TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

Erimar made her escape from Camaret like a fugitive from  justice with the tide coaxing her toward her motherland and her bow seeking the scent of home. We had the Chanel du Four, France`s last barricade to break through and we had timed it for its point of weakness and its achilles heel and hopefully off guard. The wind and sea in unison were still fighting with the enemy attempting to hold us back from the front line and keep us imprisoned within this last French bastion. The Four was not only fighting Erimar but also our coalition partner nature and gradually its resisitance weakened and not to be thwarted  we burst through its defences to continue our night passage through the western edge of the English Channel and onward to the Isles of Scilly.

Erimar sailed beautifully, steadily eating into the 120 miles and sniffing out her destination. Tiredness was cloaking over us but Dave and I kept each other awake as commercial traffic lit up the night sky whilst the radar alerted us to their presence well before they appeared. Dawn beat away the night and trawlers made for port laden with their catch heading for another pay day and the Scillies was still nowhere to be seen. As lunch time approached the Scillies protruded timidly from  its Atlantic swell, so low lying  that  Erimar was almost upon them before they could be seen. We moored  in St Mary`s next to Frasers boat having followed in the Scillonians wake, both boats being featured on the “Island Parish” programme. We spent the afternoon wandering around St Mary`s in a sleep deprived daze before succumbing to a well earned rest.

The Scillies, guarded by Bishops Rock, are a place where time has stood still, but not its prices! A place of beauty with clean fresh air and clear waters. A sanctuary for birds, flowers and plants and an inspiration for writers and artists.The islands are scattered with beautiful coves and beaches and quaint cottages, interspersed with tea rooms, cafes and restaurants eager for business and very eager to charge. A captive clientele!.

Passage: 126.08nm                                             Distance run so far: 1619.26nm