Page 22 - Yachter Autumn 2021

22 CRUISING REPORTS
INDIAN SUMMER
SAILING
Sitting inside on a dull and wet June Mid-summer’s day, I start to recall being back in Fowey reading on the deck of La Ina in the warmth of last September’s afternoon sunshine. It had felt like paradise after the restrictions we had experienced due to the COVID-19 global pandemic earlier in the year.
After a demanding two-week sailing trip in August, during which we had to sit out two storms, and were not able to go ashore for long in Fowey and Falmouth, Nathan and
I decided that we should head to Cornwall again.The weather forecast was set fair for at least a week when we left Southampton. It was looking good for a more relaxed trip away.
Our first port of call was Beaulieu River. It was our first visit of the year to Gins.We were blessed with sunshine and were able to sit outside and have a socially distanced drink with fellow members.That evening on our return to the boat moored on the river we watched the sun go down over this beautiful place.
The next day dawned with blue skies and sunshine. After lunch at the Yacht Club, we jumped in the dinghy and headed up to
Buckler’s Hard to do the walk from there to Beaulieu village. It was the first real test for our new electric e-propulsion outboard. It is so quiet and more efficient than the dodgy petrol outboard we owned previously.
An early start on Monday morning
saw us heading out of Beaulieu River and The Solent with the flood tide to Fowey.
It was another lovely day with little wind. Fortunately, we picked up some wind in the early evening, and were able to sail for some time with the sails poled out into a watery sunset across Lyme Bay.The wind did not hold though and we spent a good deal of the rest of the passage under motor. By
the time we were heading up towards the entrance to Fowey Harbour the sea was like glass. However, we were rewarded with the sight of dolphins.
As we nosed our way into Fowey, we
were lucky to pick up a mooring opposite the town. It was a lot quieter than August. After a morning downpour, it soon cleared and the sun came out. In fact it was even warm enough for shorts! A quick study of the weather for the next few days resulted in us deciding to not move further west
to Falmouth until at least Friday. Strong Easterlies with gusts of over 30 knots were forecast for the next few days. However, it would remain warm and sunny this time despite the wind.
Over the next three days we ventured ashore each day in the dinghy to walk the South West Coast Path. One day we walked from the main town of Fowey westwards along the coast to the attractive Polridmouth Cove with its sandy beach.Another day saw