Pot buoys and water stocks: Ten tips for visiting the Isles of Scilly.
Author: Mark Fishwick
The Isles of Scilly should be on the wish list of every sailor worth his salt. Mark Fishwick , author of the respected West Country Cruising has sailed and worked on them all his life. Get a taste for this unmissable archipelago with these 10 tips on getting the most out of your cruise.
1. Have a well found boat with a reliable engine, a crew of adequate strength and experience and, absolutely essential, up to date Admiralty charts.
2. Choose a spell if fine settled weather, with Neap tides, and arrive in daylight with ample time to find a suitable berth. Do not be tempted to make a dash for the islands if there is any hint of deteriorating weather – if so you’ll be better off on the mainland.
3. Try to visit the islands in June or July. If possible avoid August when the islands are at the busiest and the weather less settled.
4. Have more an adequate amount of ground tackle on board to cope with all exentualities. With the poor holding and fine sand in many anchorages a CQR anchor may not perform at its normal best. Most local boatmen seem to favour a good sized fisherman or Danforth.
5. Watch the weather and be constantly aware of any potential changes. Choose your anchorage not only with regard to the prevailing conditions but also what might happen in the next 12 hours.
6. Once in the islands don't hurry. Take life at a gentler pace and don’t take chances, least of all with the tide. The tidal streams can be very unpredictable in the close proximity to the islands and can for short periods attain a great strength than indicated in the Admiralty chartlets and Pilot.
7. Do not impede local boatmen, fishermen or other commercial traffic. They don't take kindly to finding a yacht lying on their moorings when they return after a hard day’s work. If in doubt – ask!
8. Water is a valuable commodity in Scilly so aim to leave the mainland with full tanks. All food and booze is freighted in by sea or air and likely to be more expensive so stock up before you leave.
9. A number of the uninhabited islands are important bird breeding areas. The following are closed to visitors between 15 April and 20 August: Annet, The Western Rocks, Crebewethan, Gorregan, Melledgan, Rosevear, Norrard Rocks, Castle Bryher, Illiswillgig, Maiden Bower, Mincarlo, Scilly Rock, Stony Island, Green Island (off Samson) and Men-a-vaur.
10. Beware pot buoys! Wreck diving is also very popular so give any boat flying international code flag ‘A’ (vertical white with blue swallow tail) a wide berth.
Further Reading:
West Country Cruising Companion
Understanding a Nautical Chart
Coastal and Offshore Navigation
Staying Put - The Art of Anchoring
