An English Summer 46

 

Stargazer ghosts along the St Mary's cliff line. The breeze just sufficient to belly her sails and give us way.

This morning we sailed off the anchor. Tacking our way, out of Porth Cressa, past a watchful shag, perched high on its rock. Leaving the peace of the cove undisturbed.

We bear off, onto the broadest of broad reaches, and pick our way slowly, over the tide, through the channel, which lies between Woolpack Point and the Spanish Ledges reef.

We gybe off the western tip, of the island. Broad reaching across St Mary's Road, toward the islands of St Martin's, Tresco, Bryher and Samson, on the horizon. Green domes fringed with silver sand, rising from a cobalt blue sea.

Mascotte slips out of St Mary's harbour, as we pass. She is the largest of the surviving pilot cutters. Out of Monmouth, in the tide torn Bristol Channel. Built in 1904. 

The Scillonian arrives, over the Crow Bar. A sign that the tide is near is height.

Stargazer is biding her time, on today's passage. The tides are neap (low highs and high lows). We are bound across the Tresco Flats. They dry to around a metre, except for isolated crags (the named rocks and red-edged black dots) which stand to varying heights. It is possible, with sufficient rise of tide, to weave one's way across. An enterprise best undertaken in the last hour of the flood. That way there is hope of floating off, if one grounds.

I check the time, as Stargazer arrives off Tresco Abbey. It is forty five minutes before high water. We should have sufficient water to cross safely. I furl the jib, to further slow our pace . Stargazer tip toes into the maze of rocks. Making two and a half knots over the ground.

 Watching the transits, to know when to alter course. Following the silver 'path' of the sand, through the clear water. Avoiding the dark patches of weed and rock. Watching the depth sounder: Never less than one point seven metres, beneath the keel. Two metres, three, four. We are through.

Stargazer anchors off Anneka's Quay. Built with the help of Anneka Rice, in her role as cat-suited catalyst for community projects, for the BBC show Challenge Anneka. The sandy  cove will make a good landing place for the Avon.

Stargazer has arrived off Bryher. By reputation, the wildest and most rugged, of the isles. Its name, pronounced 'Briar,' means 'big hill' in the Celtic tongue.