Log of the

Picarooner

^17th Day of September 2007 

Visiting the Square Riggers at 
CHARLESTOWN

 Pictures of this trip are in Crinkers Web Photo Album  

    Departed Polperro 08:43 and motored to Charlestown as winds were light and variable and the forecast was a good blow from the NW.

Thought I would motor there as heading NW in St. Austell Bay would take way too long especially as the wind was supposed to get up to well over 20kts.
Wanting to make a short trip I carefully went inside the Cannis Rock as it was just visible as the swell dropped.

Arrived at Charlestown 10:36 approximately High Tide.

The approach to Charlestown is quite simple and the entrance to the harbour is easily navigable. 
Its a very small harbour but with deep water suitable for moving fairly deep drafted vessels. The inner harbour has a lock gate visible just in front
of CRINKER (see above). The gate swings inwards and the general public can walk across it.

Charlestown is the home port for at least three square riggers most of which have appeared in many movies, they are also used for sail training and joy rides for the general public.
Earl of Pembroke - Phoenix - Kaskelot

After mooring up alongside the quay I had a quick run ashore to check out the Square Riggers, have a look around and take a few pictures. Then it was off for a pint and a local pasty. 
I waited for the tide to drop enough so my mast would be just above the quay. As my burgee has taken a bit of a flogging recently I decided to replace it with a new one.

As the wind was now gusting and coming in as forecast, I decided to cast off and sail back to Polperro.
12:54 Motored out and put the sails up in the lee. Flat calm and peaceful. I could see St. Austell Bay had a good chop running with plenty of white horses.
With no reefing I crept out of the lee and waited with sheets in hand to cop it. And we did!  Crinker set off like a shot on a broad reach, this time we were taking no chances and decided to set a course for well outside of the Cannis Rock, did not want to be messing about under Gribbin Head with what was now a fairly steep following sea chop for a boat CRINKERS size.

(above track ~ sailing CRINKER from Charlestown to Polperro red portions of track denotes max speed and gusts)

CRINKER made the home journey in 2 hours 1 minute. With  a slow start for a mile at the beginning this was CRINKERS best performance so far.

I am sure if I was not single handed we could have pushed harder. 
As it was I had eased the Jib to spill a bit and had the main sheet in hand all the way home as the gusts were considerable. 
Coming up on the wind a bit gave us both a good dowsing at times, great for washing the Seagull S*%# off.

Considering the extra distance covered on the way home by rounding the Cannis and being in the lee to 
start this was the fastest lineal distance to date by CRINKER without using the motor.

Hoping to plan a trip to Falmouth soon.....
 

Pictures of this trip are in Crinkers Web Photo Album

Total Distance Travelled  19.2nm

Please drop me an e-mail if you discover any broken links etc. 
crinker at polperro.co.uk

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© Tony Nelson 2008