Day 52 - Whitby

Friday 24^th July 2015 – Whitby – Day 52

At 01.30 the wind died, as it slowly moved round to the nose, engine on and headsail dropped.

I enjoyed the show for the rest of the night watch; the northern sky never really darkened with a ribbon of light on it's horizon.  The sky was clear and the stars bright when the show began, a meteor shower, they were criss-crossing the sky, mostly in a south to north direction.  For a finale the sky was lit in the east by a huge shooting star with a very wide tail which stretched for miles, at the head of which this huge glowing white blob hurtling through the sky.  Eventually the head was snuffed out and the tail faded.  I have seen many meteor showers at sea but this one was the best and will always be remembered.

The morning weather forecast was not very good at all, with the wind supposedly to veer round to the north, north east and increase to force 5 to 6 occasionally 7.  This is not want you want to hear on a small boat in the North Sea.

The decision was made to head for Scarborough 46 miles away where you can find shelter in the bay behind the castle, if you cannot enter because of the tide, while Whitby was 47 miles away; it is a tricky entrance especially in a swell, if the sea builds up from the predicted direction.

In the afternoon, we sighted land, the Yorkshire coast.  An hour later we re-rigged the genoa with its sheets, reefs removed from the main and as the wind had not changed direction, sea conditions the same, we altered course for Whitby.  For us the facilities at Whitby are more favourable and nearer to our home port of Blyth.

I called the marina at 18.00 and they thankfully replied there would be berth available for us, though we would have to go to the waiting pontoon before the swing bridge would open.

The mainsail was dropped at 19.30 and ten minutes later we were passing the welcoming north cardinal mark at the entrance to Whitby.

Whitby North Cardinal Mark

   

West Pier

The entrance through the piers was not a problem with very little swell and very relieved to see the river open as you turn and the town opens out before you.

At 19.45 we were alongside the waiting pontoon.  The swing bridge opened at 20.30 and all secured in the marina by 20.45.

A half an hour later we were in the shower block which was great and all polished we set off for the nearest Weatherspoon’s, the ‘Angel Pub’ for a meal of fish and chips meal and two pints of beer, this was wonderful, as we had very little to eat on the way across and of course no beer while at sea.

Finished off the night in the nearby ‘Station Pub’, with gins and tonics; before arriving back on board for midnight; then straight to bed.

Happy to be back in Whitby, one of our favourite ports on the north east coast of England, after completing a not too pleasant crossing of the North Sea.

Day 51 - At Sea

Thursday 23^rd July 2015 – At Sea – Day 51

Running through the early hours with the engine on and heading for another traffic separation zone off Botney Ground and around 02.00 passing the buoy BG1.

Here encountered a large fishing vessel when looking at her stern, she was lit up like a Christmas tree, while another small ship was lining up to cross the traffic zone here, so this helped to pass the time, keeping a close watch on their respective courses.

By 07.00 we were over the traffic zone and the wind began to pick up from the west, hoisted the main sail with two reefs and up went the number two headsail.  Engine off at 07.45 and we were again sailing but not necessarily in the right direction.

The noon BBC radio 4 long wave shipping forecast gave for this area, winds south to south west force 4 to 5 occasionally 6, ideal for us, but it never did and the wind stayed from the west, force 4 to 5.  Again the forecast was not as predicted but we were making our way towards the UK in lumpy seas.

The afternoon visibility was very good and we were seeing less of the oil/gas production platforms though fishing boats were now in the vicinity, as we were over the southern end of the Dogger Bank.

These trawlers were very interesting as they made their way from west to east, all vessels must to give way to these while they are fishing.  If at all possible it is best to pass across their bows or give a very wide arc around the stern.  This was my afternoon’s entertainment.

The reefs were taken out of the main at 20.00 as the wind began to ease.

     

We were treated to a magnificent sunset as the navigation lights were put on at 21.00 and the two reefs were put back in the main, just in case the wind picked up during the night.

The engine was also run for an hour to charge up the batteries, as we settled into our second night at sea.

Day 50 - At Sea

Wednesday 22^nd July 2015 – At Sea – Day 50

Awake at 05.30, engine started at 06.00 out of the harbour ten minutes later and hoisted the main with two reefs in, shortly afterwards we passed buoy VS8, now known as Jack’s buoy, the one we had bounced off on the way in.

By 07.00 we were making good progress down the channel with the outgoing tide and wind in the west force 3 to 4 with a slight to moderate sea, at 08.00 we shook out the reefs from the main.

By 08.30 we were beginning to cross the main shipping separation zones, this is where the larger ships mostly on passage in and out of the Elbe follow this particular route, we are obliged to cross at ninety degrees to the lane and the oncoming traffic.  These lanes are three miles wide and separated by two miles.

The first lane we came to was the north bound lane, on this clear day it was easy to spot the ships coming towards you and with the AIS (automatic identification system) on the chart plotter, this gives you the information on the ships, name of vessel, speed and course, more importantly the closest point it will be when it passes and at what time.

'Heulan'

This invaluable information made us slow down and alter course for one ship, ‘Heulan’ until she was safely past.  I am a great believer in, when on a yacht, plastic gives way to steel.

At 10.30 after crossing both shipping lanes, in the southbound lane there was very little traffic, the engine was stopped, and we set course for Blyth, now 240 miles away.

We settled into our four hours on and eight hours off watches.  I took the 12 to 4, Jack the 4 to 8 and Dave the 8 to 12.

