26.06.11 St.Marys to Padstow


Date:- 26:06:11
Name: Morgen
Crew: RD (Richard Dempster),
From: Isles of scilly
To: Padstow
Comments: Very early start

Wind Strength / direction: westerly force 3 /4
Sea State: Slight
Distance: 74.3 nautical miles
Time Taken: 14 hours


To get into Padstow harbour you have to go through a lifting gate which is at the entrance to the harbour in order to keep water in the harbour and stop boats from drying out. Because of this I had to leave St.Marys harbour on the Isles of Scilly at 12:00 ‘O’clock midnight. This should get me in by about 3:oopm the following day. Fingers crossed. I really wanted to be inside the harbour and not tied to a floating buoy for the night as I had had quite enough of bobbing about at a buoy. I needed a couple of nice quiet nights in a secure harbour or marina.
A good start was made but as there was no sun ie, in the middle of the night it was very cold and so I had all the wet weather gear on again including gloves and bobble hat. Its amazing how cold it becomes as you get further away from land.

I used the engine to get out through spannish ledge again and out to sea. Once out I winched up both sails and settled myself down for another long haul. I only hoped it was not going to be as anxious a trip back to the main land as it was getting to the Isles of Scilly.
It was a nice nights sail the wind was not very strong and all was calm. Although a cloudy start to the morning it soon changed and became a very nice day with a strengthening breeze which ment Morgen was making good time. Sailing for this amount of time becomes a real endurance challenge especially single handed. But all was well and this made a good change.
The wind continues to increase.
Perfect conditions for Morgen the wind was giving us a beam reach and she fairly flies along in these conditions. My confidence in her has grown and I feel I can leave the sails up when the wind increases which gives us good speed. I had timed it right and we got over the river bar with no problems and approached Padstow harbour on time. A quick radio through and we were in to the harbour and tied up to the wall. A quick tidy up off all the ropes and time to relax.

Padstow has to be one of the friendliest Harbours that we have visited the harbour staff were willing to give advice and information and any help needed. They would walk or cycle from one side of the harbour to the other in order to dispense fuel or give updates on harbour movements etc. Really really friendly. I can recommend this destination for a visit and on top of everything else a very picturesque place.

A few Pictures of Morgen and Padstow Marina.