SCILLY IN EASTERLY WINDS

East winds give Ken Endean a chance to explore unfrequented parts of one of Britain’s prettiest archipelagos

- Ken Endean

People who sail to the Isles of Scilly are inclined to smile and turn misty-eyed when describing this delightful, compact cruising ground. Pristine sands, glass-clear water, craggy coastal scenery and sub-tropical vegetation: if we can’t get to the Pacific islands then Scilly is a good alternative. Admittedly, some prospective visitors are deterred because no single anchorage or mooring area offers complete, all-round shelter. Even so, for Isles of Scilly regulars, that simply adds spice to their holiday and gives good reasons for moving around from place to place according to the wind direction.

An easterly airflow produces interesting conditions because the prevailing winds, and most of the gales, come out of the south-west quadrant and the traditional anchorages and harbours took that into account. Old Town, on the eastern side of St Mary’s, was the medieval harbour; it dried at low tide but faced away from worst weather, and Hugh Town, on the western side of the island, only became a useful port when its breakwater was constructed. New Grimsby Sound has always been the best deep-water anchorage for small craft and has Bryher island for protection from the ocean. Modern pilotage guidance still tends to give most prominence to anchorages that provide shelter from south-west winds. East winds therefore add variety by providing a chance to enjoy other places, including some that become wonderfully snug havens when the Atlantic turns placid.

NEXT DOOR TO HUGH TOWN