Dartmouth to Plymouth

Our original plan was for a night at anchor off Cawsand, then on to Falmouth. Water and food top up then, if  the weather held, to spend some time anchored out in the Scilly islands. Well, that went wrong as there was no spare marina berth space in Falmouth so we couldn't do the required top-ups. Apparently there is some festival thingy underway at the weekend.

Being flexible (and relaxed about stuff), we opted for a couple of nights in Plymouth anyway, hoping to meet up with Tim and Sheila (regular readers will remember them as the Yarmouth 23 yacht owners, who visited us in Penarth and had a quick trip across the bay). Sadly they were en route to York (how can you sail there??) so that didn't work out.

Leaving Dartmouth in the morning sun was wonderful. the town was quite still at 9am and there was little wind but lots of sun. Out to sea, we had a lovely view aft of the wake left by the autopilot on "low" setting (ie trying to leave a wake like a drunk):

The day was perfect for motorboating, in fact it was the first one this year when we completed the entire trip sitting up on the flybridge. This limits the number of toys that the helmsman has to play with of course but as you can see, the refreshments and sunscreen stuff were to hand even if there was a shortage of helmsman:

Luckily, this time Patrick was down below and didn't get spooked into taking control. A good thing, there were plenty of rocks about.

En route, we rounded Start Point in the sun this time so can offer you a nicer picture of the lighthouse there:

and also the National Coastwatch  lookout at Prawle Point. Stephen (you know what he is famous for by now) used to be the training officer for the Solent equivalent, the Calshot tower. However, contrast Prawle Point where they occupy the little "hut" on the top of the hill (can you spot it?):

With Stephen's rather imposing abode:

Stephen is just that kind of guy.....

OK, back to the trip. It was just simply delightful. One of those days when you remember why you like boating so much. This yacht seemed to be very content although he was not travelling much faster than the tide as there was so little wind to help him. In fact he did a good job keeping the sail filled, many other yachts were struggling:

Entering Plymouth, you pass the Great Mew Stone. Not the Mew Stone - that is off Dartmouth and Plymouth clearly wanted something superior. In the background is the entrance to the river Yealm that we love deeply. A narrow entrance, a cramped river with lots of moorings but a perfect hideaway spot.

Inside the breakwater at Plymouth, you get to admire the old Cawsand Fort that was turned into accommodation after being pretty much derelict for many years. Quite a place to live or have as a holiday home we think:

As we were staying in the ever friendly (but sadly with decaying pontoons now) Mayflower Marina for a couple of nights, we had to pass the iconic Hoe. We will not mention the Francis Drake finishing his game of bowls before setting sail to defeat the Armada for fear of upsetting our Spanish readers. In fact, after the post on Jersey when we upset every other nationality, they are probably our only readers. So, Javier, enjoy the bits they haven't built ugly buildings on:

No maintenance news to report so sorry tekkies but nothing to excite you. Even the **** Windows navigation PC worked flawlessly for the trip - perhaps because the captain was on the flybridge and didn't meddle with it at all??