Penzance to Scillies?

CornishAvon · 12 May 2012, 08:41

Hi guys

Thinking of making a trip to the Scillies in my Searider. Anybody on here done this before, got any tips and/or fancy coming with me for a trip out?

hadd · 12 May 2012, 10:01

This one is on my list for next year

Mollers · 12 May 2012, 10:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by CornishAvon

Hi guys

Thinking of making a trip to the Scillies in my Searider. Anybody on here done this before?

Yep, but prefer to head out of Fal.

PZ slip is tidal, 2hrs either side of top from memory and the parking is insecure and expensive. Two eves/three days days for vehicle and trailer was £45 last time that we launched out of there. You need to find an attendant, the machines can't cope with such a transaction.

If the weather is good, the Fal to PZ run is a treat, taking in Fal Bay, the whole of the Lizard and Mounts Bay, bit of a schlep in a 4m perhaps.

Fuel needs to be considered. it's probably £1.75 ish per Ltr by now and a pain to buy at w/ends.

Camping on Bryher works perfectly for ribs. If you run a search on here for 'Scillies', details of previous trips should be viewable.

When the weather is good,this must be one of the top ribbing destinations in the UK. We have encountered some 'challenging' conditions in the past.

CornishAvon · 12 May 2012, 16:14

Thanks Mollers

You sound like you've done this a few times then. Whats the approx distance from Falmouth then! I was not sure it was do-able from Falmouth considering fuel etc. Now you have me thinking. The Searider is a 5.4, do you think its too small to do the crossing then?

CornishAvon · 12 May 2012, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by hadd

This one is on my list for next year

Do you fancy moving it forward a year?

Mollers · 12 May 2012, 17:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by CornishAvon

Thanks Mollers

The Searider is a 5.4, do you think its too small to do the crossing then?

Not at all, Ian Parkes (non-active member) did it in moderate/rough seas in a 4.8m Valliant with his Wife riding 'Bucking Bronco' on a dive bottle rack.

We saw some local boys going vertical mid-way in a 5.5m Humber when we were heading back to Fal during a particularly rough crossing with Bedajim. A 5.4 SR will be ideal, you'll need to pick favourable weather window,obviously.

The first time we made the trip, we had glassy seas there and back. The biggest dangers were sunburn, Doom Bar (local ale) and Parksey's Missus' spud salad.

Beware of the wind coming from anywhere with an E in it. Swell builds up Channel and can get very lumpy by the time it arrives here.

Fal to PZ is approx 25Nm. PZ to Scillies about the same.

CornishAvon · 12 May 2012, 17:50

Thanks Mollers - excellent advice. Cant wait now

Cheers

Mollers · 12 May 2012, 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by CornishAvon

Thanks Mollers - excellent advice. Cant wait now

Cheers

When were you thinking of going?

CornishAvon · 12 May 2012, 18:11

9-28 June is my first window. Do you fancy another trip then? How can I talk you around? If those dates don't suit then can chose 14July to end of July? Go on you know you want too ;-)

Mollers · 12 May 2012, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by CornishAvon

9-28 June is my first window. Do you fancy another trip then? How can I talk you around? If those dates don't suit then can chose 14July to end of July? Go on you know you want too ;-)

I could have a go for w/ends 9/10 or 16/17.

CornishAvon · 12 May 2012, 18:19

Great! 16-17 booked in diary. Do you think its worth putting in upcoming cruises to see if anybody else fancies it.

Mollers · 12 May 2012, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by CornishAvon

Great! 16-17 booked in diary. Do you think its worth putting in upcoming cruises to see if anybody else fancies it.

Yeah, do it.
I promised some pals a trip over last year, but didn't make it. I'll leave the OH out of this one and chuck some sad losers in the boat.

Unless it's solid sun, quiet beaches and romantic BBQs for two, she's not bothering with the Scillies anymore. Oddly, she's had enough of rain, cold and being bashed up in a rib. She's odd that way.

Eddy Stone · 12 May 2012, 19:58

I went to Isles of Scilly from Penzance on my Ribcraft 5.3 on Royal Wedding day last year, good trip E2-3 2 hours to St Marys. Intention was to stay full weekend following the Gig World Championships. However due to weather deteriorating ( BBC News - Hundreds stranded in Isles of Scilly by high winds ) we returned the following day E6 on the nose. Doubled the fuel consumtion to 2L/nM, crew seasick (not a problem but he forgot to lift his Gecko visor first) Yuk. Fabulous 6 dolphins doing their stuff surfing rib bow wave off Lamorna.
All in all a pretty memorable trip.
Launch at Penzance slip wide and easy, parking for car and trailer adjacent to slip, or at IOS Parking up at Wherrytown in secure compound. Have hot chocolate and cherry bakewells as 1/2 time stop at Wolf Rock. St Marys Harbour is easy entrance up St Marys Sound visitors swinging mooring/ visitors pontoon (need a tender though). Campsite at The Garrison but fully booked for Gig Worlds weekend (as is all other accomodation on St Marys for that weekend).
Make sure you take PLENTY of fuel. I took 90L in built-in tank plus 65L in extra jerry cans and am very glad I did in view of fuel consumption doubling on return trip. Drysuit for the trip, radar reflector, flares, PLB, Nav Lights, dry bags for kit (see photo) we took Gecko helmets and were very glad we did considering return conditions.

Mollers · 12 May 2012, 20:04

Eddy, first mistake was going over on 'Gig' (cough, tossers) weekend. The 2nd was using the Garrison. The Bryher camping experience is a worlds apart.

Eddy Stone · 12 May 2012, 20:09

I couldn't agree more. Next time I would go according to a decent weather window. Having roughed it at sea and on land that weekend anything else will be sheer luxury

Eddy Stone · 12 May 2012, 20:19

Mollers
What are the mooring arrangements off Bryher?

mitchc · 12 May 2012, 20:52

We've got this trip planned for the last week of August. I'd planned on leaving from Penzance, but may reconsider after reading the comments about the parking. If not Penzance then I'd thought about Porth Kerris by the manacles. I've launched and dived from here many times and the costs are very reasonable.
I'll do some more googling about the car parking at PZ and post what I find out.

CornishAvon · 12 May 2012, 21:23

Cheers Mitch

I remember having to lug a 40 hp mariner 2 stroke on my shoulders over that blooming shingle beach. The guy who owned it had an old half track which he used to launch and recover boats. Does he still use it?

You don't fancy the 16-17 trip then?

Mollers · 12 May 2012, 21:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitchc

We've got this trip planned for the last week of August. I'd planned on leaving from Penzance, but may reconsider after reading the comments about the parking. If not Penzance then I'd thought about Porth Kerris by the manacles. I've launched and dived from here many times and the costs are very reasonable.
I'll do some more googling about the car parking at PZ and post what I find out.

You might aswell go from Mylor. Mylor is ideally geared up.

mitchc · 12 May 2012, 21:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by CornishAvon

Cheers Mitch

I remember having to lug a 40 hp mariner 2 stroke on my shoulders over that blooming shingle beach. The guy who owned it had an old half track which he used to launch and recover boats. Does he still use it?

You don't fancy the 16-17 trip then?

I'm afraid work dictates the August date.....
The guys at Porth Kerris now have a blooming great Lamborghini (yes Lamborghini) tractor they use to launch the boats. I've not been there for about two years, but they have plenty of car parking /trailer storage.
I'd prefer to go from PZ , but would rather come back to a car & trailer with 8 wheels!