11th August 2014 - The Fal, Helford and back to Plymouth
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 3:22 pm
Been a busy few weeks!
We left Mevagissey and anchored at Turnaware to shelter from the storm, then tootled around the Fal before spending a week in the Helford, then back to the Fal for a while prior to a return to Plymouth via Fowey and Cawsand. I write this at anchor in Barn Pool, Plymouth Sound after spending two lovely nights up river sheltering from the tail end of hurricane Bertha.
We've called in for overnights and trips ashore at/from:
River Fal:
St Mawes
St Just in Roseland
Trelissick House (Channals Creek)
Trefusis Point (near Flushing)
Falmouth
Restronguet (anchored off the Pandora Inn for a quick trip ashore for a pint)
Helford:
Durgan (anchored here)
Helford (rowed here)
Helford Passage (rowed/walked here repeatedly)
Frenchman's Creek (rowed to it, then up it)
Other:
Looe (anchored off for a couple of hours to visit a friend)
Cawsand (stopped here two nights after coming from Fowey via Looe)
Barn Pool (stopped here before hurricane Bertha)
Up The Tamar
We've had super weather apart from the last few days, but shelter up the river Tamar was good and we made the best of it by going to the National Trust property up at Cotehele - a considerable way up the river which can only be done by timing the tides right. We also motored up beyond Calstock for a look about. Nice.
Helford and the Fal were excellent and the water's warm enough now that swimming in the sea without wetsuit is very pleasurable. I think we've seen record sea temperatures.
Everything's gone very very smoothly so there's not much to write about really. We've anchored every night apart from our one night in Fowey (£24.60!) and the only other time we've had to pay to park was at Turnaware Point - £5 for the night. Oh no, just remembered, we did a night on the pontoons in Falmouth because we needed to hire a car to head to Torquay for a baby scan (routine, all well).
We've sailed off the anchor, and anchored under sail, a few times now. Finally getting to really know the boat.
So stats on overnight moorings to date are approx:
105 nights total
6 nights on a pontoon in Darmouth (£64.80)
1 night on a pontoon in Falmouth (£29.00)
1 night on a buoy in Fowey (£24.60)
97 nights at anchor (£5)
Total cost: £123.40
Average nightly cost: £1.18
We're staying in Plymouth Sound now for at least three nights as it's the UK firework competition tomorrow and Wednesday. Three teams compete each night for the prize of best UK firework display team. They really push the boat out. I love it. The locals all head out into the sound to watch, and all toot their horns in appreciation. I'm quite excited.
Some photos from the last few weeks...
Bathtime
St Just in Roseland Sunset - Magical place all round - the church/churchyard is very special
Frenchman's Creek - Helford River - Nina unimpressed
Anchored off Falmouth (short stay) to get gas
Incidentally - for those keen to save a few £ - if you anchor off Falmouth, or pick up one of their green buoys, and row to the marina pontoon, and don't stay the night, you can pay their short stay fee, which is charged at £0.50 per meter length of the vessel on the pontoon. Which is your tender! So we paid £2.50. This gives you access to their taps, their bins, their loos and showers and their laundry. It's also full access to good shops and takeaways. The burrito takeaway is now a favourite - right near the quay.
Mothballed Ships Up The Fal
Fowey Town Short Stay Pontoon (to fill up with water)
Anchored Off Looe
Our crazy friend James just visible under the water
Us In Looe - Towser In Background
Sailing: Looe to Cawsand
Lunar Surprised. Near collision with a local boat in Plymouth Sound. Don't think we damaged it _too_ much.
Tamar Bridges Near Saltash
One of the few places to be able to easily go ashore to decent shops in the whole of Plymouth Sound and surrounding area, surprisingly, unless you pay to go in a marina of some sort.
Anchored At Cotehele
Busy due to Cotehele being the end point of a large gig race that day (The Tamar Challenge).
Above Calstock, Looking at Calstock
Touching The Mud (just) at Low Water Springs, High Up The Tamar
While avoiding hurricane Bertha and while Rose cooked an awesome Sunday lunch.
Yorkshires Up The Tamar!