As the afternoon progressed the wind slowly began to ease until at 18.30 the engine was once more started and the headsail dropped.

Dave's night watch attire

Westward Bound

By 20.00 there was no wind at all, mainsail dropped, as we headed westward for the UK coast.

At 21.00 the navigation lights were switched on, as we began our night hours and take in the enchantment of being at sea, the motion of boat on a slightly rolling sea, the stars in the sky breaking out behind the clouds with the occasional light on the horizon of other ships passing by.

Day 49 - Vlieland

Tuesday 21^st July 2015 – Vlieland – Day 49

The wind reached its peak at 03.00 with viscous gusts which pushed the yacht over about 10 degrees onto the pontoon.  There were some of us about making sure there was no damage being done.

At walk ashore in the afternoon took us back to the village, where we visited the church graveyard and found a section being well maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The headstones’ inscriptions told of the allied airmen who lost their lives on this island in the Second World War, a remainder of those troubled times, in this tranquil area of the village.

Village Square

Onto the high street and into the Co-op where we purchased our stores, then sat outside an ice-cream shop, enjoying our cornets in the warm sunshine and shelter from the now decreasing wind.

Back to the marina and into the shower block which was full of youngsters from the many now moored Dutch sail training barges.  They were getting themselves all polished for a night on the town, while we settled to stay close by.

Into the marina ‘De Dining’ restaurant which was also full, we waited some time for our meal of broccoli soup, followed by pork satay which was most enjoyable.

We were back on board and in our beds for 23.00 anticipating, an early start tomorrow and another attempt at the North Sea crossing.

Day 48 - Vlieland

Monday 20^th July 2015 – Vlieland – Day 48


At 10.00, boats started moving out of the marina but not for us, we moved off and found ourselves a vacant pontoon berth to stay for the day.

Spent part of the time carrying our repairs to the damage caused yesterday.  The engine cooling water pump was opened up and impeller found to be in a good condition, the sea suction strainer removed and cleaned.

The cabin port side locker door which had parted company with the hinges was drilled and new bolts fitted, while the port side dodger (canvas wind-break) which had pulled out some of the islets was re-secured.

Along with all of the other facilities in the marina was a hamburger bar, frequented mostly by the youngsters.  Myself and Dave gave it a try but it was not too our liking and we wandered off disappointed towards the village.

 

In the street behind the main thoroughfare we came across these wood carvings in an old tree, amazing piece of art and delighted to see it.

We made our way to the ‘Oord Hotel’ not far from the ferry landing and had very enjoyable evening, drinking the local beer and ould genevers.

Walking back to the marina, the wind which had been blowing all day was now increasing in strength, as we climbed on board around midnight.

Day 47 - Vlieland

Sunday 19^th July 2015 – Vlieland

The shipping forecast looks manageable with winds from the south/southwest quarter and dropping.

With a distance of 256 miles to our home port of Blyth, we decided to go for the crossing of the North Sea.

We bade farewell to the other yachts we had been lying alongside and headed out of the marina. 

With the tide near its highest, we moved along the channel to the slenk over the sand bank.  We kept very close to the small yellow buoys and after half an hour of tense navigation, at 11.45 we were into the main channel and headed for the open sea.

Unlike the forecast, the wind and swell were increasing from a westerly direction and we were making no headway on our intended course.  Decision was made to head southwards towards Texel to find shelter in Oudeschild.

At 14.00 with the tide and wind combination, we were being pushed towards the Eirlandsche Gat with its imposing lighthouse on the north of Texel.

Tacked out to sea, to give us more sea room, after another two hours we were not really achieving very much and the decision was made to return to Vlieland.

Now we were running with a very strong breeze and in a two metre swell which was becoming more and more uncomfortable. 

We passed once more this oil platform and at 18.30 the tide was changing in our favour, as we were running in the Terschelling Gat and rounded the top of Vlieland at 19.00.

  

We hurried down the narrow channel towards the marina, while I was dropping the hanked on No.2 foresail on the front, the helm’s man misjudged the combination of wind and tide, allowing us to drop onto the port side buoy channel VS8 marker.

I attempted to kick it away, not a very good idea, as I still bear the scars today.  V68 bounced down our port side very quickly, while the engine lost sea suction and was stopped.

Turned the yacht around and headed back out to sea, while the engine cooling water was re-primed  and engine started.  Dropped the mainsail and called the marina for permission to enter, thankfully they said it was OK.

At 19.30 we were just inside, on the far side of the marina, alongside a large Dutch replica barge ‘Woeswater’.

Very, very pleased to be back in harbour, it had been an awful day at sea and we were now storm-bound.

Day 46 - Terschelling

Saturday 18^th July 2015 – Terschelling –Day 46

The weather forecast is not too good again, so decided to stay another day on this island.

    

In this crowded marina we did not see anything moving out but there were a few stragglers come in.

Wherever they had started from, looking relieved to be here.

Back into the town to revisit the shops and found one devoted entirely to cranberries, it was to be found in all different disguises in drinks, jams, lotions and potions.  I was fascinated by this and made some purchases but never got to identify on the island where it was all grown.

Sat in the square under the lighthouse admiring the purchases drinking iced tea before moving on to the ‘Zeenight’, a restaurant overlooking the working harbour with fishing boats and day trip barges going about their business.  We dined on schnitzels, salad and chips, all very pleasant in the late afternoon sunshine.

We returned to the yacht in the evening for supper on board. With a slightly better forecast, we made preparations for hopefully leaving tomorrow for the UK.