Yachting Monthly - November 2015

ANCHORAGES

T

he main nautical shortcoming of

the Isles of Scilly is the paucity

of all-weather havens. Green

Bay comes close to fulfi lling the

need, but only for boats that

can take the ground. This

idyllic drying bay is tucked

safely just off the Tresco

Flats between the islands

of Bryher and Tresco and

enjoys near all-round

shelter on fi rm, drying

sand. On our last visit, a

neighbouring boat had been

there all summer, soaking

up the Scillonian sun, safe and secure

in the knowledge that both he and his

spaniel would be well protected should

the weather turn inclement, though the

sunny days stretched out during a blazing

summer. For those yachts restricted to

deep water, the moorings and anchorage

of adjacent New Grimsby Sound are the

next best bet, albeit for a token fee paid

to Henry the Tresco harbourmaster.

Sleepy Bryher is the smallest

inhabited island in Scilly and

harmonium by his son-in-law, who had

been more accustomed to playing at St

David’s Cathedral!

Bennett Boatyard occupies a corner

of Green Bay and offers boat and canoe

hire, showers, chandlery and water. Steve

Hulands at Bryher Marine is an expert

marine engineer and Bryher Boatyard

provides care and repair of leisure craft

and is situated just down the lane from

the Bryher general supply shop.

Green Bay is best approached from

New Grimsby Sound. Pass just north of

Merrick Island on a course of 245° to

clear the Three Brothers Rocks and Brow

Ledge, which occupy the southern section

of the bay. The water is clear, permitting

a scan of the sandy bottom, which dries

to 2.2m, before dropping the hook.

Bryher entrances us. We, too, could

spend a whole summer there. W

If your boat can

take the ground,

Jonty Pearce has

the ideal all-weather refuge

for you in the Isles of Scilly

contrasts with its popular neighbour

Tresco across the fl ats. Whilst Tresco

is renowned for its lush, exotic Abbey

Gardens and upmarket accommodation,

Bryher attracts a more informal type of

person, though the Hell Bay Hotel does

cater for the luxury market. Bryher is

an island of raw beauty and peace – my

bedroom wall is adorned with two lovely

prints from artist Richard Pearce (no

relation) who works from an old gig shed

on the shore. They are the second thing

I see each morning and get my day under

way with a sense of Bryher tranquillity.

Walk on past the Hell Bay Hotel and its

infamous namesake comes into view,

the alleged venue for 18th

century wrecking tales,

although the rocks lining

its Atlantic-facing shore

are sharp enough to need

no assistance. Return to

the east, over the high

point and views of the

well-named Watch Hill,

and slake your thirst in

the Fraggle Rock Bar, set in a peaceful

beachside position looking out at Tresco

past Hangman Island (don’t ask).

The return to Green Bay fi rst passes

Anneka’s Quay before reaching All

Saints Church. We attended

a Sunday morning service

here, unexpectedly taken

by a senior churchman on

vacation from Canterbury

Cathedral, accompanied

on the salvaged

BRYHER

TRESCO

Hangman I.

Shipman

Hd

The Horse

Watch

Hill

Hotel

Anneka’s

Quay

Merrick I.

TRESCO FLATS

Q(3)10s

Three

Brothers

Lubber’s

Rk

Great Crabs Ledge

GreatPool Plumb I.

Brow

Ledge

New Grimsby

Harbour

Hell Bay

New Grimsby

Sound

GREEN

BAY

0 1,000m

New

Grimsby

3

11

6

2

0

1

8

3

8

5 5

5

(^22)
2
Tresco
St Martin’s
ISLES OF St Mary’s
SCILLY
Bryher
St Helen’sTean
Samson
Gugh
St Agnes
‘ It enjoys near
all-round
shelter on fi rm,
drying sand’
PHOTO: JONTY PEARCE. CHART: MAXINE HEATH
52 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com NOVEMBER 2015
Legs or twin keels are
a requirement for
enjoying Green Bay
Green Bay,
Isles of Scilly