LUGGER NEWS
Summer 2017
Our season started off on a high note with a weekend in Scilly for the Spring Bank Holiday 26-29 May. Dave Keast was skipper and Mark Mitchell mate. Happy Return departed early morning on Friday with very little wind, motoring down the coast as far as Lamorna before a freshening wind enabled sail to be hoisted. The wind held all the way to Scilly, Happy Return finally anchoring for the night in St Helen’s Pool a very popular anchorage between the islands of Tean and Tresco. The dinghy was inflated and the crew, skipper and mate went ashore to stretch their legs as far as the local hostelry for pre-dinner drinks, then back on board for supper. The next day sailed past St Mary’s into St Mary’s sound anchoring in the Cove, another popular anchorage with members, between the islands of St Agnes and Gugh for the night with supper and a noggin or two at the Turks Head on St Agnes, the most westerly pub in the British Isles. The following day Happy Return sailed back across St Mary’s sound and into St Mary’s harbour, mooring on the harbour wall for the night. Generous portions of food were consumed for supper at the Scillionian Club the evening was rounded off with a noggin or two. The return to Penzance on the 29th was an uneventful sail apart from losing the wind just after Happy Return passed the Wolf Rock Lighthouse, then motoring the final part of the trip back to our mooring in Penzance.
Since then the weather has not been kind to us we were unable to attend the biannual Looe Luggers Regatta in early June due to bad weather. Then the planned summer cruise in July to Ireland to attend the Glandore Classics Regatta. The start had to be delayed due to bad weather and when the weather improved for departure the winds were all wrong for the trip across the Irish Sea so Happy Return went to Brittany instead only for that trip to be shortened due to another forecast of approaching bad weather. Watch for a write up of this trip in a future Lugger News.
As Happy Return did not go to Ireland we were unable to take part in PASAB this year. It had been planned to miss the first leg, the race to Scilly from Penzance however it had been intended to sail direct to Scilly from Ireland to meet up with the yachts taking part in Scilly then sail the next leg, the race round the Islands and finally to sail the final leg of the race back to Penzance.
However despite the weather there has been some good sailing, Dave Keast skippered the day sail on Saturday June the 17th to Mullion Mark Mitchell was the mate. The sail over and back was enjoyed by a crew of 11, whilst anchored close into Mullion Cove the crew enjoyed a buffet lunch laid out on the fish hatch with a glass or two of red wine to wash the food down. Similarly a trip to Cadgwith for the singing and up the coast to Gerrans Bay on the weekend of the 7th of July the write up of this trip by Peter May will be in a future Lugger News.
We have on occasion struggled to find crews for some of our programmed sails this season; if the skipper hasn’t cancelled because of an adverse forecast very often members miss out on some very good sailing. We all know how Cornish weather can rapidly change. If you are unsure because of a bad forecast, ring the skipper before making a decision.
It’s that time of the season fast approaching so if you are hesitating because this or that needs doing think about the long winters night with the wind howling round the chimneys wishing you had gone, hearing how those that went had the best sail of the season!!! Talking about winter don’t despair your committee are planning a very varied and interesting programme of talks and events during the autumn/winter we hope to have the programme finalised by the next Lugger News. Don’t forget; put a note in your diary for the Annual Dinner on or about the 12 January 2018 book early to avoid disappointment. We are hoping to hold it again at Penwith Colleges Senara Restaurant which everyone who attended enjoyed very much.
In addition of course during the autumn/winter period we have the Saturday maintenance all members are welcome to lend a hand in preparing HR for the coming season. It’s a very a very pleasant way to pass an hour or two with shipmates. You don’t have to be skilled. Watch out for the email giving the start date.