Page 20 - Yachter Autumn/Winter 2022

20 CRUISING REPORTS
RETURN TO HELFORD RIVER
Seven years ago we first visited the Helford river, and it didn’t disappoint. This year we decided we must return.We set off on our early Summer cruise in June determined we would at least get as far west as Helford River in Cornwall. With a forecast for strong south-westerlies, onwards to The Scillies was not a possibility, so Helford River was indeed as far West as we would get on La Ina this year.
After spending a couple of nights in Falmouth to sit out several days of strong winds and ‘Cornish mizzle’, we decided to move to Helford River as the forecast was for brighter but still quite breezy conditions from the South West. After consulting Tom Cunliffe’s ‘Channel Pilot’, we were assured that Helford River is fairly well sheltered
in South Westerlies but not comfortable in Easterlies.
We thought we had picked a weather window to sail round but shortly after we left the Fal estuary, the weather closed in again.Visibility became very poor, it started to rain heavily and the wind was gusting
a strong F6-7.We were questioning the