It was quite hard dragging ourselves away from such an idyllic spot, but our destination had to be Plymouth and Aphrodite's new home.
We cast off and gently motored down Carrick Roads where we hoisted both sails and waited for the wind off St Anthony Lighthouse and as promised the wind filled and we started our eastward journey back to Plymouth via the Eddystone Lighthouse.
A relaxed passage followed with the wind building slowly from a F1 to a F4 and we were finally able to see the shape of that new main, all the theory about sail shape finally made sense!
By the time the strange shape of Eddystone crept above the horizon we were doing a good six knots and looking forward to rounding the waypoint and turning north towards Plymouth. About a mile off the Eddystone we were about to cross a fishing boat on a trawl and just as I was about to gybe to the rear of him he stopped and let us pass, a huge wave of thanks and we rounded the light.
As evening was approaching the weather was changing and it was time to put some warmer clothing on.
Heading towards Plymouth Breakwater all of a sudden it got busy, fishing boats going in several directions, HMS Dragon coming out and a tanker racing us for the line at the breakwater. We were more than happy to follow him in.
Ironically, as we headed in towards King Point a Plymouth Sailing School boat was heading out. I did my RYA Day Skipper with them years ago and I thought it good to meet them as I brought Aphrodite into her new home port.
We furled away the genoa and dropped the main in the sound, sorted out the fenders, set the mooring lines up and prepared to enter the marina. Motoring past Pont Aven I realised how small the boats we sail in are!
At the entrance to King Point several small boys woke up to the fact we were coming in and they had fishing lines out, we did a 360 degree turn and let them pull in their lines gave them a wave of thanks and entered the marina.
No pressure, we were in and were looking for our berth. Hoping nobody was watching us enter the marina, thankfully we came alongside with little fuss, but I need a not more practice!
Aphrodite had been delivered to her new berth and there were more adventures to come.
Crew: Sandy Garrity, Alex Bowling
Distance figures Distance: 51 nm Moving Average: 5 kts Max: 7 kts
Weather Issued at: 04:05 on Thu 10 May 2018 UTC For the period 06:00 on Thu 10 May 2018 UTC to 06:00 on Fri 11 May 2018 UTC
Plymouth
Wind Northwest, backing south or southeast, 5 or 6. Sea state Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. Weather Showers. Visibility Good.
GPS Track