Tuesday 11 April
Everything my crew read about navigating around the Isles of Scilly warned of strong and unpredictable tides, hidden unmarked rocks, and an absolute need for calm conditions and good visibility. They were so lucky to bring me to this magical, beautiful place in the best possible weather, and today decided to test the accuracy of the chart plotter by exploring the outlying Western Rocks, in search of the elusive puffin. We cruised carefully around Annet, in sight of the majestic Bishop Rock lighthouse, and wove our careful way through the channels with the trusty binoculars seeing more use than usual. Sadly it seemed the special little seabirds have not yet returned to their breeding grounds for this season, but my people were enchanted by sightings of Atlantic grey seal – several, or one who followed us around. We dropped anchor in The Cove, lying between St Agnes and Gugh. The Cove was inhabited by more wildfowl than humans, so not entirely 
peaceful, but not busy either. Being Springs, the sandbar joining the two islands became covered either side of high tide, but we remained very sheltered, albeit I could feel the tide rush past me down the temporary channel.