Page 21 - Yachter Spring/Summer 2021

said our goodbyes, we headed out into the fog-bound Channel for Fowey, with the newly washed radar keeping a look out.The sun started to breakthrough as we ambled along the coast passing Hope Cove. Onward to the River Erme where we dropped anchor off Mothecombe beach for lunch. As the sea breeze filled in, we continued westwards around Rame Head, glanced into Polperro (far too busy) so motor-sailing we made for Fowey, picking up a convenient mooring off Pont Pill.
The following day we went ashore for supplies, watered at the lifeboat pontoon and self-serviced fuel from the pilot boat berth. Fowey was left astern whilst meandering
our way toward St Mawes via Mevagissey, Port Mellon (the home of our friend George’s lugger Percy Mitchell) to Gorran Haven for lunch.Then we set off around Dodman Point to Caerhays, Port Holland and anchored off Port Loe.The intention was to buy ice creams – disappointment,
the shop had closed ten years ago, the pub
was open but declined to sell ice cream
and it seemed cornettoes were beneath the standards of the Slipway Hotel. So onward, but before passing through the Gull Rock passage, we visited the cove where the (raunchy) ‘Camomile Lawn’ was filmed, and inadvertently steamed into a floating pot
line. It snagged between the hull and both rudders, luckily engaging neutral before
it fouled the prop. Nigel neatly hooked
the line with the boathook, then cut it, unthreaded from the beneath the boat
and tied it all back together again – easy! Well, it is when flat calm.We motored on, passed Nare Head and the posh hotel of
the same name (ice creams? probably not). By the time we reached Portscatho the ice cream van was just heading up the lane! So, having rounded St Anthony’s Head, a quiet mooring was found off St Mawes.
Next day, needing to do a routine oil change we motored over to Falmouth, mooring off the Royal Cornwall, then took the dinghy up to Penryn to find a filter and oil. Messy job done, we had a pleasant sunny afternoon sail over to Helford, amongst a fleet racing in the same direction (good comparison of speed), before anchoring off Port Navas creek, below the oyster beds. There is just enough room to anchor (and swing) between them and the moorings further east, a new one for us.This is a magical spot, perfectly sheltered, and quiet. Tina, my wife, was visiting us the following day back at St Mawes, so we decided to
CRUISING REPORTS 21