and so to sea

It seems an age already but in fact we only left Topsham a week ago for our first summer sailing. We barely slithered off the Topsham mud last Sunday on a very neap high tide. We have had some wonderful sailing, a day on the Dart hiding from some strong winds, a glorious sail from the Dart to the Lyhner, and then another great day sail to the Fal, a delicious dinner on the pontoon at the Pandora Inn and a scenic trip up the Fal and Truro River to Truro (where we had a not so scenic visit to Tesco for provisions). We have seen blue fin tuna, common dolphins, seagull feeding frenzies, and most unusually two Risso's dolphins swam past off Bolt Head.

Risso's dolphins - this is a borrowed picture from WDC but they looked just like this.

We are currently lying at anchor off Trelissick beach under the gaze of the NT mansion, and a lot of cows. One of the prettiest anchorages on the coast (and great value at £5.60/night harbour dues, the Dart is now charging us over £30 just to anchor for the night!) The weather has been perfect, the rain holding off until last night and this morning. We will probably hole up here for a few days doing some chores and walking in the Trelissick grounds before we head down Carrick Roads to Falmouth for the weekend and the start of our first Isles of Scilly trip this season.

Trelissick Beach from the bay

The weather is looking pretty perfect for the crossing, at the moment; north easterlies to push us there, a week of light winds and sunshine while we explore the Islands and then a modest north westerly to blow us back. Whether this is still true in a weeks time who knows but it doesn't look as if we will be getting anything that would threaten the Scilly sailing.

Oh, and we have just rewarded ourselves with a proper Sunday roast; leg of lamb, rosemary roast potatoes and carrots and leeks in cheese sauce and lashings of proper gravy, all washed down with a glass or two of our rich Italian house red. We will be back to our pescatarian menus after a visit to the wonderful fishmonger in Falmouth.

If you are at a loose end the week after next, 17-25 May we still have spaces for the Isles of Scilly from Falmouth, or why not join one of our Cornwall and Devon coast and river sailings. Info on all this summers sailings is as always on our web site just click Summer Sailing Holidays | the SNARK