Tallulah, Outdoor Girl and Wild Boy

FULL VOYAGE DESCRIPTION

Small Boat Expeditions with Tallulah as the mother ship

Cornwall has some of the best coastal sailing and deep water estuaries in the UK. Pilot Cutter Tallulah loves a good blast offshore, but her skippers also love to take full advantage of the deep water anchorages and explore ashore too. For most of Tallulah’s summer sailing programme we use our rowing boat ‘Number 8’ but for this voyage we can do our shallow water exploring under sail. St Mawes, Helford and the extensive Fal Estuary also offers a fantastic tidal playground for boats that only have keel depths of 40-60 cm. We use Tallulah to take us to the best locations for wind and tide. Once there we can plan and implement some mini expeditions on our 2 spritsail yawls Outdoor Girl and Wild Boy.

This week there are big spring tides which means in the late afternoon – evening we can sail these shallow draft historic replicas far up some of the more remote Cornish creeks and salt marsh.

Whether we do it as a trial run for camping overnight and return to Tallulah for proper bunks and a meal on board, or actually try the real thing and pack the boats for overnight camping in tents ashore or under boom tents is dependant on weather, tide times and what individuals want to do.

A typical 6 night trip itinerary

First evening on board 44ft Tallulah, and probably an evening sail on the big boat, for everyone to get to know each other, understand how to tack and gybe and hove to the bigger boat.

On the first full day we will look at the weather for the week and plan the best combination of big boat and small boat sailing for the week. Typically we are likely to use 2 locations for some small boat sailing within creeks and estuaries. 2 days moving between sailing bases with the fleet and perhaps 2 days sailing Tallulah on her own, without the small boats to contend with.

If it is suitable weather and tide to start in St Mawes – then we will introduce the crew to the small boats at their beach base on the Percuil River and sail them both out to Tallulah before the tide is too low to get them off the beach. We then have a deep water, floating base to sail from and to, learning safe ways to return alongside under sail or oar, and picking up moorings. there are various beaches locally to have a go at sailing onto the shore with stern anchors.

The will use this introduction to the smaller boats and practicing sailing skills. Aboard the Tallulah ‘classroom’ we can look at charts and identify a good sailing and rowing foray that can be achieved without using an engine. On the rising afternoon tide we can head off  up a creek on the big spring tides, find a place for a campfire (or more discrete stove cooking) and wild camp ashore or try the boom tent. Return to Tallulah in the morning.

Second full day, relocate to a different estuary by sailing one boat alongside Tallulah, and towing the other. Another exploration on the evening HW – either camping out or all returning for a meal on board, and sleep on board this beautiful wooden pilot cutter. 

Last morning – if time and tide are suitable sail the small boats back to their St Mawes beach moorings up the Percuil River, or use them to bring you and your baggage ashore to St Mawes Harbour.

Sail Row Explore Club – Membership

We have planned some small boat sailing during your Tallulah voyage in association with a unique sailing and rowing club. Part of your voyage fee will give you guest membership to Sail Row Explore Club. If you agree to the clubs terms and conditions for members, then the club volunteer skippers can take you open boat sailing and show you a whole new sailing playground between the low and high water of Cornwall.

This private sailing and rowing club maintains 2 spritsail yawls for members – 16ft Wild Boy and 17ft Outdoor Girl. They are shallow enough draft (40cm and 60cm) to explore way into the salt marsh and tiny creeks on the Helford, Restronguet or Fal River tributaries.

If you enjoy sailing them and want to try wild camping, dinghy cruising, raids, or learn to take them out on your own as club members, then your membership is for the whole sailing season, each year. There are events and sailing opportunities, and a training structure for members to become volunteer skippers for the club. Once you are an approved skipper then you will be able to reserve dates to use the boats with other members. Being able to use the boats responsibly requires a full understanding of the club rules and the limitations of these open boats, plus the ability to put them back on their beach outhauls, safe, clean and ready for the next member to use.

The club aims to make wooden boat sailing affordable and the membership fee is purely to cover the maintenance and running costs these historic replicas of 1880 Gorran Haven Crabbers. Actual labour to keep these boats sailing and looking good requires volunteers as there are no paid staff. Tallulah skippers and mates all pay membership fees to use the boats themselves, and give up a lot of their free time to work with volunteers and share wooden boat maintenance skills in the winter and spring.

You don’t have to get involved with the Sail Row Explore Club, apart from the sailing taster with your guest membership on this Tallulah Combo course. The cost is included within your voyage fee, and passed onto to the Club Community Bank Account.

You do remain a member for the rest of the season so you can see what the club gets up to on their facebook page (link to be inserted). If you are not sure you want to renew your club membership for full sailing activities next year there is a much cheaper social membership rate which keeps you in touch with opportunities. You can always bump up your membership to ‘sailing & expeditions’ for the next year if and when you see something you really want to do.

Wild Swimming

Swimming from Tallulah in a beautiful anchorage often a big part of the fun on our sailing activity holidays.

