Plymouth to Dartmouth

First proper trip in Crosswinds with an old friend as crew. Peter has many years of sailing under his belt so was useful to share thoughts. The journey was good for the most part

100% cloud cover, about 800 feet.
Wind about 225 degrees initially 24 knots but easing to 16 knots after about 2 hours and veering about 10 degrees by the end of the afternoon and easing to about 5 knots so it was dead astern the leg from Start Point to Dartmouth.
The cruising revs were around 1500 with a log speed of about 6.5kts and an average SOG of 7kts. Total passage time 4.5hrs.
Sea state was Slight to Moderate between the breakwater and Bolt Head easing as we kept close in shore between Bolt Head and Start Point and dropping down to Slight in the lee of Start Point.

We only tried sails alone briefly because time was an issue. Whilst the wind was 16 knots and abeam we made about 4 knots of way through the water.

I need to learn how to setup the autohelm because it over reacted and then overcompensated. The net result was far too much bow movement and with a beam sea from Plymouth Breakwater to Bolt head that was uncomfortable. However on "manual" she was fine. No worse at sailing than expected.

In the lee of Start Point I sat in a canvas chair on the aft deck and could helm very comfortably from there. Just short of Froward Point at the mouth of the Dart we were watched by Bella on the webcam there operated by the National Coastwatch Institute.

I am afraid you will have to take my word for it that there is a boat at the front of that wake line going left to right and its us.


The main bad news item was that the gasman removed the geyser but somehow managed to stop the hot supply from the calorifier reaching the taps instead. A nice safe boat but no hot water.

Leaving the marina berth was easy, no wind and she turned well (no bow thruster). Mooring starboard side to at the pontoon in the middle of the Dart was also easy - the propwalk in astern is to starboard. It will be interesting to see how much more difficult it is in a marina port side to / in a wind.

We had to tidy up quickly because the last water taxi was at 1600. Caught the bus to Totnes and train back to Plymouth. A successful 1st journey and many thanks to Peter for his help. A few tweaks needed before the longer journey to Weymouth.