Sun 2 Jul
08:00 Sunday morning and there was activity on the water. Small craft and sailboarding abound and the yachts seemed to be departing in a hurry. Was it to cross the bar in high water?
Our spot on the mooring buoy was reserved for an arrival later today and we knew to be off by 09:30. With all that activity we needed more information.
Harbour master “You cannot leave between 10:00 – 11:00 – today is Race Day. Then it’s okay to depart”
09:45 We checked the tidal heights and ate breakfast.
10:00 The build up was slow and the crowds had gathered on the shore and on the apartment balconies. Small boats were packed with spectators. The harbour masters were creating cordons to block the harbour. It seems we were in the box office position – front and centre of the starting line!
10:10 Slowly one by one the contestants appeared. Brightly coloured sails carried the two man dinghies towards us.
10:20 Race countdown begins with a blast of the horn. Again and again and again – there was bedlam as 30 yachts lined up for the prime position. “And they’re off…” and sailed away to the far end before returning with code zero spinnakers raised.
11:00 The dinghies raced past and disappeared up stream. What a spectacle to behold. However it was now time to depart and cross the Bar on a falling tide. We set off through the crowded waters and past the fine houses along the shoreline.
Crossing the Bar :: Chart Datum 1.1m
The keel of Liquid Asset draws 2.2m before touching the ground. The Bar has only 1.1m of water plus any tide added. We left Salcombe on a falling tide and as we approached the shallow waters a strong gust of wind blew down the valley (katabatic winds). And the high pressure system was weighing down on the surface. Slowly we crossed the Bar with 2.7m to spare.
We sailed with reefs in the sails towards Cawsands (20Nm) by following long tacks into the wind NW f4. After several hours of joyous sailing, the anchor was set for a quiet evening in the sheltered bay.
Until tomorrow “good night” zzzzz
Experience Sailing 