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| Ready to go |
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| Prior to launch |
So it was at that, whilst waiting for the tide, we found most of the gang in the cafe at Mylor Marina for breakfast, with Brad and Bob planning to join us later. Obtained my fitting and off to rig and launch. I can see shallow gradient slipways are going to be an issue but after a bit of a pull and shove Tony and I got Daislebee afloat with Martha soon following and it was off into the main area of water heading north for a rendezvous in Channal Creek, opposite Turnaware Point.
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| Mylor Creek Boatyard |
The others had launched at Mylor Marina after concerns about the gradient at the Creek yard - they were right... and Brad and Bob launched at their traditional venue in the Percuil River.
So 5 boats meet up and decided to explore up river into Ruan Creek, following our guides and mentors for the week..Brad and Bob...wise..not sure...
Here we rafted up in splendid isolation, and made the first local discovery - no phone signal..amazing how this takes some getting used to.. terrible really.
An evening of conviviality followed but tired an early night beckoned .
We woke on the Sunday to find Cornish mizzle...uggh..thankfully it didn't last long and exploring our anchorage at low water was interesting
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| Aground - Ruan Creek |
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| The view from the raft - with Marcus in the distance |
Once the water returned we headed back down the river to Channal Creek where we met up with John Boston in Pamela, Ian Cowie in Moksha and Judy and Andy Peter in Blue Peter - the fleet was complete.
We dried out in a little pool area at the top of the creek and later that night made friends with a bat who tried to share the cabin... 4 grown men running for cover as this strange creature appeared....
The rest of fortnight passed in a whirl of anchorages and creeks so I have marked most of the locations on the rough map below and will focus on the main events.....
Malpas
The Heron at Malpas was an early stop in our stay down there...a good time and a slightly sour note. The group arrived at the pub to be confronted by a slightly lack lustre reception, but we soon established that it was the first week of the new licencee so understandable jitters..old military service backgrounds soon broke the ice and the food was very good ....and we had a very good evening there.
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| View from the Heron |
The only sour note was the reception we had on the quayside pontoon, Having tied up on the Visitors pontoon we were ferried ashore in good style by Brad with his small dinghy and engine. Most landed at the gravel slipway but on the last journey we set a party of less nimble passengers ashore on the seemingly available pontoon linked to the shore...only to be met by a man demanding money of the 10 meters walk along the deck..we paid up and made light of it but it all seemed rather grasping and desperate.....but we didn't let it spoil the evening.
Truro
No visit could miss out on the full trip up to the capital city of Cornwall, and so it was we followed each other up the very narrow and shallow creek on a rising tide, deep into the heart of the town, tying up outside Tesco. The creek was barely navigable as it twisted and turned though the lock gates and passed flats and offices as it meandered it's course. Here we were met by Sharon from Churchouse and one of her daughters, complete with Kyle, her grandson. They had stopped off at Crantocks in India Queens and came armed with a box of the biggest pasties you have ever seen. These were very kindly distributed amongst the fleet and were very nice too.
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| Truro in the distance |
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| Tied up at Tesco |
Helford and Gweek
Another places hard to ignore and we set off from St Mawes on an overcast morning with a fresh wind. It was a delight to set the boat on one tack and what the miles tick off quite rapidly, with no other boast to criss cross your path, no wash...just sit back and sail.
We anchored off Helford Sailing Club and used the dinghies to get into the pontoon. We were made most welcome and had a very nice meal, and were chatting away quite happily before Bob pointed out the if we were to forego a starter and dessert and just go for the lobster main course, the bill would be about the same.....8 lobsters duly ordered for the following evening.....
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| Lobster for 8 please |
The following day we explored the river all the way to Gweek and then returned to Helford SC for the night..where we were sat in the middle of the club so that everyone could watch us enjoying the lobsters. Very nice.
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| View of anchorage from Helford Sailing Club |
Falmouth itself
We spent a couple of days/nights in Falmouth, which included visiting the Front where large quantities of beer were drunk..most bailed out but some...no names required..continued on to another pub and then a bar in Falmouth..a good time was had which involved returning to the bar to collect items of clothing the next day...enough said.
The good thing about the Front, apart form the wide range of beers, was the fact that food could be brought in and consumed.....which was handy as the best fish and chips I have had for ages were available in the Harbour Lights that was actually above the pub itself.
Anchorages - various
There were many many delightful anchorages we moored in over the two weeks... here are just a few
Cellars Beach - opposite St Mawes. A lovely quiet anchorage, which we later found out was private, but the owner, or at least her husband had just bought a Drascombe Lugger, so he came over for a chat rather than serve eviction notices.
Percuil River - at the junction of Trethen Creek and Polingey Creek. another gem, sheltered but beautiful in the sun and apart from our lot very quiet - the creeks are fun to explore on a rising tide - Trethen in particular meanders up to a white house and the small bridge across the road.
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| Upper reaches of Percuil River |
St Just Creek - at first glance, especially in a prevailing southerly, and a strong one at that, this doesn't seem to offer much. The yachts moored in the main body of the creek were pitching and rolling and it looked as though we would have to abandon the plan to stay there over night, but armed with knowledge of a previous recce I passed through the boats watching with interest and the cliffs drew close on my port hand and the sand back started to loom ever closer on my starboard hand. The gaps was about 20 meters and I slipped through turning sharply to starboard to be confronted with the lovely church at the head of the creek. The raft duly formed and we were treated to a scantily clad mermaid swimming past the raft, with three spaniels in echelon formation swimming around her. We all admired the spaniels.....
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| Church at St Just |
Larmouth and Cowlands Creek - About 2 miles above Turnaware Point, Larmouth was lovely, totally secluded and sheltered we settled on the soft mud and had a very good night tucked away with only the fish plopping in the water and birds for company.
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| Rafted in Larmouth Creek |
The following morning we explored Cowlands...each selecting their own preference from the many lovely houses along the waters edge.
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| Cowlands Creek |
Incidents.......
Apart from the extended watering session, Sharon's dunking must rate as the funniest moment..not that she probably thought so...
Simon was delivering a boat so they planned to spend a few days in the Falmouth area, having a bit of a break ...hence the pasty delivery at Truro. One of the days was spent sailing with us..Simon went with Tony on his Coaster, Stewart took one of his granddaughter's, Hannah, Sharon went with Brad and Bob and I took Lauren and Kyle.
We all meet up at a beach south of Carricknath Point, which itself is south of St Mawes. I was on dinghy duty and having taken both girls and Kyle to the beach, returned to collect Sharon. We rowed without incident to the shore and I turned the dinghy to face the waves. I explained that the waves came in a pattern and on the count of three she should step out of the boat. This she did...well almost did... forgetting momentarily that she had two legs, and failing to move the second one Sharon promptly sat down in the surf. I'm sure either myself or one of the girls could have helped her...had we not been crying with laughter..which of course didn't help matters much..combined with a dunking of a £600 iPhone it probably wasn't a top moment for Sharon...but....it was funny.
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| Leaving was easier than arriving..... |
Final night
Those that stayed the course.. seven or so in all, tied up at Mylor on our final night and went to the pub for a curry . we won the quiz.. being the only team and accepted the prize of a bottle of wine as well as generous Port servings...before retreating to Stewart's boat of a night cap. We had in the poor weather decided to berth indie the pontoon from the prevailing wind and waves, but in the morning the wind and waves were so strong that they were blowing over the pontoon and dumping on the boats moored the other side..which was us...next time must remember to turn and face the wind as well...would save getting soaked as soon as I came out of the cabin.
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| Last night |
A great fortnight, in great company....lovely place to explore,,especially in small boats that can take the ground
