Monday 26th July Plymouth to Fowey
A change of crew today – first time I had sailed Purrfect Tale without Gillian. It was a strange feeling. Mark Spicer was joining today. We had first met at the Royal Naval Staff College Greenwich as long ago as 1989. Mark is a Royal Marine who after leaving the Services worked in NATO HQs in Brussels where our paths again crossed for a couple of years. We had agreed to meet up around 0730 at Sutton Marina – I should have been clearer on which marina I was in given the large number in Plymouth. Mark and Jan ended up at Queen’s Battery. After a confusing conversation of I am one Pontoon C35 and a puzzled repose of ‘I can’t see you’, we did together well in time for departure.
We had timed our departure for around 1000hrs. This was a little early for the turn of the tide, but meant we got a hassle free departure through the lock which was in free flow until 1040hrs. The start time was set for 1100hrs but in the end we all crossed the start line a little early. We (Purrfect Tale and Klarisa) decided to sail as much as we were able. The rules of the race allow you to use your engine up to 50% of your total transit time. it was a short trip of around 24 miles and we usually work on an average speed of 5kts. Mark had the helm for the majority of the journey and apart from dodging marked and unmarked lobster pots it was an easy and enjoyable sail. We passed fairly close inshore to Looe before turning into Fowey itself.
By the time we got in the wind had got up significantly. we did have a pontoon to ourselves for the Rally but not connected to the shore. As we came into the harbour we turned to starboard (right) towards Pont Pill. It gets shallow quite quickly and the advice was to reverse onto the pontoon rather than risk going further up river and grounding whilst trying to turn. All went well until……….
Purrfect Tale is perfect in reverse providing you keep speed on. As soon as the speed comes off, the bow is lost. We reversed at speed and it was all looking great until I took speed off too early when we the shore lines were on the pontoon but we were not near enough for a turn to be taken around the cleats. Hence we ended up with a stern line on and a bow swinging away which could not be brought in. Dudley stepped in and made the right call to let go all lines and we went around and came in again from the top of the pontoon and forward. For Mark’s first coming alongside it was not the greatest demonstration of seamanship by me! But as they say – any landing is a good landing. Once we were alongside Claribel joined us and it was great to see them again as they had not made it to Plymouth. With their usual energy, SUPs were immediately inflated and all 3 children were exploring the river.
We have a couple of ducks which are handed out to individual boats for eventful events! Purrfect Tale received hers that evening as a result of the entertaining parking. We looked after her well for the rest of the trip.
Tuesday 27th July – Fowey
We had been to Fowey previously – pre-pandemic – when it was heaving with people. Whilst busy it was not quite so frenetic. We wandered ashore as we had volunteered to host the last pontoon party when we got to Falmouth the following day. Having caught the water taxi – discovering that in Fowey cash is still king requiring a quick dash to the cashpoint – we found Sarah having a quite breakfast by herself. We immediately scuppered that and joined her for a generous portion of scrambled eggs, bacon and soda bread, probably spoiling her only solitude of the day! Shopping completed – pork pies, sausages, some dips bought we wandered around Fowey which without the streets being packed was a very pleasant small town. I was tempted at one of the shops that sold old nautical lamps to buy a ‘port’ lantern as one of the prizes for the Summer Racing Cruise. For those familiar with cycling you will know that there is the Lanterne Rouge award for the last cyclist home in the Tour de France. I was not quite sure how this would be taken so hesitated – although it would have guaranteed me a prize this year!
Mark in the afternoon took out the dinghy and electric outboard to test its abilities around Fowey harbour. Having sat in the dingy and got soaked on a number of occasions I was not in a hurry to join him. He spent an hour exploring both harbour and the occupying boats and came back with a large smile on his face and surprisingly was dry!
The evening we had drinks at the Royal Fowey Yacht Club which overlooked the harbour. Absolutely delightful and we were made most welcome. Following this a meal at the The Ship Inn. The portions were enormous. I though I had ordered a light starter of crab but this turned out to be battered crab and significantly more batter than crab. I was intending to have a small bowl of mussels as a main but as everyone else was going for a large portion I let myself be persuaded. These were never finished!
However nearly the entire day was dominated by a discussion on the weather and wind strength. The original intention was to leave around 1100hs or later to catch the west flowing tide. The forecast for winds was one that saw their strength increasing throughout the day up to 22+kts and gusts of 30kts. Hence all came to the conclusion that a 0600 start would be best to get into Falmouth before the worst of the wind arrived.
Purrfect Tale 