TWO yachts arrived at Bude Canal on Friday, May 1. Jon Kershaw was there to capture the scenes. He reported:

It was half past ten on Friday, May 1 when the Bude sea gate started to get busy. Two yachts were sat out in the bay waiting for high tide at eleven o'clock. At quarter to they lifted anchor and headed inland. The sea was choppy with a large swell so they turned back out for another go.

After the third attempt the Bude RNLI Lifeguards went out on one of their jet skis to lend a hand. First boat to come in (the Sluna) had a good surf in, then powered into the sea gate to wait for the second yacht (the ELVIRA). Being the smaller of the two yachts, it found it a little harder but, with the help from a large wave, it found itself safe in the calm waters and powered into the sea gate.

With both yachts safe in the gate, the Bude sea gate crew started to close the large gate from the sea and started to flood the lock. A big surge of water slowly brought the two yachts to the height of the canal. With the inner gates open, they both moved on to berthing in the Wharf.

At the same time, two boats went in the lock, first a fishing boat (the Kelpie) and then a small yacht (the bojangles). With the gates closed behind them, the lock gate crew started to let the water out of the lock to lower them to sea level, and opened the sea gate to let them out.

All in all it went well. Talking to some locals (Lisa Pinn, Luke Davey) they said it was good to be there as it's not often they use the sea gate so it was a great morning.

Jon Kershaw.