Scilly Isles

mister p · 10 December 2011, 19:18

I wish to make a crossing to the Isles of Scilly from the cornish coast on my 4M Searider. I have a WOT speed of 23 knots and 60 litres of fuel. I wish to go in April/May from as far west in Cornwall as possible. Can anybody recommend a slip on the coast and a favourable destination on the Isles to aim for. I'm intending to overnight on the Isles and return the next day. We have VHF, wing engine, flares, GPS and charts. Any other advice is of course welcome. I will be crossing in calm conditions........it's not a "we're going come hell or high water" escapade. More of an "everybody has told me not to do it and I still want to" voyage.

mister p · 10 December 2011, 23:02

OK, so a slightly bigger picture. I'm going anyway, and currently Penzance seems good. As does any landfall in Scilly. We are four months away but CoastGuard and RNLI will be informed. Just need a steer. Boat's good and have done coastal twenty mile runs as prelims. Have done Padstow to Falmouth (15hrs) at night in one hit and Lymington to Cherbourg daytime. Just want advice on this "Atlantic" voyage which I am a bit apprehensive about.

willk · 10 December 2011, 23:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by mister p

Just need a steer.

You've posted in the wrong section of the forum.

HTH

mister p · 10 December 2011, 23:20

how come

mister p · 10 December 2011, 23:24

redirect me kind sir

mister p · 11 December 2011, 00:09

Sorry chaps,
I'm in the wrong place, look forward to being in the right place. Willk will see me right.

Mollers · 11 December 2011, 00:38

Hi, when the Rioja has worn off (works do), I'll do my best. but I reckon you've gotton the measure of it already.

mister p · 11 December 2011, 08:18

Looking forward to any advice. Hope the Rioja went down well!

Eddy Stone · 11 December 2011, 18:16

Right or wrong place, I can tell you about my trip to Scilly this year.

I went to Isles of Scilly from Penzance on my Ribcraft 5.3 on Royal Wedding day, 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.
And have fun...

martini · 11 December 2011, 18:29

Tut tut flying the Union Jack on a boat...

Eddy Stone · 11 December 2011, 18:30

It was the Royal Wedding Day

Eddy Stone · 11 December 2011, 18:41

and everyone else was watching Will and Kate on the TV

mister p · 12 December 2011, 08:28

There, that's fantastic........thanks so much for the feedback and advice. Exactly the stuff I'm after. All in all sounds cool. Great news about moorings and I've heard that I should cross as close to high water as possible due to rocky approach.

Ribochet · 12 December 2011, 12:15

Fair play to Eddy Stone for the very honest feedback on his trip to the Scillly Isles this year

- good on you - especially reminding us all of the increase in fuel consumption in heavy weather - I had a trip lately and it took me a lot longer and nearly double the fuel as normal.

However by the list of equipment that you bought, I love PLB's, you showed that with maximum preparation - you get maximum fun - now where have I heard that before

Quote:

I've heard that I should cross as close to high water as possible due to rocky approach.

Mister P - I hope it goes well for you but also hope that your passage plan is a little more sophisticated than that and I would recommend that you leave it with someone, who loves you

, on shore who would make the call on your behalf if you do not contact them by a designated time - also have you filled in a CG 66?

mister p · 12 December 2011, 15:56

Ah yes, sophistication. All will be covered as far as passage plans and CG forms are concerned. By "high water" passage all I meant was that have been told St Mary's is jagged at low water so hoping to avoid all that.

Ribochet · 12 December 2011, 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by mister p

Ah yes, sophistication. All will be covered as far as passage plans and CG forms are concerned. By "high water" passage all I meant was that have been told St Mary's is jagged at low water so hoping to avoid all that.

Thats great and as you say that whole area is full of drying areas. Sometimes the easiest way to avoid such nasties is to pilotage pass though that area when the rocks are visible and there is still a suitable channel with sufficient clearance under the hull to safely motor through. From experience it can be sometimes easy to drift into danger when the dangerous bits are covered especially if there is a tidal stream or a bit of wind.

Eddy Stone · 12 December 2011, 17:53

CG66 a good idea, as is an auxillary engine, spare kill cord and keys/ isolater switch key, seperate starter battery, GPS, compass, hand held VHF as well as fixed VHF, laminated chartlets (no Admiralty "Tough Chart" for Isles of Scilly) Check with your insurance that they will cover you as technically mid trip you may be more than 12nM from land if you stray from the rhumb line, tender doesnt have to be huge (see embarrassing photo),
Other moorings to consider:
Tresco Moorings:
There are excellent deepwater moorings in Tresco Channel, and at Old Grimsby in St. Helens Pool.
For more information contact Tresco Harbourmaster Henry Birch.
Tel: +44 (0)1720 422849/ Mob.07778 601237, Fax:+44 (0)1720 422807
VHF Channel 08
Visitor Moorings: There are 22 red or yellow visitors' buoys in New Grimsby Sound.
Shore facilities: Water, bar and restaurant, provisions, post office, ferry to St Mary's.
St. Martins Hotel Lower Town Quay Moorings:
There are 6 moorings all together. These are marked with a GREEN OR RED Buoy. There is no pre-booking simply enquire in the hotel on arrival. There is no charge for the moorings however yachtsmen have access to the showers in the hotel swimming pool for £10. For more information contact St. Martins Hotel on 01720 422092.
St. Martin's Hotel - Our Rates
Contact
Other inhabited island anchorages:
Porthcressa: St. Mary's
Old Grimsby: Tresco
The Cove: St. Agnes
Porth Conger: St. Agnes

mister p · 12 December 2011, 22:32

Truly fantastic, thanks chaps. As to the embarrassing photo, I wouldn't worry, I believe a solo Atlantic crossing was made in an even shorter vessel!
So that's all the boxes ticked.
Thanks again.

willk · 12 December 2011, 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by mister p

So that's all the boxes ticked.

Yes, in the right place now...

Cobalt · 12 December 2011, 23:26

I did exactly that trip in May last year. In my rib I did need a tender (the harbour master helped me out - nice people). Fuel is expensive, I took two x 25L tanks and a spare of 10L. Fairly stormy on the way out and used about 35L, on the way back brilliant weather and 25L and less than 2h to get to penzance including a tea stop opposite Wolf Rock.

Photocopy a chart with the passage plan on it and laminate it it - pleased to send you a PDF of mine if you PM me - A4 works well, and you can bind it so you have it all together.

Agree with handheld, drysuit and tell your insurance company (I sent them a PDF of the passage plan - for the avoidance of any doubt)

Fantastic trip - enjoy it

Gilbert park