Mounts Bay and Penzance

Jim Saltonstall looks at Mounts Bay and Penzance

On the Land’s End peninsular of Cornwall, both Mounts Bay and Penzance Sailing Clubs offer fantastic racing waters. Both clubs have hosted some great championships over the years, and to this day, are still amongst the most popular racing venues in Britain.

Penzance Sailing Club is situated at the western end of the bay, in the harbour of Penzance itself; whereas Mounts Bay Sailing Club is situated in the North East corner, close to St. Michael's Mount. With huge road improvement schemes all the way down to Land’s End, journey times have been slashed by hours, making both clubs far more accessible than they were.

Accommodation in the area is excellent, with numerous good hotels, restaurants and camping facilities. But as always, like any popular venue, book early to save disappointment, especially during the school holidays. Hospitality at both clubs has always been excellent; the club members have always made us very welcome in the past, and put maximum effort into hosting great National, European, and World championships.

Race Area

Basically there are two race areas in the bay, one to the west, operated by Penzance, and one to the east, operated by Mounts Bay. However, if only one race area is required, it would normally be central in the bay. The bay itself is almost an identical copy to that of Weymouth in shape, but very different in its surrounding landmass.

Mounts Bay is land locked from 200 degrees clockwise through north round to 120 degrees, so when the wind direction comes from anywhere within this sector, you can expect it to be shifty. Then it’s eyes out of the boat most of the time looking for the puffs and the wind shifts. Do not forget your basic theory while in the northern hemisphere - when the wind comes from the land on to the sea, the first sheer of wind is always to the right. So as you get closer to the land, you can expect to be lifted more on starboard tack than on port.

Wind Direction

340-040 degrees: As with any offshore wind, the shifts in the starting area vary depending on the wind strength. In the light winds the arc can be approximately 30 degrees, whereas in the mid-to-upper wind range, 10-to-15 degrees. The same theory applies up in the windward mark area, but over a wider sector, in the light winds 30-to-50 degrees, and in the mid-to-upper wind range, 20-to-30 degrees. Pre-start, get to know your numbers on the compass, so that you can quickly tell which is the lifting tack off the line, and for starting any subsequent beats at the leeward mark.

040-090 degrees: For the wind, it normally pays to go left up the beat, primarily for the convergence of wind (more on the port side of the course), also looking for the header as you go in on starboard tack, with the lift out on port.

090-120 degrees: As above, for exactly the same reasons, you have the land mass now completely on the port side of the course, with all indications that there is more breeze on the port side of the track.

120-220 degrees: The clear sector for the wind and the sector for the roughest sea, in the mid-to-upper wind range. From this sector the wind is at its most stable in both direction and strength. The tide now plays a role in the which-way-to-go decision making process. We will address this a little later.

220-260 degrees: Racing on the western side of the bay, with the wind in this direction, it normally pays to work left-of-middle up the beat for more wind. If you went hard right towards the shore, you may well get lifted on port tack as you go in, you will also sail into a zone of lighter wind, due to the wind divergence along the shoreline. If you are on the middle or eastern side of the bay, you will not feel the divergence effect. You will once again be dealing with the wind shifts coming off the western shore, up to a 15 degree arc.

260-340 degrees: A shifty sector, with the wind coming over relatively high land. You must know your numbers on the compass, or your tacking angles relative to the shore. With the wind in this north-west sector, you will also find it gusty and blustery. So it is once again important to keep your eyes out of the boat as much as possible, looking not only for the shifts, but also for the gusts of wind.

Tide

The main flood stream to seaward is from west to east, with not too much activity close in the bay.

Other Information Sources

Admiralty Charts

777

Admiralty Small Craft Charts

SC0777

Tidal Information

Tidal Stream Atlas of the South Cornwall Coast by Mike Fennessy (may be difficult to find)
Yachtsman’s Tidal Atlas: Western Approaches and Channel West, published by Reeve-Fowkes
Admiralty Tidal Stream Atlas Number 250 (English Channel, no detail of Falmouth area)

Tourist Office

Mounts Bay, phone: 01736 362207