I was sad to leave Padstow, really liked it there once I got used to being overlooked by the multitude of tourists. And the best pasties ever were found in The Chough Bakery, which we could smell firing up every morning, and which is to blame for my growing abdomen. I think I'm beating Rose's baby lump!
The sail from Padstow to Falmouth...
Set off as soon as the tide gate opened at 07:45, with about 6 other yachts, and motored against the incoming tide.
As soon as we cleared the infamous "doom bar" we turned to port and started sailing, pulling away from all but two of the other yachts. The race was on!!! From what we could gather, everyone, like us, was bound for Penzance - the next nearest nice harbour to have an overnight stay.
About 7 hours later, all but two of the other yachts had (I think) motor sailed passed us. We hung on in there sailing slower and slower, but as we got to Lands End the wind died on us completely, so we motored too.
Rounding Lands End was awesome. Some amazing scenery and weird currents, swell and waves.
Then the wind switched back on, somewhat stronger and increasing. Motor off, back to reefed sails.
We continued with increasing speed and started turning North East to make for Penzance, but as we followed the curve of the land more and more Northwards, we were coming tighter and tighter onto the wind. All the while, St Michael's mount was growing larger and larger as we approached. Then I remembered reading that in the right conditions, it's possible to anchor off St Michael's Mount - so we did that instead.
Swell off the Atlantic remained absent so we stayed for two nights, feeling very privileged. Lunar was very happy when the tide went out enough and we could make the stroll along the causeway to Marazion. Lovely little Cornish village. Good pasties (Philip's) but not as good as Chough's in Padstow.
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Tide for the next leg of the voyage started flowing favourably around The Lizard at around 8am which meant we needed to up anchor and get going at about 4am. Rose and Lunar stayed in bed while I got us underway. I was pleased to do this single-handed, without starting the engine. So were they!
The going was slow but I'd factored in some extra time and instead of motoring I poled out the jib and we slowly drifted south towards The Lizard (a notorious tidal race) while I fished off the back.
By the time Rose and Lunar joined me I'd caught 1 large pollock and 5 mackerel!! I filleted the pollock and we had him for breakfast - the mackerel went back as they were all too small.
Again we had to curve around the land, more and more northwards, until when Falmouth was in sight the wind was coming almost directly from it, so we had to tack our way in to the estuary. No way was I going to motor!! Tacking was a bit of a nightmare as there were literally 100's of other yachts. Our "rules of the road" knowledge was seriously put to the test while we sailed into a spectacle of sail.
All was fine and we dropped anchor right off Falmouth town having used the engine for a total of 10 minutes, right at the end, just to pootle about finding a good spot to drop the hook.
I'll not post up the stats so far, but we've definitely now sailed more than motored since leaving Whitby, which I'm very pleased about.
Some pictures...
Losers! Yachts behind us, failing to keep the pace!!
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/p2f1.jpg)
Some people take it oh so seriously!! They should chill out and enjoy it more! See how they've overtaken us! Some people hey!
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/p2f2.jpg)
Lunar, rounding Landsend. The Longships light in the background.
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/p2f3.jpg)
Our view, anchored off St Michael's Mount for two nights
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/p2f4.jpg)
Pollocks!
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/p2f5.jpg)
Just _some_ of the yachts in the Fal estuary!
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/p2f6.jpg)
Anchored off Falmouth town
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/p2f7.jpg)
Heard tell of this boat before - it has the best name of any boat, ever!
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/p2f8.jpg)