This evening 'Sandpiper' is on a visitor's buoy at Calstock. Immediately to port is my old Pioneer 9, 'Aziz'. She is laid up at the boatyard, but she's a sorry sight. She is not beyond re-commissioning. However, a great deal of money, time and effort would be required for her to be brought back to the state she was in when owned by me. She was made famous by Nicolette Milnes-Walker who sailed her across the Atlantic to become the first woman to do it nonstop.
The sail from Salcombe to Calstock was perhaps the best of all during this cruise. I deeply reefed the mainsail before lifting the anchor at Salcombe, and it was the right thing to do. 'Sandpiper' moved across Bigbury Bay smartly with the wind on her starboard quarter.
Eventually, when about half way across the Bay I took out the reef and kept full sail until inside Plymouth Sound.
I did not start the engine until well up the River Tamar at Cargreen.
From there onwards the views from the river were incredibly beautiful - pristine farmland with hedged fields, woodland and hills.
At 20.00 the river here at Calstock is peaceful with the calls of many birds: Blackbirds, Wrens, Robins, Collar Doves, Wood-pigeons and a Skylark.
The telephone reception is poor; therefore I may not succeed in doing this post.
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