Concerto
Well-known member
After a number of enjoyable days in Hartlepool due to adverse wind direction, today I continued on northward. There was no need to rush this morning as a late start was good for the tide, so topped up the water and diesel tanks. After leaving the lock at 11, the wind was on the nose so I raised the mainsail before leaving the harbour. It did mean motoring into wind to gain some sea room before turning onto a course of 340. The wind was supposed to be SE with SW later and dropping in strength. The wind was more NE meaning a reach with the wind just in front of the beam and I was making 5½ to 6 knots.
I kept my fingers crossed as I still have not use the spinnaker on this trip and longed for some southerly direction. Alas, the wind stayed NE for a long time and slowly dropped. Then a heavy rain storm hit and killed most of the wind and I was now only making 3½ knots, so on went old faithful. The wind never returned fully and I had to use old faithful for the rest of the day. The sea was quite confused with rollers coming from the NE and SE, plus waves between them, none this made it a very uncomfortable ride. The mainsail kept swinging to the centre line of the boat and a couple of times the mainsheet managed to disconnect the autopilot. After sheeting the main in tight to stop it swinging, the headsail was rolled away and was never unrolled again today. There was even another shorter and lighter rain shower.
Checking the boatspeed over the ground, I realised I was going to reach Amble before the tide had a chance to rise enough to allow entry. So reduced the engine revs to 1800rpm and made a steady 4¾ knots through the water. This would make my arrival after low water just about right. To make things interesting I passed between the shore and Coquet Island and it went down to 1.7m under the keel. Even so I did go down to 0.3m just inside the entrance (I drawn 1.6m). Motoring close to the moored fishing boats provided plenty of depth. The cill at Amble Marina was showing 1.8m and when I slowly passed over it, my depth sounder showed 0.2m. I slowly chugged to F pontoon and then ge tly reversed back to lie alongside. It was like a millpond with virtually no wind and as I was still wearing full oilskins, I felt a tad warm. It was now 19.30. A lady came over to help me moor, but I still did it all singlehanded. I also had a welcoming committee of some large ducks with their chicks.
To end the day, I cooked some lamb steaks garnished with mint jelly, along with boiled new potatoes, carrots and broccoli. Very tasty and washed down with some cider.
Nearly forgot to mention the first video is ready to upload to YouTube, so will try and find some wifi tomorrow to do it. Once loaded I will post the link. Now to start the second video.
The previous thread is here. Round Britain day 11
For those just reading this group of threads, this is the first post. Round Britian day 1
Every thread has a link to the next part.
I kept my fingers crossed as I still have not use the spinnaker on this trip and longed for some southerly direction. Alas, the wind stayed NE for a long time and slowly dropped. Then a heavy rain storm hit and killed most of the wind and I was now only making 3½ knots, so on went old faithful. The wind never returned fully and I had to use old faithful for the rest of the day. The sea was quite confused with rollers coming from the NE and SE, plus waves between them, none this made it a very uncomfortable ride. The mainsail kept swinging to the centre line of the boat and a couple of times the mainsheet managed to disconnect the autopilot. After sheeting the main in tight to stop it swinging, the headsail was rolled away and was never unrolled again today. There was even another shorter and lighter rain shower.
Checking the boatspeed over the ground, I realised I was going to reach Amble before the tide had a chance to rise enough to allow entry. So reduced the engine revs to 1800rpm and made a steady 4¾ knots through the water. This would make my arrival after low water just about right. To make things interesting I passed between the shore and Coquet Island and it went down to 1.7m under the keel. Even so I did go down to 0.3m just inside the entrance (I drawn 1.6m). Motoring close to the moored fishing boats provided plenty of depth. The cill at Amble Marina was showing 1.8m and when I slowly passed over it, my depth sounder showed 0.2m. I slowly chugged to F pontoon and then ge tly reversed back to lie alongside. It was like a millpond with virtually no wind and as I was still wearing full oilskins, I felt a tad warm. It was now 19.30. A lady came over to help me moor, but I still did it all singlehanded. I also had a welcoming committee of some large ducks with their chicks.
To end the day, I cooked some lamb steaks garnished with mint jelly, along with boiled new potatoes, carrots and broccoli. Very tasty and washed down with some cider.
Nearly forgot to mention the first video is ready to upload to YouTube, so will try and find some wifi tomorrow to do it. Once loaded I will post the link. Now to start the second video.
The previous thread is here. Round Britain day 11
For those just reading this group of threads, this is the first post. Round Britian day 1
Every thread has a link to the next part.
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