the beam of light until you get to this side!’.

‘Do you think I’m thick or something?’ said Mr Thick. ‘I know full well that as soon as I’m half way across you’ll turn the torch off and I’ll fall into the river!’

Diane and the rainbow

The Helford River