Lunar Sniffing Bertha
Full Moon - Anchored North of Saltash
We left Mevagissey and anchored at Turnaware to shelter from the storm, then tootled around the Fal before spending a week in the Helford, then back to the Fal for a while prior to a return to Plymouth via Fowey and Cawsand. I write this at anchor in Barn Pool, Plymouth Sound after spending two lovely nights up river sheltering from the tail end of hurricane Bertha.
We've called in for overnights and trips ashore at/from:
River Fal:
St Mawes
St Just in Roseland
Trelissick House (Channals Creek)
Trefusis Point (near Flushing)
Falmouth
Restronguet (anchored off the Pandora Inn for a quick trip ashore for a pint)
Helford:
Durgan (anchored here)
Helford (rowed here)
Helford Passage (rowed/walked here repeatedly)
Frenchman's Creek (rowed to it, then up it)
Other:
Looe (anchored off for a couple of hours to visit a friend)
Cawsand (stopped here two nights after coming from Fowey via Looe)
Barn Pool (stopped here before hurricane Bertha)
Up The Tamar
We've had super weather apart from the last few days, but shelter up the river Tamar was good and we made the best of it by going to the National Trust property up at Cotehele - a considerable way up the river which can only be done by timing the tides right. We also motored up beyond Calstock for a look about. Nice.
Helford and the Fal were excellent and the water's warm enough now that swimming in the sea without wetsuit is very pleasurable. I think we've seen record sea temperatures.
Everything's gone very very smoothly so there's not much to write about really. We've anchored every night apart from our one night in Fowey (£24.60!) and the only other time we've had to pay to park was at Turnaware Point - £5 for the night. Oh no, just remembered, we did a night on the pontoons in Falmouth because we needed to hire a car to head to Torquay for a baby scan (routine, all well).
We've sailed off the anchor, and anchored under sail, a few times now. Finally getting to really know the boat.
So stats on overnight moorings to date are approx:
105 nights total
6 nights on a pontoon in Darmouth (£64.80)
1 night on a pontoon in Falmouth (£29.00)
1 night on a buoy in Fowey (£24.60)
97 nights at anchor (£5)
Total cost: £123.40
Average nightly cost: £1.18
We're staying in Plymouth Sound now for at least three nights as it's the UK firework competition tomorrow and Wednesday. Three teams compete each night for the prize of best UK firework display team. They really push the boat out. I love it. The locals all head out into the sound to watch, and all toot their horns in appreciation. I'm quite excited.
Some photos from the last few weeks...
Bathtime
St Just in Roseland Sunset - Magical place all round - the church/churchyard is very special
Frenchman's Creek - Helford River - Nina unimpressed
Anchored off Falmouth (short stay) to get gas
Incidentally - for those keen to save a few £ - if you anchor off Falmouth, or pick up one of their green buoys, and row to the marina pontoon, and don't stay the night, you can pay their short stay fee, which is charged at £0.50 per meter length of the vessel on the pontoon. Which is your tender! So we paid £2.50. This gives you access to their taps, their bins, their loos and showers and their laundry. It's also full access to good shops and takeaways. The burrito takeaway is now a favourite - right near the quay.
Mothballed Ships Up The Fal
Fowey Town Short Stay Pontoon (to fill up with water)
Anchored Off Looe
Our crazy friend James just visible under the water
Us In Looe - Towser In Background
Sailing: Looe to Cawsand
Lunar Surprised. Near collision with a local boat in Plymouth Sound. Don't think we damaged it _too_ much.
Tamar Bridges Near Saltash
One of the few places to be able to easily go ashore to decent shops in the whole of Plymouth Sound and surrounding area, surprisingly, unless you pay to go in a marina of some sort.
Anchored At Cotehele
Busy due to Cotehele being the end point of a large gig race that day (The Tamar Challenge).
Above Calstock, Looking at Calstock
Touching The Mud (just) at Low Water Springs, High Up The Tamar
While avoiding hurricane Bertha and while Rose cooked an awesome Sunday lunch.
Yorkshires Up The Tamar!
Lunar Sniffing Bertha
Full Moon - Anchored North of Saltash