DAY FIVE - NEWLYN/PENZANCE

Needless to say, we slept like logs last night after our day rounding the "Lizard".  However, I did wake up in the night to hear the wind howling outside, and this morning there were some good sized waves breaking on the side of St Michael's Mount.  We had a bit of a housekeeping morning, hiring a car, driving the short distance to Newlyn harbour to check on the RIBs, taking the jerry cans to a nearby petrol station for refuelling, checking in with the Harbour Master, organising our accommodation in Newlyn on Tuesday night to be ready for an early start on Wednesday morning, and doing a much needed wash of some rather salty clothes!

The RIB's looked like rather weedy boys left at a school for the first time in comparison with their much heftier fishing boat distant cousins!  Newlyn harbour has a definite work-like atmosphere, and with the bad weather about there was a lot of activity in the harbour as the fishing community made the most of the lapse in fishing to do running repairs.  Our day yesterday seemed even more surreal as we floated about in autumn sunshine doing our chores. It is hard to believe that in just that short distance out to sea the conditions can be so very different.

However, the reality of the current sea state was very much in evidence when we drove out to Land's End.  There was a good Force 6-7 blowing, and spectacular waves crashing against the rocks, but even more alarming a lot of white breaking water quite far out to sea as well.  It was definitely the right decision not to go to sea today, and we just hope that by Wednesday morning, with a predicted Force 3, the sea will have settled and we can round the country's most westerly point in relatively settled conditions.  Meanwhile, there is still work to be done.  The course must be plotted, and the route plans for the following days decided.  It is a real temptation to tuck into Land's End and make the most of the channel of relative calm that lies the landward side of the lighthouse.  At the same time, there are a number of hazards that need respect on this side, including "The Kettle", a nasty group of rocks where the water literally looks like it is boiling.  We will be looking long and hard at the charts tonight to decide our best option.
We will also make the most of another day on dry land.  Having both denied any feelings of fatigue, Anthony asked me to make a call and I promptly took out my camera, whilst I asked to go back to the hotel and he drove me to the harbour!  I am getting confused with a boat - now THAT'S a worry!!!

ConTTentment & Teal dwarfed in Newlyn Harbour