Sailing to Salcombe on Sagitta Sept 2023

The south coast of Devon and Cornwall is one of the major English cruising areas. Lots of safe all weather harbours and no outlying dangers - apart from the well marked Eddystone and Wolf rocks. Just west of Start Point is Salcombe and about 20 miles SE of my home port of Plymouth. So it is surprising that I hadn't sailed there for maybe 40 years. Fortunately last weekend's forecast was for light NW winds switching the next day to a light SE wind. Perfect for a broad-reach there and back. Furthermore the tide was good and, surprisingly, for late September, it was going to be warm and sunny. We left our mooring on Sagitta about 11am, with more wind than forecast and also with a lumpy sea, left over from the previous days gale. No matter, as we were reaching down the coast. I have never fully understood why, but the shoreline from Bolt Tail to Salcombe seems to produce steeper waves than normal. I assume because the swells bounce back from the steep shore. They extend some way out, so its always worth staying at least a mile offshore. As soon as we had cleared Plymouth breakwater the auto pilot was put on and then, as they say, we "sat back, relaxed and enjoy the trip" We had wanted to go all the way up to Kingsbridge, but the harbour master wasn't sure if there'd be room, so that's for another time - hopefully before 2063! I'd forgotten how fast the tide runs in the mooring field off Salcombe town. Another reason for going further up the harbour towards Kingsbridge. And that same tide makes crossing the entrance bar very dangerous, in fact impossible, in a strong southerly wind. Even in the light conditions we had overnight the swell was noticeable. It took 4 hours to get to Salcombe, but sailing home was quicker. We crossed Salcombe bar at 9am, were off Plymouth breakwater by 11 and having lunch on our mooring by 12.15. Fortunately, after a lot of work in the spring and early summer, Sagitta is much more habitable than it was a year ago, so we are enjoying living on board. One major job still outstanding is to replace the saloon sidelining. Foam backed vinyl has a nominal 15 year life, Sagitta's is over 30!, so no wonder it's falling down in places. Just another winter job, along with finishing the deck painting, to add to the, once again, growing list. You can see more on Sagitta here: https://www.sailingcatamarans.com/index.php/designs-2/3-25ft-to-30ft-catamarans-designs/171-sagitta As always, there is no audio on this short video