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West Country COVID diary

April
So sort of grounded – literally so for one half of the time. Osira had been
on the hard for a couple of years in the Algarve sunshine, so the gelcoat
needed attention and there was now no excuse
for procrastination. I had tried to make a start at
the yard, but I had her up on a cradle high enough
to lower the keel, so polishing on either side of a
tall ladder was tiresome, and the weather in
February had been atrocious. So for several days I
beached her on a sandbank to give her a good cut
and polish and was delighted that the inverter
could keep up with the electric polisher. A police
helicopter did circle me a few times trying to
decide whether a bloke polishing a boat on a sandbank miles away from
anyone contravened regulations, but it eventually swung away to find
another target.
May

With sailing officially allowed after 13th May, had some stunning days out
in the continuing sunshine. Who needs to struggle all the way to the
Ionian when you can find perfect winds and dolphins off Port Isaac? The
West Country Cruising Companion is rather too harsh about where we are
- “As a cruising ground there is, sadly, little to recommend the north
Cornish coast….it presents an exposed and rugged lee shore with just a
few drying harbours that cannot be guaranteed as places of refuge – an
unwholesome combination and a natural deterrent for pleasure
boating….an area to pass through as quickly as possible”. Ouch - but that
certainly manages to keep the crowds away! Anyway, I don’t agree, as it
can be extremely beautiful and varied – you just have to keep an eye on
the forecast and the tides.

I could now legally complete the only outstanding item for coding the
boat - swinging the compass to provide a deviation card. I have no
intention of chartering her out, but am attracted by the boat satisfying an

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