Summer school holidays have started and we have the unique opportunity to spend several weeks on Polaris. Plans are to sail as far afield as we can, all depending on the weather.
In the week before the holiday start a weather window opens which should make it possible to sail westward, against the prevailing winds, in a northerly breeze and so we decide to set course on the Isles of Scilly, some 25nm west of Land’s End in the Irish Sea.
We set sail on Sunday, 19 July 2020, 19:00 in the evening, leaving Haslar Marina south around the Isle of Wight and then on a more or less westerly course past the 3 major headlands, Portland Bill, Start Point and Lizard Point out to our destination. A trip of 235 nautical miles which we intend to do non stop and which should take us about 36 hours to complete.
Initially there is literally no wind when we leave Portsmouth and we enjoy a stunning sun set with a slightly clouded sky. Shortly after midnight the northerly wind starts to pick up, actually quite a bit stronger than forecast. We reach in 22 – 28 knots of wind (F5-7) and make good progress. A steep sea starts building and we get shaken a bit more than what we had hoped for.
Constantin and I are on watch until midnight, then Kathrin and Constantin carry on until 3am before I am back in the cockpit. Our new spray hood offers great protection from the elements, right as we expected from the improved design.
The wind and waves continue to be demanding across Lyme Bay. With Start Point in sight, the wind dies down and with the change of the tide to a westward current the waves become longer and smoother.
In the afternoon of Monday the wind dies completely and we motor sail past Eddystone Lighthouse south of Plymouth heading southwest towards the Lizard.
At nightfall the wind picks up again, and Kathrin and Constantin are challenged with 20 – 25 knots as predicted. I am confined in my berth and am not allowed out until 01:00 on Tuesday morning. The two manage their challenge very well. In the early hours of Tuesday, during my solo watch, the wind drops to a leisurely 12 – 15 knots and I have plenty of time to enjoy the starry night including the spectacular sights of comet Neowise between negotiating the tankers, container ships and fishing boats off Land’s End.
At daybreak Kathrin joins me for the last 3 hours of enjoyable sailing to our destination, New Grimsby Sound, Isles of Scilly.
The logbook counts 234nm and 40 hours of sailing in winds up to F7, our longest and most challenging non stop trip to date!