The availability of Wild Swimming from Tallulah is at the skippers discretion. Supervision is provided from Tallulah and her dinghies. All our skippers are qualified with First Aid at Sea but not all are lifesaving guards.

Learning Beachcraft On a 17ft Open Boat

Those on the open boat will be sailing closer to the shore and up rivers into much more shallow waters. Learn practical pilotage, how to survey uncharted waters and beach landing techniques with the first mate to get into unusual coves and tidal pools. This is a carbon free challenge as there is no engine on board – only sails and oars. Camp overnight in wooden glades, remote beaches or under the boom tent.

Practical Intro to Navigation Skills

Scope to learn skills from the RYA Navigation and Basic Seamanship Syllabus & Certificate, or pick Debbie’s boatbuilding brain about the best type of boats to buy for your own future adventures. In 2021 she spent 12 months at the Boat Building academy learning the relative merits of solid wood versus GRP or plywood, clinker versus carvel and much more.

Tallulah as your mother ship – expedition base

Now we have a bigger pilot cutter, the low carbon theme remains. This week we have swopped her trusty expedition rowing boat Number 8 for the 16ft sailing boats to get ashore.

If the winds are too strong for the small open boats then we have the option of sailing Tallulah instead…..and if we can squeeze in sailing both we will.

Tallulah is fitted out to take 8 people sailing offshore in comfort. She can easily be self sufficient in water, food and fuel for a week. There is heating, hot showers, fridge, radiators and stove on board, and the bunks come with duvets and linen provided. Tallulah has a barrel windlass, oil lamps as well as 12v lighting and solar panels so we try to minimise our fossil fuel usage.

The Fal River

Roundwood Quay is great for a BBQ. There is officially wild camping at Turnawear Bar, and the remainder of our favourites remain a secret. Ruan Creek winds its way into shallow salt marsh and the remote village of Ruan Lanihorne.

Restronguet and Devoran Creek

The Pandora Inn is famous, but further up the estuary there are stone quays, islands, salt marsh and quite complicated navigation around the banks and channels. Another fantastic haven for wildlife, and a lovely pub at Devoran village.

Helford River – Marine Nature Reserve

Helford is timeless. You feel like you are in a Daphne Du Maurier book. Dense, twisted oak trees sweep down to the water. Oystercatchers flash between rockpools, bluebells, gorse, wild garlic and primroses waft their scent out to sea. Tallulah can tack into the widest part of the river and sometimes right up through to the moorings free upper reaches if the tide is high. Beyond that the little boats come into their own. The main creek dries at LW but at high water you can get to Gweek, Scotts Quay or up Frenchmans creek or Porth Navas.

Beaches, caves and secret coves

In between the well known beaches of the Roseland and Falmouth Bay coast are more inaccessable coves and caves. Great to anchor off for a swim or paddleboard, and sometimes a tiny bit of flat back beach can be found for some wild camping with small tents. There is always rocky spots for a BBQ if you bring your own wood and charcoal and leave no rubbish.

What to Expect on your Tallulah Short Break

Tallulah has a mooring across St Mawes Bay – so your first challenge is to meet Debbie on the Quay and row yourselves and bags out to your floating holiday base.

After finding out a bit about each other and individual hopes for the short break, the skipper and mate will introduce you life on a boat and how you sail Tallulah and the little boats safety. The training is on going through the few days and the more guests participate, the more we can do.

Some things on Tallulah are quite physical. Some things are easy peasy. She a has roller furling jib, but you need two halliards to hoist the mainsail (like all gaff sails). The barrel windlass is very manual and ancient in concept. There are loads of places to sit. There are high sides to the deck and there will be guard rails so walking on deck in rough weather feels very secure.

Meals are often taken on deck, but the saloon is also characterful with a big oak table and skylights above. We generally have all hatches open when stationary, so Tallulah has a well ventilated restaurant and al fresco options to take your meal on deck if you prefer.

Sailing instruction is informal, but the crew have wide interests so can answer most maritime questions from navigation to boat building. Never be afraid to ask to have a go at something.

Living on small open boats

If you start to sail for several hours of dinghy cruising you do need to stretch and move your legs. Going to the toilet is either an excuse to go ashore in seaside village, a bucket on board, or going off with a trowel and matches to the woods – to leave no trace.

These small boats have a galley box lined with stainless steel so you can cook hot meals and drinks on board whilst stationary.

Both Wild Boy and Outdoor Girl have a middle seat that can be removed and flat floor boards for camping mats. the 16ft long sprit forms a ridgepole for a canvas boom tent. Camping ashore with tents is a more spacious option, but both have their charms.

For more details read about Outdoor Girl and wild camping trips here:

link needed

HANDS ON HOLIDAYS

Whether you are an experienced sailor or a complete beginner, the professional crew will train you to be guest crew from the moment you arrive, with the intention that everybody works together to sail the ship. The common thread to all Classic Sailing holidays is ‘Hands on’ participation on ships that use ropes, blocks and tackles and ‘people power’ to set sail.

