Having made it from Yorkshire to Brixham in his 18ft Nordkapp with the help of a friend during the first stage of his UK circumnavigation, Ian now goes it alone to the Scilly Isles and South Wales
[ PA RT 3 ]
BRIXHAM TO SCILLY ISLES, 140NM
We’d made it from Yorkshire to Brixham in just three days but now my friend and crew mate Harty had to get back home, leaving me to push on alone. By 6.30am I was keen to get going so we said our goodbyes and I cast off.
I’d really been looking forward to this next leg exploring the Devon and Cornish coast with its famous turquoise waters. The Scillies were also an exciting proposition but being some distance out into the Atlantic Ocean and exposed to wind from any direction, it was a big ask of my small open boat.
But first I had to deal with another problem: oil, or rather the lack of it. I was fast running out of the special two-stroke oil my Evinrude outboard uses. At the current burn rate, I would run out entirely in Wales. I wasn’t too worried, though, as I was heading for Plymouth to refuel and I was bound to be able to get some there. In the meantime, the sun was out, the sea was flat, the radio was on and the boat was purring along at 22 knots. Everything was good in the world. In less than two hours I was pulling alongside the fuel dock at Queen Anne’s Battery, Plymouth. It being 8.30am on a Sunday there was no sign of life, so I hailed on Channel 80 as instructed before resorting to the phone.
The chap who picked up explained that the pump didn’t open until 9am but said he’d try to get in earlier if he could. I tidied the boat, washed her down, and lined up the jerrycans ready for filling. I also changed into shorts and a T-shirt as it was already getting hot. The pump attendant arrived as promised and once I’d filled and paid up, I asked if I could moor the boat up temporarily while I nipped to a chandler and picked up some oil.
“They don’t open until 10am on Sundays, mate,” he replied. Not wanting to wait and knowing I had enough for another 400nm or so, I thanked him and pushed on.
My next stop was Falmouth, where I was confident I could find some oil, so off I went.
The sea continued to flatten and at 25 knots, I was making good ground. Less than two hours later, I was pulling into Falmouth. I didn’t really need fuel but the fuel berth was empty so I asked the attendant if there was a chandler handy. There were two – excellent! He told me where to tie up and having paid £12 for a couple of hours berthing, I headed into town.
Bosun’s Locker had sold out of oil but the assistant suggested I try Robin Curnow’s in Penryn, just three miles away.
‘I’m sure they’ll have some,’ he said, hopefully. My spirits lifted. ‘The only trouble is they’re closed on Sundays.’ A
