Wednesday 6 July. Exmouth to Starehole bay, Salcombe. 40 nm

We got Steve to open the bridge once we had enough water underneath us and slipped out of the cocoon like marina at about 0930. It helped a lot having got the “plot” in on the plotter, we could just follow it out. Ie drive the boat along the same line. The sea was flat and there wasn’t much wind so we put the whole sails out. It was a really pleasant sail up the coast, passing Torquay and Brixham nestling on the shore. Or that’s what it looks like from the sea! soon we got to the corner headland .. Start Point. Beautiful jagged green cliffs with the usual stark white lighthouse. Julian noticed that in the distance yacht were very healed over. Of course as soon as we rounded the headland, the wind was on the nose and the sea became rough. Then we were tacking all the way to our destination with a full main ☹️. Sea too rough to think about reefing, given that on Angelique that means a Julian going up to the mast at a 45 degree angle whilst going up and down over the waves. We were being pushed back by wind and waves despite a little tide with us. Eventually however we could spot the anchorage we’d set our hearts on …. Starehole bay …. despite Tom Cunliffe being slightly dismissive. It meant we didn’t have to go into Salcombe and across the bar. The wind direction should have been perfect for us …. and it was! It was like going through that entrance into Whitby all over again. Suddenly the wind calmed, the seas flattened and we were in a bay surrounded by cliffs with two other yachts anchored, a few motor boats fishing in the aqua waters, and a water skier. We knew there was an underwater wreck in the bay that we had to avoid but it was well charted and we were quite daring and went as far in as we could. Giving us maximum protection. The water was genuinely an aquamarine colour and as it was low water the beautiful beach was exposed. Seabirds were once again evident on the cliffs and Eilean heaved a sigh of relief. A lovely evening in a peaceful and tranquil place.

What I learned today….. how we have missed the seclusion of a peaceful protected anchorage.

Sue x