CRUISING
The
call
of
the
West Country
Mention bareboat chartering and most of us automatically
think of Turkey or Greece – or maybe the Caribbean.
However, as James Turner finds out, there are
tempting alternatives much closer to home.
I
jumped at the chance to from Cornish Cruising’s base borrowed a RIB to explore the at Smuggler’s Cottage. We
sample the delights of at Falmouth. On day one, an River Fal a bit more quickly returned to Falmouth via St
the West Country when overcast, but not too chilly than by yacht. If we’d had Mawes, the town on the east
Cornish Cruising offered us May Monday, we arrived a week it would have been side of the estuary, by which
one of their Bavaria 36s for at lunchtime – me having glorious sailing, because time Pixie was freezing,
a few days. I was further driven from Southampton there is deep and sheltered having not bothered to wear
enticed by the possibility of (four hours) and the others water for miles inland. We a fleece and Yvonne was wet,
being able to arrange a High having caught the train from passed the King Harry Ferry having not bothered to wear
Line Transfer with the Air/ London (five hours). Compare and a number of mothballed her oily top. Me? I know
Sea Rescue people at RNAS this to a charter in Greece or ships before stopping for tea about RIBs and how cold and
Culdrose. Planning consisted Turkey. An hour to wet they get.
only of enlisting a couple of the airport, 2-hour We were delayed
crew, Yvonne Shaw (like me check-in, 3½-hour boarding our yacht
a volunteer with the Ocean flight, plus at least You-Go due to a blocked
Youth Trust) and Phil (Pixie) an hour for baggage heads from the previous
Wainwright, a long-time and transfers, charterers. That can
sailing friend. totalling seven and a happen anywhere, but
My wife, Linda, sorted us half hours – longer at least in England the
out with boxes of food. if your departure helpful charter company
We planned to spend 2½ airport is further staff were on hand to fix
days (not long I know, but from home. the problem quickly. It
long enough for a taster) On Monday was really too late to set
seeing what we could find afternoon we off sailing, so we settled
94 Sailing Today July 09
ST147 Cornish
Cruising_RTG.indd 102 14/5/09 11:01:12
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