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West Country COVID diary

external standard of safety, to reassure myself that I am properly caring
for anyone who chooses to come out with me.

June
The conditions were often frustratingly perfect, but harbour masters in
Cornwall were very clear that visiting boats were not welcome. But with
my mooring at Mylor I felt it was more or less legitimate to head around
Land’s End and so extend my day sailing range to Carrick Roads and South
Cornwall. The trip from Padstow to Falmouth was perhaps my tenth failed
attempt to find the supposed south flowing
counter-current around Land’s End. Reeds
Almanac describes a south flowing inshore
stream, counter to the outer northerly flood,
with the precision of a train timetable, and the
proviso to keep “as close inshore as is prudent”. I
have hunted for this as close to the Brisons and
Armed Knight as I dare, as it does get a little
spooky in there, without success. This time I had
3-4 knots against me for a while! I do suspect
that this may be a myth, but have written to
Mark Fishwick of Reeds to ask the source of the
information. No answer as yet. After a night following the North Cornwall
coast, I tend to pause around St Ives for a good breakfast, as it’s reassuring
to enter that channel with a full belly!
July

By early July it was finally permitted to sleep on the boat (now with the
lights on!). I had been planning to fit a Hydrovane for some time. I like
sailing in company, but have developed a taste for heading out my own:
that particular combination of exhilaration and terror is rather addictive,
and it is a relief not to feel responsible for others’ misery when things
become uncomfortable. Will Curry at Hydrovane had been very kind and
held over my Boat Show discount, and, on his advice, I had arranged to
head to Guernsey, as Boatworks in St Peter Port offered the double

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