As always, the Scillies did not disappoint. The weather was not as sparkling as we have enjoyed in the past and it was quite breezy on some days. But it was worth the slog to get there.
I visited Tresco and St Mary’s while waiting for Ruth to arrive. We then spent a very pleasant 2 weeks: taking a trip out to Annet, looking for puffins, visiting the islands of St Agnes, Gugh, Bryher, Tresco, Tean, and St Martins. Walking a lot, eating well on board and ashore … and relaxing.
It was very breezy for a few days with attendant swell and Thalmia bumped a bit as she ‘took the ground’ on quite firm sand which can be disconcerting (sorry Ruth!) but she’s strongly built and no damage was done.
One day we had serious rain. We used a trip boat to visit St Martins and got thoroughly soaked walking around the North of the island before enjoying a delicious lunch and drink at the Seven Stones and drying out afterwards in a bright and breezy afternoon.
Most boats seemed to manage the breezy weather quite well and for those who do their research and have the right equipment there is always somewhere safe to anchor even if it gets a bit uncomfortable. However there were a couple of unfortunate boats whose holding was not good enough for the conditions and one very unfortunate boat came unstuck – literally!
My return passages were less hurried than getting there. Scilly to Helford, Falmouth, Plymouth, Salcombe and back to the Exe. At the start I motored more than I had hoped for but once departed from Falmouth the motor was off most of the way, including a long stretch goosewinged with a poled out Genoa, a preventer on the main and the autohelm keeping the boat on a steady angle to the true wind for quite relaxed downwind sailing.
I’ve published a short YouTube video of the 4 week trip – it’s 15 mins long if you want to see more!
With school holidays I’ll be limiting my sailing over the next few weeks to day sails with family or in club races (nothing too serious I assure you!) . Then, maybe, there will be another sailing adventure later? We’ll see!
Voyages of Thalmia 
Derek
Thank you for your latest video and report on your voyaging. Once again it made very interesting watching and listening; thanks for continuing to include us in your ‘Thalmia’ circulation.
Please give my love to Ruth; she gets quite a few mentions in your account but please may I ask if there is a further ‘chapter’ to the Thalmia story could it include a photo of one of my most favourite ever students.
Love to you both
Jim
Sent from my iPad
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