September already!

September has arrived and the memories of the Scillies are fading faster than I would like.

So I had better get something down now, before it all disappears into the haze of summer gone.

A few more indolent days, just enjoying the Islands, the pub, Tresco gardens and the beaches came to an end with the the immenent arrival of the tail end of a hurricane, which was to flood large parts of the south west.

Living, as we were, tied to a buoy in the reasonably sheltered waters of Old Grimsby, we were'nt too worried about the impending storm, although several other boats nearby scuttled off to New Grimsby on the other side of the island in the erroneous belief it would be more sheltered there. The wind [F7-8] was due to come in from the SE to start with before veering S and then into the SW. This put it as just offshore by the time it would be at it's worst. So that was OK then. Of more immediate worry was the huge swell breaking near Men a'vaur outside the anchorage, and wrapping inside.





outside at full chat. double overhead at least; and makeable, going right


Once the tide dropped this problem would dissipate, but it was likely to be somewhat uncomfortable for some time in the night, what with the tide and swell opposite the wind the chances were that Pagan would lie a-beam, which would be unpleasant to say the least.

It was a fine evening and there was'nt the merest hint of what was to come as we went ashore for another of Chris' bbq's [I told you Chris was big with the burnt offering stuff, did'nt I? well to be fair he was pretty good at it] Thus sated we returned to the boat, now sitting in an empty anchorage. Now, we began to wonder if we should really have gone round the corner along with everone else. To make sure Jacki phoned one of her old friends, someone who knew the area like a local, having been coming to the Scillies for years [but was now safely tied up in Milford Haven]. He reckoned we were in the right spot, and that the others would get all the nasties as the wind veered toward the S and W.
So we doubled up the warps to the bouy, took the engine off the dinghy, double warped the dinghy and flaked out the biggest anchor we had just in case we had to bail out and find a spot closer inshore during the night. A couple of hot chocolates with Jamesons and we settled in.

Around midnight I awoke to the sound of wind keening in the rigging and something banging on the hull just next to my head. Sticking my head out of the hatch I noticed that we had indeed swung round to lie broadside on and were starting to roll awkwardly. The dinghy was alonside and pinned against the hull by the wind so I led it round aft and away from us. Glancing at the sky the moon shone through storm wracked clouds and I could sense the wind beginning to build. Being from the SE it was warm, but even so, I did'nt want to spend much time outside, especially as an intermittent rain was now heading in, horizontally.
Deciding to stay up for a while, I made an instant soup and sat under the shelter of the cockpit hood and watched the storm unfold around me, theres nothing I normally like better than a good storm, but usually from the safety of my home. The others slept on oblivious to what was happening outside. As the tide gradually ebbed and the north going stream made itself felt a little more we moved to be bow onto the wind. At the same time the swell entering the anchorage dropped off and so we settled to being a little less roly, although the wind seemed to increase in strength towards the south, pushing F8 and probably more, we were getting a degree of shelter of the land now. A quick check around the boat, and back to bed where I slept, more-or-less until the morning, which dawned bright and warm but with a wind still quite strong, but from the SW now.

We decided that a trip back to Bryher for lunch and wandering was in order.


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