Marica goes clockwise

Vessel Name: Marica
16 December 2017 | Slipper Sailing Club
08 November 2017 | South coast
07 November 2017 | Newhaven
06 November 2017 | Beachy Head
05 November 2017 | Rye
04 November 2017 | Rye
03 November 2017 | Rye
02 November 2017 | South Coast
01 November 2017 | Thames Estuary
31 October 2017 | Harwich
30 October 2017 | Southwold
27 October 2017 | North Sea
25 October 2017 | Lincolnshire Coast
18 October 2017 | Yorkshire Coast
17 October 2017 | Bridlington
16 October 2017 | Flamborough Head
15 October 2017 | Whitby
12 October 2017 | Yorkshire coast
10 October 2017 | Geordieland
09 October 2017 | England!
Recent Blog Posts
16 December 2017 | Slipper Sailing Club

Epiblog

I met fellow Westerly Centaur owner Tom Bedford in Milford Haven. As it turns out we also share a fondness for real ale and the band Steely Dan. Tom is a freelance journalist and when I got back to Emsworth he suggested writing an article about my trip. I agreed without too much reticence and he sent [...]

08 November 2017 | South coast

From Shoreham

I checked the live wind at Chichester Bar this morning on the Chimet web site. Force 4 northerly. Hey! we could go somewhere, Little Hampton (LA) or even further. I might just make it for the 9 o'clock lock out. I called them and they said I would be going out of the smaller Prince George lock. I had [...]

07 November 2017 | Newhaven

From Newhaven

On Tuesday morning we wake to a southerly force 6. The sea state was expected to be 'moderate' and waves were crashing over the harbour breakwater. George and I had porridge and reviewed the situation. He decided caution was the better part of valour and I walked him to the train station.

06 November 2017 | Beachy Head

From Rye

My dad joined me on a frosty Monday morning for our leg from Rye. His name is George so he is the original George according to my sister, or he is George V for this trip. I thought Eastbourne would be a suitable port to make for, and could be completed in daylight hours. Dad had suggested Newhaven so [...]

05 November 2017 | Rye

More water problems

I started the engine this morning, whilst Marica was afloat, to check the repair on the throttle linkage. It was fine but there was no cooling water flowing through the engine. I assumed that mud was stuck in the inlet pipe. All the boats settle in this soft smelly stuff to the top of their keels. So [...]

04 November 2017 | Rye

Bailing Out

This morning (Saturday) I found the cutlery drawer full of water. It's just underneath the cooker. I was wondering where the water had come in last night. The boat had obviously been heeled over at a bigger angle at the top of the tide. There had been water in the washing up bowl, that I had not tested [...]

From Amble

10 October 2017 | Geordieland
Force 5 West/South West
I topped up with fuel and changed an empty gas bottle this morning before departing from Amble. It was fairly breezy as we motored past Cocquet Island. I just put the headsail up. The forecast had a strong wind warning and was due to increase later. The main is fairly easy to raise in a fresh wind, but difficult to reef or lower single handed. I must get a lazy jacks system or similar.

I had a few options for today's port to make for. Hartlepool was looking close to the daylight range so Seaham or Sunderland looked like a reasonable compromise. Blyth was only 14 miles away, but might be useful if the sea was rough. My friend Mark is up the River Tyne on Fiesta, close to Newcastle city centre. Perhaps too much of a diversion for a journey south.

The sea was fairly calm so sailed past Blyth. Checking on the weather it looks like tomorrow is going to be good day to stay in port and do washing and other admin tasks. The marinas on the Tyne started to look more attractive! Approaching the mouth of the Tyne I called the VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) for permission to enter. They warned me of a large car transporter approaching that would have tugs to help manoeuvre into port. I confirmed I had visual ID on the Hoegh Africa. It's 2cm shy of 200 meters long and was steaming in at over 11 knots and was less than two miles away. A quick calculation showed we should just get to the mouth before them, especially if they slowed down to pick up tugs.

Getting closer, with no sign of the ship slowing down, I decided that it might make more sense to go behind her. Good decision! It was about two miles up the river to the first marina. I was tempted to explore the Tyne further up to the city and maybe meet up with Mark. However, the Royal Quays marina looked attractive and I pulled up at the waiting pontoon for the lock. It opens at quarter to and quarter past the hour to incoming traffic. I tied up and got on the pontoon. I called the marina on my handheld VHF. No worries, wait for the green lights to enter the lock and they would sort a berth. Coming into the lock a young bloke (Mark) came and took my lines. He asked for a bit of paper with my name and email. I went below and sorted it out. My berth was to be F18, which proved to be port side to. Mark said he'd meet me round there and take my lines. When the lock opened I looked round for my VHF handset to listen/call the marina. Not in the cockpit and not below deck. I normally have it firmly attached to my life jacket, but may have removed it to make the call from the waiting pontoon. No sign of it. Mark's handset was identical, so I thought he may have picked mine up by mistake.

Motoring round to F18 I was trying to swap lines and fenders over. Sorted, motored in and another marina guy took my lines. I inquired about Mark. He'd just gone off duty. I went back to the waiting pontoon and lock pontoon to search for the handset. I asked in the office, no joy. Mark was due back at 8 in the morning. Another fruitless search of the boat, including trying to call the handset on channel 80. Where could it have gone? I didn't hear it fall in the water and it does float and flashes on contact with sea water.

I needed to call my daughter so took advantage of the marina wifi to check the weather and catch up on events. The password is yifiman, that has to be said in a Geordie accent!

I wandered into South Shields for a calming pint. The Prince of Wales (aka the Old Wooden Doll) had Sam Smiths at £2 a pint. Is this the cheapest beer of the trip? It was quiet in there after four boisterous characters left and I headed for South Shield's oldest pub. The Low Lights Tavern boasts that it has been a place of drinking, eating and music since 1657. It seemed appropriate to try the Low Lights ale from the Three Kings brewery on the River Tyne. 3.9% with a pleasant bitter aftertaste, I forget how much it cost! I also sampled Stella Spark, 4.4% from the Firebrick Brewery, Blaydon-on-Tyne. A slightly sharp citrusy blonde beer, not bad!

I chatted with a few guys. Cyril was a very interesting man. He had worked for the Guardian in Manchester many years ago. He and Brian Redhead (editor at the time) used to enjoy a bottle of Isle of Jura on a Friday afternoon. My favourite whisky!

My phone battery had died before I set off back the mile and half back to the boat. Google maps had taken me a convoluted route there. Luckily the marina had given me a handbook with a map and I took a longer, less complex, route back. I'd tied my main halyard away from the mast, an idea I'd got from Dave Fry. Tying lengths of rope or elastic round the halyard and shroud works to some extent if the wind does not change. I think this new arrangement, together with tonight's beer will mean a good night's sleep despite the strong winds.

The photo is of the Hoegh Africa beating Marica to the river mouth.
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