River Tamar 14-15 September

I had never sailed on the Tamar before this year, and I must say that it is an incredibly interesting estuarine cruising area. The rally rendezvous was at Saltash, just beneath the huge double span of Brunel’s railway bridge. Although we departed just after low water, it still took the whole tide to get up the river to our destination at Morwellham, passing on the way the little quay at Cotehele, where the restored Tamar Barge Shamrock is moored, and the town of Calstock, in its splendidly dramatic setting. Morwellham is now an industrial museum. Little trains run on overhead lines, two massive replica wooden boats are under construction and a large water wheel slowly turns. Not that we had much time to explore, as we arrived at 7pm and had to depart at 7am the next morning to catch the ebb.

The sail back was just as delightful as the day before. Sun, a good wind and excellent scenery. But where were you all? There was just Helen and me in little Baggywrinkle. Be there or be square.