Fowey to Falmouth - August 4th 2006

Fowey to Falmouth – August 4th 2006 (Cheryl)

I arrived at Fowey, after an hour’s drive from Falmouth – the destination to which we’d be aiming for by sea today. Fowey a meandering, twisting town was busy with shopkeepers and locals preparing themselves for a day trading since it’s high summer and the tourists are still coming. A still, sunny morning – the atmosphere reminded me of holidays on the South Coast of Cornwall as a child. I was joining Josefine and the crew on one leg of their tour of the Southwest – they’d already been to sea festivals at Mousehole and Plymouth and visits to the Isles of Scilly and South Wales.

Charles arrived right on time and after a short float across the harbour to the pontoons, I reached the Josefine who was squished in between a number of other classic boats all slowly getting ready for the race to Falmouth in between banter between each other. Laura was checking the charts (not maps) and Ian was waking up – so there were five of us altogether. I felt a bit guilty for not really doing very much except waving my microphone about trying to capture the sounds of the ropes and traditional creaks of the ship as the sails went up – calmly at first and then with urgency as Charles’ son George counted down the minutes until we had to go. Thanks to the lack of wind; as we left Fowey, I did wonder if we were actually drifting backwards but as we left the shelter of the land the speed picked up and Josefine looked fantastic. I was really impressed.

I have to admit to being quite worried about being seasick! So for the first few hours of the journey I sat at the back of the boat and barely moved as Josefine wobbled up and down. I also have to admit, that, not really in the spirit of a true sailor, I had hoped for the sea to be like a pond! But there really had been no need to worry and by the time I heard there was an hour until we got to Falmouth, I’d forgotten about my concerns and didn’t give seasickness another thought.

Before that though, after some lunch and having found my sea legs, Charles let me steer (not sure if there’s a sailing term for that but you’ll know what I mean) and I managed to almost hit a lobster pot – which did take some expensive fishing tackle – oops. I still don’t know if Charles went back for it the next day. But, apart from the lobster pot incident, I enjoyed being at the helm.

We finished the race in approx five and a half hours and then made our way into Falmouth where I tried to convince George I lived in Pendennis Castle as we passed it – needless to say the story didn’t wash. But I did like seeing Falmouth from the sea and trying to spot the different landmarks. Josefine was anchored up and after another short ride on the little boat, and a stop at the petrol station in the sea, we eventually reached the land. Quite windswept and having caught the sun, I was really satisfied with a fantastic day on such a lovely sailing ship. So, my first trip aboard Josefine – well, the brochures were correct – you really do experience the sights and sounds of a traditional sailing ship and it’s better than words can describe. I wonder if I can enter my own competition to win a cruise on the Bristol Channel!

Check back soon for news from the crew on the rest of the Southwest tour including the Sea Salts and Sail Festival at Mousehole, the Henri Lloyd Falmouth Week and the Plymouth Classic Boat Rally.