16 May 2019 – Gwithians to St Michael’s Mount
Strong winds from the East continued and we sailed passed St Ives at 5 knots ready to turn South and push passed Lands End. True to form, Cape Cornwall and Land’s End required sail reefs and a firm hand at the wheel as we raced at 6.5 knots down the coast. Land’s End and the Longships light brought their usual flakey gusts and then we pressed on again Close Hauled towards Mount’s Bay. The Channel had a large swell which slowed progress and Eclipse doesn’t like to be Close Hauled with a big sea. Too beamy by far and we elected to put the motor on to make good the bay and an anchorage at a reasonable hour.
Newlyn and Penzance where marina options and the swell made them very attractive alternatives but as we sailed North the swell reduced and the winds dropped to leave us in a fantastic anchorage in the lee of St Michael’s Mount. Local Gig racers, training for completion used us as a race marker and the steady tempo stroke and oar beat set the ambiance for dinner on deck and a fine sunset.