Friday 27 May 2016

Friday 27, this is unbelievable

We had resolved to return in the face of the threatened northerlies.
Set off with plenty of water in a northern tidal stream, no wind, so motor sailing under leaden skies.  A few hours into the 6-hour journey with Ray the auto-helm steering, I started some locker cover maintenance; completed the starboard lid and opened the port side. To my horror a stream of water was pumping out of the topmost connection to my new hot water tank, the crimp clip had slipped with the heat of the continually running engine. The boat was flooding.
Thankfully we were able to turn the water off and urgently pump all the water out of the bilge, without damage to the boat.
The pic shows the reattached hose with a jubilee clip.
Lovely rest of journey.
That's enough drama for one trip


Thursday 26 May 2016

An ill-fated voyage, Thursday 26
Wind easing and sea state calmer so we decided for Whitby. Short weather window as strong Northerlies forecast for the weekend which would make a return to Blyth difficult/impossible
Advised by marina 11.30 departure latest safe leaving time, thereafter channel too shallow for our draft.
As we locked out it was clear not enough water and very soon we were aground and stuck with an hour and a half of falling tide. Not a familiar predicament, no help from marina or advice from local coast guard, apart from checking we were safe.
2 anchors, aft and stern, all drinking water, three quarter of a ton jettisoned and waited with some trepidation, would we tip over?
Thankfully with about a metre of water we rocked the keel into the sand and remained afloat and upright, WHEW!!!!  Back in when enough water.

Is someone trying to tell us something?  Home tomorrow to sail another day.

Image are of us aground from the chart plotter and back in the lock.
Wednesday 25
Ventilation cover arrived and installed, 5 days following the incident.
We felt desperate to sail somewhere, wind F6 NNE sea state rough (3 meter waves), only one direction possible; south, running mostly some broad reach. We had learnt from our misadventure, so hoisted the foresail only and taken by the motion of the sea slewing as the waves passed under us sometimes even surfing the 5-ton yacht down the waves averaging 6 knots to Hartlepool. That slightly unnerving feeling looking back, seeing an approaching wave towering over the back of the boat. Thankfully she rides over.  In the distance waves on the breakwaters 30ft white water plumes.
Very welcome coming in from what had become a rather confused sea with persistent rain (north sea summer sailing)
On a pontoon now, heaters going drying the oilskins, Mexican chicken from Carolyn, Mark Knopfler . on the CD , well sleep well.

 Possibly Whitby tomorrow.

Saturday 21 May 2016

Saturday 21, Limping back

Departed at last from from Blyth this morning, wind SSE 18-24 knots.
Running before with full foresail and mainsail at times doing 7+knots.

Always a tricky point of sail, minor course changes easily destabilize sail balance.
I had poled out the foresail to stabilize it, with a spinnaker pole attached to the mast at one end and the sail ring at the other.

Unfortunately the heading was momentarily lost and the mainsail gibed badly from full starboard to full port. The foresail similarly backed with great force wrenching the spinnaker pole from the mast and the flailing pole swept one of the ventilation covers off the coach roof .
The cabin was now open to the sea, no way to start a long voyage.

So back to port for repairs and renewals, could have been much worse
Better sail another day

Pic shows repair of coach roof to keep weather out

Thursday 19 May 2016

A new adventure

Thursday 19 May 2016. A long time since I visited this blog.
Mick and I hope to set sail again on Saturday for Oban, retracing the first part of the circumnavigation journey of 2 years ago.
Swallow has had a refit (including hot water which is leaking, hopefully to be repaired tomorrow)
She was launched last Saturday from Amble just after this pic was taken and is now in Blyth.
I'll maintain the blog so as to communicate with those interested in following our progress