73nm, SE3, CTS320 (CTS Course to Steer)
20m, 30m, 40m; checking the depth regularly it's odd to think how shallow are the waters around the coast of Britain. I guess it's led to the vast heritage and range of fishing ports all around the coast which is especially apparent up this East Coast. A harsh industry for many of the boats we see out hear. For the sailing watch it means that it's never plain sailing because it seems that wherever we go around the UK there will be the floating water bottles, wind blown pennants, and occasional bright bouys creating the obstacle course to avoid lobster pots, lobster pots, lobsters, and pots everywhere! Anyway, am grateful to the local fisheries after an amazing meal in The Magpie last night. A smoked kipper soup called Whitby Skink followed by Haddock & Salmon Gratin & Chips! The ambience was local, the staff personable and full of whit, and the crew were certainly present and enjoying the moment.
A great sail today, 6 or 7 knots in F3 SE winds. We joined the procession of craft, including a third scale ship of Cooke's Endeavour, leaving Whitby with the swinging of the bridge at 1130. Waving good bye we headed north for Amble to take shelter ahead of a forecast gale later.
A fair day with fair sailing, fish pie for lunch, off watch reading a book, on watch ... in heaven (I must take exception with the Bible suggesting there's no sea in heaven; surely the River of Life must flow somewhere and the 'new heaven and new Blue Planet' must have the best seas thereby putting lobster pots and sailing back on heaven's programme).
Sailed through the busy shipping of Teesside and Middlesborough, past Sunderland, Newcastle and saluted South Sheilds kindly sponsored by Jen & Ian, Tyneside behind and on past Morpeth in entering Northumberland. Imagining the welcome of the Angel of the North and the transit of Hadrian's Wall it felt like we were truly getting somewhere.
The lighthouse on the island outside Amble located the harbour from about 14 miles. On the helm, jybing to maintain 7 kts, the closer we got the greater the temptation to use the lighthouse as a mark; it was a bit like a Siren bidding us sail towards her. That of course would spell disaster because the light is only there to keep us away from danger. So we tracked north of the island and harbour, then went about to turn south, drop the sails and head in. A slight swell as I helmed between the red (port left) and green (starboard right) pier end lights; depth of only 2.7m meant care. Up the harbour to the marina with it's own tidal sill; just 2.2m on its guage, so we waited off until 2.4m showed and found a good pontoon to embrace us through the gale. It was 2300 with another satisfying 73nm logged in the wake; a grand total of 610 miles.
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