Generalities

The Cornwall Rally took place from July 9 to 15, 2025. A "pre-rally" event was organized from July 4 in Brittany and then in the Isles of Scilly.

Pre-Rally

July 4th and 5th

After leaving their respective ports, four boats met up at Ouessant on July 4th: Mahyna at Stiff and HeBen, Noramax, and Blackbird in Lampaul Bay. Unfortunately, Noramax withdrew from the rally due to unforeseen family reasons. The next day, they set off at 4:00 AM, then sailed 100 nautical miles on a single tack in a flotilla in heavy seas and force 6 winds, arriving at 7:00 PM at St. Agnes and anchoring in the south bay. We were happy to have arrived!

Sunday, July 6

A visit to the charming island of St Agnes and its pub The Turks Head, then we move on to anchor in Porth Cressa Bay south of St Mary's.

Tuesday, July 8

Tusitala joins us, as does Anakao.

Taking the shuttle boats from Hugh Town port we visited Tresco and St Martin's, great hikes in the sun, botanical garden and New Inn Pub on Tresco, The Seven Stones Inn on St Martin's.

The Rally participants

Blackbird (RM 1070): Serge
Heben (RM 970): Benoit, Jean-René, Jean-Michel
Tusitala (RM 1270): Christophe, Sylvie, Sandrine
Immram (RM 1050): Yann, Eric
Mahyna (RM 1060): Xavier, Patrice
Tiny Viking (RM 890): Olivier, Stéphane, Michael
Anakao (RM 1270): Francois, Anne, Jacques, Sylvie
A total of 7 boats and 18 crew members participated.

The Course

The rally route covers 150 NM in 5 stages from Scilly to Dartmouth, we will explore the most beautiful sites in Cornwall, England: St Michael's Mount, Penzance, Helford River, Fowey, Plymouth, Dartmouth.

A superb, friendly atmosphere prevailed at the 2025 Cornwall Rally, held in good weather conditions.

Chronology

Day 1: See you on July 8, 2025 on the island of St Mary in the Isles of Scilly

The start of the rally is officially celebrated at the Atlantic pub at 6pm with a review of the program and presentation of the different crews.

Day 2: From St Mary's to St Michael's Mount

Departure from Port Cressa around 8:00 for 2 hours of spinnaker sailing.
The wind drops and we motor the rest of the way.
Passing by the Minack Point cliff we see the stands of an open-air theatre renowned for its summer evening music concerts; there are already many people waiting on the beach.
We find Tiny Viking and Immram at the foot of the English Mont Saint-Michel. The Normans in the fleet don't want to compare it to the one the Bretons left them…
Heben enters the small tidal harbor for an unforgettable experience. The others remain at anchor west of the jetty in 5m of water.
Fleet drinks on Anakao because the port captain won't let us disembark (it's a new regulation!).

Peaceful night, light wind shifting from south to north.

Day 3: From St Michael's Mount to Penzance

Sunny day: Visit to the castle in the morning, which includes many decorated rooms that trace past life in this magnificent castle.
Meals in the village of Marazion for some who cross the Gois at low tide.

In the afternoon, we swam around the boats. Stéphane caught some spiders while diving; Tiny Viking is going to have a feast.

A short 2-mile motor sail to the next stop in Penzance. Arrival around 5:00 PM and all the boats moored alongside each other. The harbor master gave us a very warm welcome.

Drink at the magnificent pub: "Admiral Benbow" on the recommendation of Tiny Viking, in a decorated room that reproduces the rear castle of a galleon.

Day 4: From Penzance to Helford River

Departure at 5:30 from the port to take advantage of the current and especially because the entrance gate closes at 6am.
We are witnessing a magnificent sunrise right behind the SMM.
Heading towards Lizard Point under motor, then sailing to Lizard Point for a close-hauled leg.
Tusitala sails close to shore to avoid the current and easily passes in front of Anakao
The entire fleet finished under motor power in bright sunshine.

Anchoring in the river at a place called Frenchman's Creek surrounded by silent forests.

Pot at the super urban Pub Shipwrights Arms on the waterfront.

Day 5: From Helford River to Fowey

Blackbird's foghorn signals the start at 7:30 in the serene calm of this river.
A few close-hauled tacks to reach Fowey
Through a clever calculation of reversal and a winning bet, Blackbird manages to take the lead ahead of the two 1270s stuck at 3Kt in a coastal option.
Arriving in Fowey on a very lively Saturday with regattas in the ria for a superb spectacle.
Another dream stopover.
Fowey River, its castle and its Yacht Club where we will spend the evening with a very good meal.
Unfortunately, Tusitala is leaving us this evening due to family obligations.

Day 6: From Fowey to Plymouth

Departure at 8:00 under sunny skies in Fowey Bay
Unfortunately, Tiny Viking is leaving us due to work commitments and is returning directly.
Jacques embarks with Serge on the Blackbird for the day.
15 knots of wind and two tacks to reach Sutton Marina in Plymouth after passing through the lock. A great battle between Blackbird and Anakao upwind in the waves. Heben takes advantage to arrive first! A great performance from Immram.
Drinks on a Blackbird in Sutton Marina near the Mayflower dock

Day 7: From Plymouth to Dartmouth
Departure at 9:00 during and after the downpour, depending on the boats.
Jean Michel is accompanying Serge on Blackbird for the day. Up to 30 knots apparent wind downwind in a choppy sea with a gybe.

Heben takes the opportunity to visit Salcombe River with a bay entry accompanied by local surfers.
Upon arrival, we noted the authority of our GO who made the boats leave the pontoon reserved for RMs.
Final drinks on Blackbird for a debriefing, but all good things must come to an end….

Impressions

Stepping ashore means leaving the ship, leaving the sea, the wind, the currents, the clouds, and also leaving the friends with whom we shared the same emotions. But we cherish all the good times spent together and stay in touch for future adventures. We keep memories, notes, and photos—in short, everything that remains of a rally. Serge
Jean-Michel shares his personal recipe for flambéed lobster.

Below are the photo albums of the participants.

Finally, here are the lyrical testimonies of 2 teammates which sum up this state of mind well.

The blues of returning to land

It is 3 a.m.
The wind is roaring tonight over Lorient.
The predicted gust of wind has finally arrived.
I can hear the sea and the waves breaking outside.
… But nothing is moving around me for the first time after 19 days at sea!
No watch to take tonight, so I take my phone and scroll through the photos and pages of Jean-Michel's logbook.
The stages unfold again: Le Guilvinnec, St Evette, Ouessant, the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall. Our last 72 hours of sailing for the return to the Iroise Sea and South Brittany. The Malouine channel at Aber Wrac'h, the Four accompanied by gannets, the passage through the Raz de Sein under spinnaker, full speed against the current… And that last glide, still under spinnaker, off Penmarch and the Glenan islands with dolphins coming to play with the hull and the two keels of Eben.
Final goodbye by VHF to Xavier and Vincent in the early morning off the coast of Groix…

All that remains is to thank all the Rally crews for all these wonderful encounters, all these great moments shared together.
… With a special mention and a thousand thanks to Serge and Benoît who made all this possible.
It's going to be tough to stay in port tomorrow…
Hugs to all,

Jean-René

The day after

More weather files to download
More tides and currents to consider
No more road to build
No more tipping points to negotiate

A magnificent epilogue by Jean-René
Good times to remember
Friends to thank
And imagine the next trip!

Thank you Benoît and Serge for this magnificent rally
The sea always enriches us.
You'll find new friends there.
We'll meet them one day, and we're delighted.

Jean-Michel