Saturday 25 March
My crew decided they needed to return to Falmouth Visitors’ Yacht Haven, to refill my water tanks and buy some fresh provisions, ready for the planned passage to the Isles of Scilly early next week, when the weather outlook seemed to be improving. Mate was hoping to catch an early bus to Truro tomorrow morning, to enjoy the Mothering Sunday service in the country’s youngest cathedral, and take time for a little sightseeing.
We gave my lovely big genoa (foresail) an airing for a short reach downriver in the Carrick Roads, playing tag with the local oyster fishermen whilst enjoying pleasant 
weather and pretty scenery. The River Fal is the only place in the UK where traditional methods of gathering shellfish are still employed: to reduce pollution and keep alive ancient skills, the men are not allowed engines and must balance sails and oars against wind and tide – a fascinating and humbling sight from my shiny, modern, all-mod-cons decks.
Mate felt brave enough to take me back into the alongside berth I’d occupied on our last visit, once Skipper had set up all the lines and fenders (I won’t embarrass him by mentioning how much quicker Mate does this: obviously a little more practice needed). We came in smoothly and soon Bertha was ready for the 10km round trip to Sainsbury’s. After supper, Mate enjoyed a well-earned long hot shower up at the facilities. Coming home, she noticed three men bring in a small motor boat just ahead of me, and was unhappy that they seemed to be very close, having tied one of their ropes over my bow line on the forward pontoon cleat. The wind was already building to a strong Easterly, blowing us onto the dock.