Monday 6 May. Hartlepool to Whitby. 25 nm

The journey today was another tricky one to sort out the timings for. We had 25 miles to go but can only get out of Hartlepool not much later than 11 am and can’t get into Whitby until 1930. Working on 5 knot speed, we only need 5 hours. The wind is in the east and creating horrible seas so going slowly for 8 hours isn’t an option…. not unless we had really light winds, flat sea and sunshine. If only! So… we opted to get out of Hartlepool then go round the corner to the port of Hartlepool, in which there are some sailing club pontoons. We hoped we’d just be able to moor up for 3 hours and to fit in with our schedule. So once out of the Lock, we radioed port control ( lesson from Peterhead) but no one answered so since green lights were showing and there didn’t seem to be any traffic, we pressed on. Once round into the Kafiga landings bit, we could see lots of little boats all lined up, but no real pontoons and certainly nothing for a boat as big as ours. We decided to anchor using the trip buoy, given there may be chains etc on the seabed. Just then a kindly chap working on his boat, gestured to us that we could raft up to a motor launch at the end, who couldn’t go anywhere as his engine was broken. What a relief. Tied up safely in a place with an easy escape route, we whiled away a couple of hours. Once we set of , at 1430, the swell and the big roly waves set in☹️. Still overly conscious of every lobster pot, we could see a small pink buoy Just between the port and starboard markets that lead the big ships into teeside. It seemed to be moving so we studiously avoided it but Eventually passing close enough to see we discovered it was a pink balloon 🎈! Presumably from a jubilee celebration! If it had been a calm day we’d have fished it out and may have found out who let it go! Next 5 hours were spent rolling from side to side in the easterly wind. Not at all pleasant. Grey. I had in my mind all the way that the entrance to Whitby harbour is pointing north. We passed by some some dramatic cliffs and bays once we’d left the industrial landscape of Hartlepool and Teeside, and yet another wind farm. You can see the erosion going on, on this side of the country and just how close some of the properties are to the edge. It brings climate change into sharp perspective. As we approached Whitby we were literally counting down the minutes and hoping our time calculations were correct. They were and it was 1930 as we were rolling towards the entrance with the big waves up our tail. It was easy to identify the ruined abbey on the headland and point between the outer lighthouses. Inside We could see the surf breaking on the base of the inner lighthouse……… and then beyond……. flat water with rowing boats on! People pulling at their oars dressed in red sports wear. Another sight that will be etched on my memory forever!

What I learned today…….believe that flat water and rowing boats await… even after the rockiest of rides….

Sue x