To the Isles and back...

We made it! After two abortive tries this summer we finally got to the Isles of Scilly last week. The trip out on Sunday was uneventful apart from the intense sun that lasted all day and caught out a couple of our passengers. The anchorages were very busy as you would expect in early August and after a tour of the obvious locations to weather an easterly (Hugh Town, New Grimsby, Tean Sound) we finally ended up in a rather exposed spot south of St Helen's Pool. (see below)

This did have the benefit of being equidistant to St Martin's and Tresco, both favourite shoreside destinations. Our passengers got to enjoy both as well as a ferry trip to St Mary's. Sadly our stay was cut short by the forcaste for the week end, 25-30 kn easterlies and so on Thursday we led a small armada of yachts back around the Lizard and up the Fal to Trelissic. Friday gave those onboard a chance for a walk and swim before we rushed down to Falmouth to pick up a secure mooring to sit out the blow.

We managed to get all ashore yesterday morning during a short lull in the easterlies though it was still a pretty bumpy tender ride! Now we are finishing clearly up and having a bit of a chill. The wind is finally easing and we should be off the mooring tomorrow. Our next planned trip is empty, rather sad for our last summer sailing but a mixed blessing as Hurricane Erin is on its way across the pond and promises to mess up the weather most of next week! So we are off back to Topsham this week on a final cruise with just Qiao and I.