Mounts Bay Musto
Skiff Nationals – Sailors Guide
by James McIntosh
 The
venue
Mounts Bay is one of the iconic sailing
venues in the U.K. With the backdrop of St Michael’s
Mount and a large open bay it makes a picturesque venue
with a range of potential conditions.
The launching area is a wide long sandy
beach. The only hidden dangers to watch out for are
some rocks to your right that extend out a fair way
and the odd lobster pot. The beach slopes at a gradual
angle so you will have to keep your foils up a fair
way when launching and landing.
The sea state should be relatively flat
in any wind direction from the west around to the north.
It can get a nice sea rolling if there is south coast
swell in a strong southerly or easterly breeze. The
waves are a good distance apart so any Solent sailor
should find it a nice change to Stokes Bay chop.
The current on the course is negligible
but the water does move up and down the beach a few
hundred metres so there will be a small walk, on hard
sand, at low tide.
Bruce Keen’s (national champion) long
lost cousin also holidays in Marazion and “used to sail
one of these boats with the outriggers 20 years ago
in South Africa”. Maybe that’s why Bruce got so good!
Bars
Mounts Bay Sailing Club is based in the
bubbly village of Marazion and has a large bar overlooking
St Michael’s Mount and the bay. This is a great spot
for post race beer(s). Across the road from the sailing
club is the lively Gig Bar. They serve food and coffee
in the day and host some great local bands in the evening.
The Barn nightclub is a 20 minute stagger
from the sailing club and is where a lot of holiday
makers and Penzance youths party in the summer.
Family days out
St Ives offers a good family fun day out
with tight narrow streets packed with unique shops and
art galleries. If you have not had enough of the beaches,
St Ives has its own beach at the west end of the town.
There is also a pretty harbour packed with fish and
chip shops and ice cream parlours, just watch out for
the seagulls.
Another good outing is to the seal sanctuary
in Godrevy (just up from the surfing beach). It is National
Trust parking and has some picturesque walks. The seals
congregate in a little bay that is on the headland.
It never rains in Cornwall (it pours)….
but if it does the Eden project is an hour’s drive away
in St Austell. Adults cost £22 and children are
£8 but it will most likely be busy. Another rainy
alternative is the National Maritime museum in Falmouth
which has a basement below the sea.
Surfing
The main surfing beaches are a 20 minute
drive away on the “north coast”. Gwithian is part of
a 3 mile long sandy beach where you can escape the crowds
and have stunning views. There is a large pay and display
car park on the cliff top where you can hire boards
and wetsuits. Try to avoid high tide as the beach starts
to disappear.
Accommodation
If you haven’t booked accommodation yet
don’t panic. A local farmer (Cornish translator maybe
required) has opened up his field for Musto Skiff ‘glamping’
just next to the sailing club.
See you at the nationals.
James McIntosh
Harken
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