Yachting

St Helen’s Pool

enjoys nearly

all-round shelter

ANCHORAGES

N

estled between the northern

islands of the Isles of Scilly,

St Helen’s Pool enjoys nearly

all-round shelter – a rare

attribute in these parts. With

Tresco to the west, St Martin’s to the

east, and the islands of St Helen’s and

Tean to the north, only the south is open,

though distant St Mary’s

still acts as a windbreak

and keeps the swell

away. This picturesque

expanse of water provides

several small nooks and

crannies to explore

as well as a spacious

deep-water anchorage.

Historically this was

one of the best Scillonian

havens for large craft

seeking a roomy,

sheltered refuge when

St Mary’s Road became too exposed.

With good holding in sand and a depth

of 5m in the centre, the islands ringing

the anchorage keep it free of swell at all

times except high tide. The pool can be

accessed from Tean Sound, Old Grimsby

Sound, or from the Crow Sound area to

the south. Pilotage through the channels

does need care, especially from the south

or Old Grimsby, and for your fi rst visit it is

wise to choose a rising tide and avoid Low

Stones on St Martin’s had shut. Both these

islands are easily reached by a moderate

dinghy ride, should the will take you.

The best place for fuel and water is St

Mary’s, so it is wise to be self-suffi cient for

your stay here. Both St Helen’s and Tean

Islands offer a chance to stretch your legs

and explore the old seaweed farm on Tean

or the chapel and old isolation hospital

on St Helen’s. The vista from the top of

both is magnifi cent. We celebrated the

end of an idyllic Scillonian fortnight with

sundowners on Tean’s highest point, a

truly peaceful spot.

We love it here. There are few pleasures

greater than being surrounded by nothing

but sleepy islands and the sound of

undisturbed nature whilst watching the

sun sink. And then, as dusk fades into dark,

the stars shine brightly overhead while the

loom of Round Island’s lighthouse sweeps

round. Truly magical. W

Jonty Pearce takes

us to a picturesque

haven of peace and

quiet with good holding

Water. My own preference is to navigate

through Tean Sound or use St Helen’s

Gap, a narrow channel to the north of

the pool between St Helen’s and Tean

Islands through which entrance can be

gained from Round Island, marked by its

magnifi cent lighthouse. We have used this

passage several times and have found it

straightforward, though you have to take

care of the tidal cross current and fl anking

rocky ledges. Start a cable off the east

side of Round Island and head due south

to leave the rocks off Didlev’s Point, the

easternmost part of St Helen’s Island, well

to starboard until you identify the gateway

between West Gap Rock and East Gap

Rock ahead, altering course to 190º to

pass through the centre of

the gap. Hold this course

for another cable and

watch the depth sounder

as there is a bar here

with least depth of 1m –

check the tidal height to

ensure you have enough

clearance. Pick your spot,

check the depth, drop the

hook and you’ve arrived!

Our favoured choice,

enjoying the benefi ts

of a lifting keel, is to

anchor in East Porth, just to the south of

Tean Island and protected to the south

by Hedge Rock, though there is plenty of

deep water space in the main pool.

As for shoreside facilities, well, forget it.

This is a haven of peace and quiet offering

family picnics and beach barbecues

rather than the revelry of hostelries. The

neighbouring islands of Tresco and St

Martin’s host local facilities of a shop and

a pub, though on my last visit the Seven

Men-a-vaur

Landing

Carn

St Helen’s

Norwethel

Tresco

Foreman’s I.

Scattering

Rks

Little

Cheese Rk

Cheese RkGreat

Tide Rk

Hedge Rk

Hedge Rk

Ledge

Rascal’sLedge

West

Broad

Ledge

Centre Men-a-Vaur

in line with Landing Carn 322°

Lizard Pt

GrimsbyOld

St Helen’sPool Tean Tean Sound

Pernagie I.

Pednbrose

Round I. LighthouseFl10s55m18M

Horn(4)60s

St

Martin’s

0

2

2

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(^08)
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(^06)
(^73)
25 34
(^03)
(^14)
(^12)
(^61)
(^26)
(^34)
(^67)
(^34)
(^15)
05 8
(^16)
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St Mary’sRoad
Old GrimsbySound
SoundCrow
St Mary’s Sound
Tresco
St Martin’s
ISLES OF
SCILLY
Bryher
Tean
St Helen’s
Samson
Gugh
St Agnes
Annet
St Mary’s
Tean Sound
v
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0 1nm
PHOTO: JONTY PEARCE. CHART: MAXINE HEATH
‘ There are few
pleasures greater
than being
surrounded by
nothing but
sleepy islands’
St Helen’s Pool,
Isles of Scilly
56 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com MAY 2016