Trip to the Scilly Isles.

Not been blogging lately but there's a reason for that.  I've been sailing on Watanga.  We have travelled to the Scilly Isles and back, a total of 350 miles.  Starting Tuesday week ago and getting back at nearly midnight last wednesday. It's the longest stretch I have spent on the boat, in fact on any boat, in one go. The picture is of Greg readying the main sail on the tuesday morning 7 am.

Destination for the first day was Dartmouth and the trip took 12 hours, Dissappointingly we had had to motor all the the way.

Had a meal in "The Royal Castle Hotel", It was curry night and very nice it was too

The Entrance to Dartmouth wasn't quite the same in the morning.  When we left it was thick fog and we took it very slowly down the river expecting to have to wait for the fog to clear. However at the entrace to the river it just stopped and was like emerging through a set of curtains into clear air.  At 10:30 we put the sails up, the first opportunity to actually sail.  Nice and quiet without the motor.  Onward to Falmouth.  On arrival we have a meal on board and then off to meet up with the crew of "Fusion " for a couple of pints in the "Chain Locker". Very nice cosy atmosphere.

Day Three and it's off to Penzance Still not enough wind to sail, but have to reach Penzance to meet up with Louise.   Bit of a frightening moment when the engine stuck in forward gear.   Investigations found that it was the thottle lever mechanism that had partially siezed.  Managed to mend that once we were in the Harbour.  Louise was waiting on the quay all excited.  The Harbour Master was a very nice chap and very accomodating but it's not the easiest of places to stay in.  It's a working fishing harbour so a bit messy and we were put alongside a very big fishing vessel that we had to climb up and over. Fusion went to Newlyn just down the road but we met up in the "Dolphin Tavern" in Penzance for a meal.  It was about 2 miles for them and only 50 Yds away for us.  Result there!