Gwilym's Adventure Blog

For a number of reasons I am still in Fowey today. In no particular order, tripping over my own feet and falling head first into the cockpit and engaging the gear lever with my hip, watching the lifeboat and helicopter display and needing to get some more gas. By the time all this had happened and I had recovered from the "trip" The wind had picked up and yachts were coming in to hid so I decided not to push on to Falmouth as planned.

Tall ship just out of Plymouth  Sat on deck contemplating hours of motor sailing No swell at all  Entering Fowey  On the visitors pontoon New Tender One of my favourite sails mainly because it is close to home and easy on navigation. Go round Rame Head and sail west until you reach Fowey. Ok, so not much wind today so it was motor sailing on auto helm all the way to ensure I made it before dark. I spent most my time cleaning the deck and ropes whilst the boat managed all by itself. As I don't like towing a dinghy, I left the mini RIB on my buoy at Torpoint and took my new tender with me, one that roll up on deck. The 2.3hp motor that just pushed the RIB along makes this lightweight tender fly and it even gets on the plane.

Back out on the water sailing and today I was joined by Simon who was keen do a most of the helming so I could run around making tea, coffee and peanut butter sandwiches. A bit of practice sailing onto and off an anchorage near Cawsand at lunchtime and great sailing conditions a few miles out from the breakwater made for a fantastic afternoon in the sun. I could get used to this life afloat.

Ready to launch  Heading out to Berry Head   A bit lumpy on the South side Bit of caving   Compulsory selfie (as no one with me) On Saturday I picked up my new kayak from AS Watersports . Today I headed east to Brixham to go paddling. I only had a few hours to play with so I took the Hammer out round Berry Head looking for some swell. I found some but not quite as much as I hoped for so settled for some rock hopping instead. I only had time to paddle on the canal before buying so I hoped I had made the right decision. Made from the Pyranha WW plastic this is a tough boat but fortunately not as heavy as I expected. I have never had so much fun getting into a sea kayak. Basically I put it down on a steep bit of beach, got in and seal launched with no worries about damaging the hull. A bit of playing off the beach just to check it's handling I realised it can flat spin and turn on edge. Great, should be fun. The Hammer handles...

Finally got the yacht out for a shakedown sail today. All seems to be running well and nothing played up, lets hope it stays like that for the rest of the season.  12 miles and 3.5 hours of sailing in the afternoon sun. The sound was busy ranging from dinghies to cross channel ferries and there was just enough wind to get moving. Hope it gets a bit breezier during the week (but not tonight as I am on a buoy that is not that sheltered).

Today started with me calling into  AS Watersports  to collect my new Sea Kayak a  P&H Hammer . Looking forward to getting out in this over the next few weeks. After a few months in the yard so I could do some work on it, the Yacht is back on the water on a buoy near Torpoint. This afternoon I have been experimenting with ways of keeping the dinghy out of the water so it doesn't bang on the sides whilst I sleep. Using the boom and main sheet as a winch the RIB hangs nicely by the side of the yacht. The main halyard and topping lift should be taking the weight as all in line and the boom is just there as a directional pulley (I think/hope). And I have a great view from my cabin tonight

Out on the lower slopes of The Glyders today looking at micro nav, coaching navigation, leadership and river crossings. A dry day (until the river) allowing us to enjoy the views for a a change.