Helford River and Penzance

We set off from Falmouth on the Friday, heading for the Isles of Scilly but unfortunately developed a major electrical fault en route that needed fixing so we had to go back (aluminium boats and earth leaks being a rather expensive lesson in electrolysis). Luckily we found a great marine electrician but it took some time to identify then sort out the fault. This was no great hardship for the girls and me as we spent a few happy days on the beach (photos above) and browsing the second hand bookshops of Falmouth while Simon became intimately aquainted with Fidelio's electrics.

In the end we had to stay 6 days in Falmouth, getting the electrics working and then a day or so waiting for the weather to improve and to allow Simon to see more of it than simply the bowels of the boat. We left Falmouth early on Wednesday and sailed around to the Helford river, picking up a mooring in a beautiful spot on the river opposite the village. After lunch we decided on an adventure - taking the dinghy 4 miles or so upriver to Gweek. All went well until we ran out of sufficient depth of water for the outboard so had to paddle the last mile - very exciting! We arrived just in time to moor at Gweek quay and visit the seal and otter sanctuary there.

Today we set sail westwards again and came into Penzance after 8 rather blustery hours battling a gusty westerly wind. Here for a day or so and then on to Scilly (hopefully) after a day trip to St Ives, and when the wind is coming from somewhere other than due west for a change (exactly where we want to go next!)