Lossiemouth to Chatham - Day 7 Monday - Amble to Whitby

Our engine parts arrived 0845 as promised, engine fixed by 0930. We now have to wait for the tide to get over the marina chill and out into the River Coquet and out to sea. We have a few shrugs spare so it's a few housekeeping jobs then off for a walk.

A Dutch yacht has tried to get out before the tide has dropped and has hit the chill. We don't know what damage he has done but in any case he will be there for about 4 hours while the tide finishes going out and then comes back in sufficiently for him to re float. He is leaning at quite an alarming angle. He is about 4 feet from the depth gauge for the chill so he has misjudged his exit big time. He is taking the opportunity to clean the bottom of his boat !!

Stuck on the Cill

We have time to do a few manoeuvres on the way to the fuel pontoon. Yours truly is on the helm from our hammerhead pontoon mooring to another hammerhead a couple of rows along that has the fuel berth.

Slip the bow line, engine on and in neutral, engine in slow reverse, bow drifting out OK, slip the stern line, we are now being held with the engine and stern spring. Forward gear, slip stern spring and we are away into the channel at the end of the pontoons. Once clear we are into reverse to allow another yacht to pass clear of us. Into forward gear.............NO THE OTHER FORWARD.........panic...... A lot of power forward...nearly demolished the pontoon behind us. Approaching the fueling berth at 45 degrees aiming for the middle, steer to port when we are 1 metre from the pontoon, quick blast of reverse to stop us, lines ashore, tied up and we are there. A bit of a panic for a moment but we (I) missed everything that needed missing !!! I do question the wisdom of having a loon on the helm approaching a fuel berth but we managed. I think I need a drink.

Refuelled and away at 1545, the Dutch yacht is off the chill and away with presumably only minor paint damage to has hull. Very little wind again but nice and sunny, we are heading for Whitby and we should be there about 0430 tomorrow morning to get through the bridge at the 0500 opening.

We have a school of dolphins playing around the boat, I managed to get a Dagwood picture of a dolphin along with 6 of a dolphin splash. I can't upload that pic until I'm home.

On watch 1730 to 2030' sunny but very little wind, motor sailing again. Glorious sunset tonight.