 |
| Whitby |
One thing I have learnt on this trip is that sometimes things happen for a very good reason. Having had a tough day yesterday and felt completely drained at the end of the day, it was a complete God-send that today the wind dropped and we had a very easy day of flat calm seas, despite the fact that we had to cover nearly 120 miles. The news arrived this morning at 5.30am that a very dear friend had supported our cause, Dementia Care, with an extremely generous donation. Couple this with a warm morning with bright sunshine and a flat calm sea, and you have one very happy traveller! It couldn't have come at a better moment, and gave me the lift I needed to help me through the next few days to the end of our journey.
 |
| "Teal" makes her way out under the lifting bridge at Whitby |
On leaving Whitby, we were met with incredible conditions. We glided across a green silk party dress of a sea, swathed in sparkling crystals, and the smooth going acted like a balm. Unfortunately the warm mainland conditions meant the sea-mist remained with us, and it was an eery snow-globe effect to be surrounded by blue sea with bright sun above, but only a haze to the left and the right, and just the Garmin to tell us which was seaward and which was landward side.
We were brought up sharp by a small race of Flamborough Head which caught us by surprise, and conditions remained slightly bumpy for a short while, before returning to the almost soporific calmness we had experienced in the morning.
 |
| Time for tea off Grimston |
A tea break was had at anchor off the coast of Grimston, where we stood off the longest sandy beach I have ever seen in the UK. From here we pushed on in very easy conditions across the mouth of the Humber. The seas at the mouth of this river are very brown and littered with flotsam, which required a sharp eye to watch out for the floating pieces of timber lying in wait to catch out the unwary RIB driver! Luckily our props remained unscathed, and we carried on towards Wells-Next-the-Sea in ridiculously flat conditions, ironically trying to kill time, as we knew we couldn't make the entrance up river until after low tide at 6.00pm. The only excitement in what can only be described as "motorway driving" was a mayday message broadcast on Channel 16. Better than any edition of "The Archers", we listened riveted to the drama unfolding - a motor launch had experienced engine failure and was taking on water, with six people on board. The RNLI boat and helicopter were on their way, and other boats in the vicinity were being requested to offer assistance. Si immediately called the coastguard to offer up our services, but we were sadly just too far away to be of any use - a shame as it definitely would have added a little excitement to our day!
 |
| "Teal" measures up against a wind turbine |
Just south of our destination, at Grimsby, we came across a huge wind farm. We had come across wind farms before at Liverpool Bay, but the conditions then were much more demanding and prevented further investigation. With time to kill, and ideal conditions, we decided to investigate further and had a good close look at these mammoth constructions, turning lazily in the gentle wind. We were happily investigating in blissful ignorance until the radio crackled to life with a message to "Teal" that we were inside the 500 metre exclusion zone, and we made our apologies and beat a hasty retreat!
 |
| "Teal" begins her journey towards Wells-Next-the-Sea under a setting sun |
We arrived at the entrance to Wells at 5.52pm and having spoken to the Harbour Master, began a slow and beguiling crawl upriver. The late afternoon sunshine silhouetted figures walking their dogs on the sands at low tide , as well as the occasional brave soul making the most off the unseasonally warm weather and swimming in the narrow channel. Once or twice we nudged the bottom, and had to pause and wait for the incoming tide to catch us up, all the while bewitched by the scenery around us. The channel was barely 10 metres wide in places, and occasionally as "Teal" negotiated a bend ahead of us, it appeared as if she was gliding on sand, without any water beneath her at all. It was a magical evening, with a sliver of a new moon appearing in a blushing sky, and with the bird calls of the estuary sounding eerily in the background. The tranquillity of our passage was only interrupted by the ever-increasing speed of the incoming tide, which was whipping up little eddies around the marker buoys as we inched our way upriver. "ConTTentment" touched the bottom just before a port-side marker buoy and before we knew it our bow had been swung round and we lay broadside on to the incoming tide, being swept towards the buoy. Suddenly, despite a 200hp engine, you feel as helpless as a torrent-swept twig and Anthony quickly got out the anchor to secure us until the tide turned us right way to, and we were able to re-start the engine and continue our way.
Mooring up alongside was also an equally exciting affair, with the tide now running in a torrent alongside the pontoon. We made a pretty ham-fisted go of it, and then watched in awe as the locals appeared in various boats of all sizes, and showed us how it is done.
We need to await the tide tomorrow, as well as take the jerries to a petrol station to re-fuel, so we will be afforded the luxury of a leisurely start, but still with another 100 mile day ahead.
Distance travelled: 118 nautical miles
Time travelling: 7 hours 3 minutes
Average speed: 17.2 knots
Total trip: 1,711 nautical miles
No comments:
Post a Comment