No sign of fog anywhere....
After all the excitement of Scarborough, I headed for Runswick Bay. Sailed all the way there, then dropped the hook with the bay to myself. Beautiful, peaceful spot.
Next day was to be 35 miles to Tynemouth, then another 7 upriver to St Peters marina, just a mile from the city centre.
Started well, with enough wind to have to reef a little, but after sailing along the coast to have a look at Staithes, I headed straight across Tees bay to the Tyne. An hour later the wind decided not to co-operate and dropped to almost nothing.
Doing 1 - 1.5knts wasn't going to get me there until the next day, but the forecast had been F3-4 with 5 at times, so I hung on....
It did eventually pick up, and with 2.5knts showing I was happy enough.
That was until the squall hit.....
I saw it coming for half an hour, had time to get the waterproofs on, stow anything that wouldn't like getting wet, and reef the sail. Then it hit.
From F2-3 it went to F6 and started to hail. After 15 mins it eased and I was a quarter of a mile further out to sea than I had been. Another 15 mins and it was back to F3 and sunny.
It was a long day, but passing close to Souter lighthouse meant I was almost there.
About a mile short of Tynemouth the wind died away, so engine started and off up the Tyne I went.
Halfway up the Tyne anyway.....
I ran out of petrol. Due to all the engine problems, I'd forgotten to top up in Scarborough.
Spent the night tied up at the back of a scrapyard, which could have been worse, as the petrol station was just a 10 min walk away!
Tank topped up, I headed up to St Peters marina and a weekend off!
Friday, 10 June 2011
Monday, 6 June 2011
An enforced break.
Getting to Scarborough was easy, no wind, so engine all the way. A bit of mist off the cliffs north of Flamborough added a bit of atmosphere!
Having had a bee stay onboard most of the way to Brid, today's visitor was a young gull. It flew ahead of me, then waited until I went past before flying ahead again. Stayed for a couple of hours, then probably got bored with my conversation.... I tried to identify it using the book I'd got with me, bloody useless and now 75ft below sea level!
Dropped the hook outside Scarborough in the early afternoon in baking sunshine.
Got a call on VHF later to come in, that's when the fun started!
Started engine, pulled up anchor, got back to cockpit to find engine stopped. Started engine, engine stopped....
Dropped anchor again....
Started engine, stopped again.
Let harbour know I was having problems, then swapped spark plugs for new ones, as spark was weak.
Made no difference.
On VHF again to keep them informed.
Got a call from a fishing boat offering to tow me in.
"Predator" tied me alongside and deposited me neatly on the visitors pontoon.
Predator...
Friday evening and Saturday was spent trying to track down the problem. It would start and tick over, but died as soon as the throttle was opened. Sounded like fuel starvation. Ended up with the fuel tank lifted above the engine and connected straight to the carb, no difference!
Going back to the weak spark....
Changed the ignition coil, no diff... You get the idea..
By the time I'd found the points were a bit pitted I was getting tired and stressed. Cleaned them up and put it back together. No difference!
Steve, moored next to me suggested the condenser could be the problem, and a few of the Scarb Yacht Club told me where I could possibly find a replacement, but not until Monday.
So, early Mon morning I strip the engine again so I can take the condenser for a comparison and swap. As soon as I unscrewed it, I could see cracks in the insulation in 2 places! Wrapped in stretchy self-amalgamating tape and screwed back together I sat down. I hardly dared to try it and find "no difference" again....
Anyway, I did and it worked!!!
Running better than ever, I know now what's been causing the odd splutter since I've had the engine!
So, it's heading north again early tomorrow.
Today I'm relaxing....
Having had a bee stay onboard most of the way to Brid, today's visitor was a young gull. It flew ahead of me, then waited until I went past before flying ahead again. Stayed for a couple of hours, then probably got bored with my conversation.... I tried to identify it using the book I'd got with me, bloody useless and now 75ft below sea level!
Dropped the hook outside Scarborough in the early afternoon in baking sunshine.
Got a call on VHF later to come in, that's when the fun started!
Started engine, pulled up anchor, got back to cockpit to find engine stopped. Started engine, engine stopped....
Dropped anchor again....
Started engine, stopped again.
Let harbour know I was having problems, then swapped spark plugs for new ones, as spark was weak.
Made no difference.
On VHF again to keep them informed.
Got a call from a fishing boat offering to tow me in.
"Predator" tied me alongside and deposited me neatly on the visitors pontoon.
Predator...
Friday evening and Saturday was spent trying to track down the problem. It would start and tick over, but died as soon as the throttle was opened. Sounded like fuel starvation. Ended up with the fuel tank lifted above the engine and connected straight to the carb, no difference!
Going back to the weak spark....
Changed the ignition coil, no diff... You get the idea..
By the time I'd found the points were a bit pitted I was getting tired and stressed. Cleaned them up and put it back together. No difference!
Steve, moored next to me suggested the condenser could be the problem, and a few of the Scarb Yacht Club told me where I could possibly find a replacement, but not until Monday.
So, early Mon morning I strip the engine again so I can take the condenser for a comparison and swap. As soon as I unscrewed it, I could see cracks in the insulation in 2 places! Wrapped in stretchy self-amalgamating tape and screwed back together I sat down. I hardly dared to try it and find "no difference" again....
Anyway, I did and it worked!!!
Running better than ever, I know now what's been causing the odd splutter since I've had the engine!
So, it's heading north again early tomorrow.
Today I'm relaxing....
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9
Friday, 3 June 2011
I'm off!
On the phone, so short and sweet...
Left Saltfleet 18.00 on Wed.
Crossed the Humber with no wind, dropped the hook for the night north of Easington.
Yesterday, same wind.... Sailed to within 4 miles of Bridlington, then got the engine on.
Had food onboard Phun, a Parker 31, thanks to Pat and Pam.
Left Brid at 05.00. Wind F2 N/W, no use!
Engine on all morning, now crossing Filey bay on my way to Scarborough.
Left Saltfleet 18.00 on Wed.
Crossed the Humber with no wind, dropped the hook for the night north of Easington.
Yesterday, same wind.... Sailed to within 4 miles of Bridlington, then got the engine on.
Had food onboard Phun, a Parker 31, thanks to Pat and Pam.
Left Brid at 05.00. Wind F2 N/W, no use!
Engine on all morning, now crossing Filey bay on my way to Scarborough.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9
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