Ploughing Through Swells

Day 5,6&7.  Whitby

The weather panned out as forecast with two days of strong S.W. wind Thursday and Friday. We certainly did make the right decision to head north as the seas were very large off East Anglia. We are now waiting for the weather conditions to calm down at the weekend before heading to Hartlepool.

Day 8.  Whitby to Hartlepool.

We waited until early afternoon to depart Whitby after spending several very windy days in port, as the wind was forecast to die down then. 

Despite the 1 metre northerly swells off our starboard bow we were able to plane and did eventually have a pretty decent run to Hartlepool, hitting another thunderstorm which whipped the sea conditions up for a while off Tees Bay Windfarm. 

After a meal on board and nipping to the supermarket (as Peter had ran out of beer) to stock up, we went across to the fuel berth and fuelled up with 450 litres of diesel. 
Logged 27.3 nautical miles.

Day 9&10.  Hartlepool to Amble.

We departed Hartlepool after an early lunch. We let Moonshine's engines warm up for five minutes then planed from The Heugh breakwater all the way to Amble harbour entrance, which we covered in exactly two hours. Sea conditions were ok despite a large ground swell running from the north, with chop from a fresh S.W. breeze blowing off land. We encountered another heavy rain storm from Newbiggin Ness all the way into Amble.  We passed to the east of Coquet Island and then kept well to the north of it to avoid Pan Bush Rocks as there was still a lot of swell running. Amble Marina were very organised (as we had phoned ahead) and sent a staff member out in the heavy rain to take our lines. 

Since we visited five years ago a lot has changed such as a development of apartments next to the Marina, and a tasteful development of the Fish Quay. 

This is as far north as we are heading. We would have liked to have visited Eyemouth had the weather been in our favour but it is not to be this year.  

We intend on staying tomorrow and will head back to Hartlepool on Tuesday as strong wind is yet again forecast for Wednesday. 

Logged 49.2 nautical miles.

Day 11. Amble to Hartlepool.

We departed Amble just after lunch, and after looking at the sea conditions earlier and with a light northerly breeze forecast we thought we would be in for a pretty decent run back to Hartlepool.  However in reality sea conditions were still quite lumpy all the way with a swell from the north with added chop on top from the N.E. However we were still able to plane and after rounding the Heugh it was lovely and smooth and we enjoyed quick service through the lock and we were once again moored on the visitor pontoon. 

Logged 45.9 nautical miles.

This past week has given us a mixed bag of weather but Moonshine has excelled herself once again in ploughing through the swells. It has not been easy at times in these conditions trying to navigate and see through dense visibility to avoid the crab pots which are littered around the coast line.  The boat heater and waterproofs have had to be in use over the last few days but hopefully after Wednesday's strong wind has passed we can move on to Scarborough on Friday whilst giving the sea an extra day to calm down.  

It is nice to know we are lucky enough to still have another full week to get back home, let's hope the wind eases and changes direction to the west again.