15thSeptember.  We left Lundy at 8.30 with early morning light on the island and shafts of sun shining through the clouds. We switched between jib and gennaker several times, adjusting sails and hand-steering in the flukey wind under grey skies. We knew we would arrive too early to get over Doom Bar at the entrance to the Camel estuary, so we anchored in calm water off Stepper point to wait for the tide, off a beautiful sandy beach.  

By 5pm the tide was sufficiently high, and the lock gates into the harbour were due to open by 5.20 (2 hours before high water).  We carefully followed the channel markers, making a sharp turn to the right and going very close to St Saviour’s point to avoid being swept past the harbour entrance and further up the estuary.  As we arrived, the lock gate was opening – we’d never seen a gate which opens by tilting from an upright position to flat and then sliding underwater!  

Padstow harbour

Once in the harbour, we moored up with our bow to a mooring buoy and stern to a pontoon.  The harbour is in the middle of the village, surrounded by restaurants, shops, people and gulls on the scrounge for Stein’s fish & chips.  The harbourmaster, Al, was friendly and helpful and after a shower and quick look round the village we sat down to supper on Nova, with a day on shore to look forward to tomorrow.

  • Distance: 37nm Lundy to Padstow. Sailed 6h motored 1h30m
  • Wind: W/NW3-4

ABOUT THIS BLOG

On our passage ‘Around These Islands’ Anne is writing about each trip, and Jonathan is writing some more ‘technical’ blogs, from our perspective as ordinary cruising sailors. We are sharing what we’ve learned, and welcome your thoughts too. Please remember that this blog – and your comments – are public.

There’s also a special focus on 12 key ports on our planned route, with articles from These Islands and a series of podcasts from Chrome Media called ‘Around These Islands in 12 Ports’.

FOLLOW US

You can like, share and follow us on social media for latest images and impressions: