With a forecast of N – NE up to 15kts, seas slight to moderate, sky clearing
and a possibility of going more east it was a perfect day to head off from
Polperro
and sail around the Eddystone Lighthouse.
Departed 07:34BST wind light & variable course 134o sails are up.
07:57 Wind died - Fired up the motor and got a move on to allow plenty of time
to complete task.
Making 5.8kts sea glassy with a 2ft swell from SW. 20%sun.
Going 13+nm offshore the course was plotted with Hand Bearings on the chart in
case the trusty GPS failed.
A couple of miles off the Eddystone a 12knot breeze came up from the NNW good
for fetching the stone but no good for making it back to Polperro.
Arrived at Eddystone at 10:42
After rounding the stone and taking the obligatory pictures it was time to plot
a course home.
The latest forecast was still N – NE winds force 3-4.
With full faith :-) in the latest radio forecast.
I came about and pinching made as much North as I could hoping that eventually
there would be some more east in it.
Wind was now NNW by W 14 –16 knots. 80%Sun
Speed was poor as the current and the now northerly chop and wind was against
me. There was also some heavier swell coming around the Eddystone causing a bit
of pounding and spray up the centreplate hole. Shifted some weight for’ard.
CRINKER headed for Rame Head waiting for the wind to have some more east in it.
Another forecast later still reported NE winds. So I kept going waiting for the
wind to shift and come more east.
I could then close haul all the way home. No such luck, a Pox on the
forecasters.
After 3 hours and making only 5miles I turned WSW.
At 14:25 with dark clouds appearing over the land and tea & biscuits running
low it was time to fire up the motor and head for home.
Arrived at Polperro at 16:39 just in front of the dark clouds which decided then
with a heavy downpour, to wash my decks with fresh water of all the biscuit and
sandwich crumbs for me before mooring up.
