Our first sail this year was in company with ‘La Mouette’ a Shrimper and much bigger than ‘Rachel’, our Westray 16.

We launched ‘Rachel’ easily over the excellent public slipway which is shallow and gently sloping. The angle didn’t suit the Shrimper, however; it needs a steep slope leading to deep water! However before long we were gently sailing around behind Brownsea Island.

Although there is not a great tidal range in Poole harbour, it was spring tides that weekend and we discovered that even with shallow draft it is necessary to keep to marked channels. We spent a very peaceful, if cold, night afloat by Goatshorn Point, waking next morning to a still, quiet, world of thick fog. By lunchtime a breeze sprang up and cleared the fog in time for recovery at Baiter.

Salcombe Spring Bank Holiday

The same two craft launched from the superb slipway at Batson Creek in Salcombe, with excellent car and trailer parking adjacent, albeit at a price (slipway, parking, trailer parking and harbour dues).

Unfortunately the Shrimper’s trailer suffered a wheel coming off, which delayed the start (Our thanks go to the very helpful staff at Bramber Trailers who sorted the problem out although closed for the weekend!)

Saturday’s sailing included a tour of ‘the bag’ and a gentle cruise round Bolt Head before finding a peaceful drying anchorage in Waterhead Creek for the night. Sunday morning dawned still and dull so we started the day with a leisurely row up to Goodshelter, a quiet little hamlet with a few moorings, until we ran out of water. We then returned to rendezvous with the Shrimper near Tosnos point and took the tide motor/sailing towards Kingsbridge. Our two boats were in company with the splendid large racing fleet of Salcombe yawls who were desperately trying to find some breeze. Suddenly an instant change from becalmed to force 4 arrived on the quarter, from the edge of a big black cloud and we were off, with shouts of delight from the racers who were hanging out to stay upright! By the time we reached Kingsbridge the wind had eased and we found a peaceful lunchtime berth on the visitors short term pontoon.

Rain then set in and it was a windless motor back down to Salcombe. A decadent cream tea served by our companions in the Shrimper made a lovely finale to our weekend before we hauled out at Batson Creek and drove home.