SAILING STYLE & LIFE ON BOARD

We cater for a wide range of ages and physical abilities, and how much you are expected to do varies a bit between vessels. See the vessel tab above which explains all about the ‘sailing style’ and what to expect in terms of hands on participation.  There is a lot of information about day to day life, the ships facilities and accommodation on the vessel pages.

AGILITY & FITNESS

Every customer sailing with us will need to fill in basic medical questions on their booking application.  If you are not sure if your current level of fitness and agility are up to a voyage, then please ring the Classic Sailing Office and we can chat through your concerns and possibly find options that might suit you better. 

What to pack for a sailing holiday on Tallulah

Plus Parking in St Mawes

What's Included

• Sailing Instruction
• Safety Equipment (Life jackets and harnesses)
• All meals on board & refreshments throughout the day
• Bed linen, duvet, pillows
• Wooden rowing boat activities
• 2 x Stand Up Paddleboards & buoyancy jackets (on summer voyages)

What is not included

• Alcoholic beverages
• Towels
• Wellie boots
• Waterproof jackets & trousers 

What to Bring

Please limit yourself to one soft bag or rucksack as there is limited storage space on board. No suitcases please!

Tallulah does not have waterproof jacket and trousers yet, so please bring a properly waterproof jacket and trousers on all voyages.

Walking and cycling waterproofs are usually adequate and much lighter to pack, so there really is no need to buy a coastal sailing jacket (unless you really want an excuse to invest in your future sailing). If you need any advice, or lack of a jacket is preventing you participating, please ring us on 01326 53 1234

• warm, windproof jacket for days when you don't want to wear a waterproof jacket
• Hats for sun and cold weather.
• At least two sets of warm clothes - layers e.g. tracksuit bottoms, shirts, fleece jacket, wool jumpers, thick socks, and neck scarf. It can get cold at sea even in mid summer.
• Swim suit, towel, and suntan lotion.
• we have space if you want to bring a wetsuit for wild swimming or SUP adventures
• Flat shoes with a good grip e.g. trainers or sailing deck shoes.
• Sailing boots or wellies as the sea can come over deck if rough*.
• (An alternative to boots in summer is to bring another pair of flat shoes with a good grip in case the first pair get wet).
• All terrain type sandals are great for dinghy trips ashore – but you do need shoes which protect your toes for sailing.
• Scillies trips – Walking boots are useful and can be these can be worn on deck too
• A small rucksack is useful for going ashore
• Camera, binoculars, sketchbook, a relaxing read.
• Passport for European or Ireland Voyages, Reciprocal Free Health Care card in Europe.
• Please bring a passport on French trips
• Any medication, spare spectacles. Seasick tablets - check with your Doctor, which brand if you suffer asthma or are on medication.
• RYA Cruising Logbook or similar if you want to log your sailing experience e.g. sea miles, night hours
• Musical instruments are always welcome.

Alcohol

Tallulah does not always have wine bottles for sale on board so you are welcome to bring modest quantities of alcohol, (unless it is an alcohol free voyage) e.g. to drink with evening meals, but drinking whilst sailing is not allowed.

A Note on Covid 19

While Tallulah's guests do not need to prove Covid Vaccination status at this time, it is expected that if a guest feels unwell prior to joining the ship they should always use common sense and test when appropriate to decide whether they should join the voyage, for their own safety and the safety of others onboard. It is a requirement that guests on residential voyages take out appropriate Travel Insurance and care should be taken to ensure insurance includes cover for such a case. Likewise, should members of Tallulah's professional crew including the skipper feel unwell prior to a voyage, they will always use common sense & test when appropriate.

 

Car Parking in St Mawes for Crew Joining Tallulah

If you're arriving by car, motorbike, or camper van to join Tallulah in St Mawes, here’s what you need to know.

There is a long-stay car park behind the Rising Sun pub in central St Mawes. It's run by St Just in Roseland Parish Council. You pay at the machine on arrival — card payments are accepted. Advance booking isn’t possible.

As of April 2023, the daily charge for a standard vehicle using one bay was £6, with reduced rates for longer stays (e.g. £35 for a week). Prices may have changed since then.

Motorbikes parked on yellow hatchings are free. Full mobility vehicles are also free. Blue Badge holders pay the standard rate.

Camper vans are welcome to park during the day but cannot be used for overnight stays. If your vehicle uses more than one space, you’ll need to pay for each and display a ticket for both. Coach bays are not to be used.

The car park is in regular use by both locals and visitors. High-value vehicles are often parked here, and concerns around theft or vandalism are very low, though of course no guarantee can be given.

Note
Always check the signage when you arrive, especially if staying multiple days or parking a large vehicle. Local rules may change.

Photos and images of the striking 44ft pilot cutter Tallulah, offering charter voyages for individuals, couples and groups from 2022.  Based in St Mawes, Cornwall. No experience is necessary and a local skipper as your guide.