15 May 2019 – Padstow to St Ives
With the tide again late into the afternoon, the sail towards St Ives was potentially a late one. We had a ‘bolt hole’ into Newquay if we needed to but even at a distance, th swell made the beach look to surf bound to be sensible. So we pressed on towards St Ives.
On passing Godrevy Lt, it was clear that the Easterly wind remained dominant. Better to sail towards Gwithian Beach and look for a hill to ‘hide behind.
The swell was still quite high but far from dangerous so we found a location in the lee of a caravan park and some half a mile form the beach and dropped the anchor and some 40 m of chain. That would keep us safe although I felt we needed to keep an anchor watch. In hind sight that wasn’t really required but better safe than on the beach!
A concern that arose on the sail down was that the propellor shaft continues to spin with the engine turned off, even in neutral and reverse. This wouldn’t be too big an issue however the noise being generated is excessive and about 6 kits there is a significant vibration and knocking. Cardiff marine can’t explain it and so I have contacted an engineer in Falmouth who can have a look early next week.
The dawn was pleasant with a haze over the shore. Despite the early hours and the cold there was still a tribe of surfers enjoying the waves.
Gwithians Beach at dawn.