Three buoys of Plymouth Sound which often form part of the yacht racing courses. Melampus fairly close to Drakes Island, where the tide flows most strongly leads on towards the mouth of the River Tamar. The cardinal mark, South Mallard is one of a group of navigation markers situated around the shallow ground of Mallard Shoal, close to the Hoe and out in line with the Mount Batten breakwater. Queens Ground is further out towards Cawsand Bay, three and a half cables, six hundred and fifty metres and certainly less than half a mile from Fort Picklcombe. The swell runs high after a solid blow from a south-westerly gale.

Black Rock at the entrance to Falmouth and Carrick Roads is a menacing mark to be cleared with due respect from all directions. My first encounter with the rock was at the end of a Plymouth to Falmouth race in early May a good few years ago. Hard pressed under a leaden sky, concerned in case we rounded up in a squally gust we were pleased to pass close by and then to drop our sails and seek a sheltered mooring.