It was last Wednesday when I got my boat back from the boatyard. It had been having some mid-life maintenance and upgrades such as the keel bolts being inspected and new: engine, propeller, rigging, and sails, among other things. Andy, the boatyard manager, told me to give it a trial. So, at 1504 hours, shortly before the late afternoon high water, I took LILLEBOLERO out onto the river. All was good, I set the sails and turned right. Andy phoned asking how long I would be? I said I was not sure. Then, where was I going? I said I would decide when I got to the bar.
The wind was from the southeast and I was able to goosewing the sails. That looked good until the sun set and it got dark very quickly with the overcast sky. At 1628 hours, I was passing Brazil buoy and it was pitch black. Fortunately, my navigation lights were bright and VTS was doing a good job of warning the commercial traffic of the sailing vessel in the main channel.
After passing ‘C2 buoy’, I left the channel, hopped over the wall, and headed north on a broad reach. In that darkness, there was not a lot to see apart from the windex reflecting my stern light and the Lennox oil/gas field platform. By 2200 hours, I was abeam of Blackpool. Normally, the tower is lit at night and can be seen from miles but not this evening. It did get chilly, and the heating had to go on. In the Lune Deep, I put the engine on and motored up the Barrow channel before anchoring in Bass Pool, south of Piel Island at 0100 hours.
It was a grey dawn when I weighed anchor at 0752 hours. I motored out into the Irish Sea around the wind farms with the visibility at three miles. By 1000 hours, the south-easterly wind had filled enough to set the sails, stop the engine, and goosewing on a very broad reach. It stayed grey all day with the sea and sky being various shades. In the afternoon it drizzled. That said, the boat made good progress and I was enjoying the upgraded boat being faster. At 1733 hours, I motored into Ramsey, Isle of Man, and 15 minutes later I was secured to the Town Quay.
I was hungry and went to the Bourne Plaice fish and chip shop. I ordered a large fish dinner; the portion of chips was massive. I ate on the boat watching the tide fall until the boat was standing on her keels (Ramsey is a drying harbour) before going to bed. I know I should have explored but it was cold and dark, and I was tired.
The next morning, I slipped from my berth at 0738 hours and set a course for Whitehaven. The force 2 to 3 wind was on my starboard bow, and I was able to play with my new sails while close hauled. The new sails do have a better shape than the old ones.
As I approached Whitehaven, four hours before high water, a work boat, drawing 1.4 metres, passed the breakwaters and ran aground on the approach to the lock. I tentatively manoeuvred around the work boat with my echosounder showing only ten centimetres under the keels. Once in the lock, the cheerful lockkeeper lowered a pouch down to me containing a marina guide and electricity card. He had also drawn on the berth map to show mine, excellent service. I first wanted fuel and went to the fuel berth where 150 litres of diesel were stemmed before shifting to my nominated berth. It was then time for a hot shower.
Whitehaven is very welcoming; however, I did consider setting off fireworks for my arrival a little over the top but impressive. I do not believe the fireworks were connected to the Christmas market in the town that day. That evening, I went to a local Indian restaurant for a Biryani and then to Tesco for boat provisions. I know how to holiday!
On Saturday, I slipped from my berth at 0740 hours. As it was high tide, the lock was on ‘free flow’ which meant I could go straight through. I turned south and motored around Saint Bees Head. The wind filled in from the east-northeast and I was able to set a main sail and spinnaker. I also saw my first sunrise of the trip as the other days had been too cloudy. I got two-and-a-half hours with the spinnaker, and sailed past Sellafield, before the wind veered and I put the engine back on. As the visibility was excellent, over thirty miles, the Lake District looked stunning.
I managed to get back to Piel Island before sunset. This meant I could pick-up a mooring buoy rather than anchor. I was keen to visit the Ship Inn, on the island, which the website said was open all year round. After spending 20 minutes inflating my dinghy, I noticed there were no lights on, on the island. So, I phoned the King of Piel Island, the landlord, who advised me the pub was now, understandably, seasonal but will open in the winter if a week’s notice is given. Note to self, check pub is open before inflating dinghy. It took 25 minutes to deflate and pack away the dinghy; why does packing it away always take longer? After a pasta dinner, some reading, and an enquiry from work to see if I could be in France on Monday morning – no, it was bed again.
At four o’clock, I was woken by persistent knocking on the hull. The tide had changed, and the wind increased causing the boat to ride-up on to the mooring buoy which was annoying. Given the choice, I think the shallower Bass Pool anchorage is preferable for my boat.
At 0812 hours, on Sunday, I slipped the buoy and headed back to Liverpool. Once clear of the Barrow channel and heading a force 4 to 6 easterly propelled me along. With only the genoa set, I shot across the entrance to Morecambe Bay in an hour, on a beam reach. At 1100 hours, I was again passing Blackpool Tower; the wind had eased to a steady force 5 and had backed a couple of points which made for good progress. In fact, it was too good, and I arrived at Liverpool bar, at low tide. Knowing the marina lock would not open for another four hours, I slowly motored up the main channel. At 1835 hours, I locked in and after five happy days and over 200 miles my sea trial of the boat was over.
Alistair Roaf – Cruising Captain
