The Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly are one of the UK’s best kept treasures - a semi tropical archipelago of over 140 islands of which only 5 are inhabited. When the weather aligns, it’s hard to imagine a better cruising destination. Fantastic walking, pure white sand, unspoilt and often deserted beaches, abundant wildlife, quirky shops and fantastic food make this one of our most requested destinations.
Each of the eight main islands offers numerous anchorages and all have their own very unique qualities and warm welcomes. We aim to ensure that guests experience as much as possible during their time aboard - it would be easy to lose weeks exploring this captivating destination.
Recommended charter duration – 5-7 days+
The islands can be reached from Mylor in a single sail in daylight hours with consideration made for the strong tidal streams that run East and West around Lizard point. This will usually entail an early morning start with a view to arriving in the early evening (approx. 11-13 hours at sea). Alternatively, there are numerous stopping points to break up the journey over two days – The Helford River, Coverack, Mullion, Marazion and Newlyn to name a few.
We usually select St. Mary’s as our initial landing point, either picking up a mooring at St. Mary’s Harbour or dropping anchor at Porthcressa if conditions allow. St. Mary’s has the highest population and multiple shops and services to pick up supplies, not forgetting an obligatory pint at the excellent Mermaid Inn!
We can then plan our itinerary to visit the other islands with our favourites being St. Agnes, Bryher, the privately owned Island of Tresco, the uninhabited island of Samson, St. Helens and the beautiful St. Martin’s. For the adventurous types that want to enjoy perfect solitude, the rugged Eastern Isles are also a possibility.
The Isles of Scilly make for a truly unforgettable holiday and one where exploring by yacht, visiting a different anchorage each evening truly has the edge over land based accommodation! It should be noted that very special care needs to be given to wind and weather when visiting the islands. This a beautiful but rugged landscape that is subject to the full force of Atlantic swells and weather systems. There is an anchorage to suit almost all conditions but making for a safe and comfortable charter may require moving Arcarius fairly frequently and occasionally at short notice. There are no marinas on the islands so guests will need to account for this when planning their days and evenings ashore. It’s an adventure, but it’s always worth the extra effort!
