It was a pretty roly anchorage . Protected from the wind but there was a lot of swell in the bay. However we’ve known worse! I have half a dozen foam squares which I stuff into the cupboards to stop as much rattling as possible in roly conditions. Plates banging against cupboard doors for instance as they roll to and fro are very annoying. Got up therefore relatively early and we set of 0930 ish . We went and had a gander at the bay next door Ion our way west. We then put out the head sail and sailed a bit down the coast before turning into Tean Sound. We made for a little bay called Porth Seal where’s there were about 4 boats at anchor. it looked nice, protected from the SE wind and out of much tide. There was a lovely white sand beach at the head of the bay which as the tide went out revealed a load of rocks lower down. We wanted to go ashore and we were just going to row, but once near the beach it looked pretty impossible to land as the stones were big boulders which would make it tricky especially trying to carry a dinghy. So we went back to the boat, And put the engine on. A good decision! We motored round a couple of small corners and found ourselves at the little quay on a beautiful white sand beach with a hotel called “Karma.” Still on the island of St Martins . We anchored the dinghy and went for a walk across the little island to the other ( bigger) quay. I have never been to Scilly do had no idea what it would be like. A little white concreted lane wound it’s way between small houses and hedges. Blue and white Agapanthus grow everywhere. Flowers are abundant and the views as we walked, stunning. Rocky islands, some small some large, some inhabited and some green, all surrounded by white sandy beaches separated by shallow azure sea. One car passed us going to and fro, and otherwise just a handful of people walking as we were. We passed a campsite and a pub called “ Five tonnes “ then a shop and post office and a little school. Oh yes and a church. Along the way there were things to buy perched on stone walls or in special shelters. Tomato’s, potato’s, onions. All bagged up in brown paper. At the school there were tea towels, cards and key rings that the children had drawn and some enterprising teacher had had printed. I wanted to buy something but sadly hadn’t taken any cash with us☹️. On our return walk we took in a beer at the beach restaurant Karma which looked a very nice place to stay! We got back in the dinghy thinking just how lucky we are to see it like this. Back on the boat we listened to the rest of the golf on the little DAB radio hanging on the end of the boom. Unfortunate end but an exciting finish! Gutted for Rory. Julian made a wonderful Greek salad for supper which we enjoyed of course in the sunshine.
What I learned today…. Scilly is owned by the duchy of Cornwall, but the locals don’t like to be thought of as Cornish. They are Scillonian. Similar to the Orkney people being Orcadian.
Sue x. Sorry still can’t load the pictures
Angelique 