TALL SHIPS ON THE TYNE TO HARTLEPOOL IN THE RAIN!


Myself and Keith Barker had sailed up to Newcastle for the, 'Tall Ships' on the Wednesday morning, well more a motor than a sail due to the distinct lack of that blowey stuff. We duly arrived after seven hours and eventually tied up in St Peter's marina, never again - eight miles up the Tyne and against the tide!

We inspected the ships, what a fantastic sight, Newcastle should be very proud. We went to the barbeque that was held at the marina in readiness for the firework display on the evening; - we weren't disappointed, it was unbelievable, absolutely fantastic. We eventually got to bed ready for an early start.

Got up early showered etc and set off for the mouth of the Tyne to anchor up and watch the parade of ships sail past. Then it started raining and got a bit misty and a bit windy! We motored to the mouth and just reached it when the engine decided that it had had enough and that this was as good a place to anchor as anywhere! We checked the engine over once we were secure in the good old Tyne mud but found nothing wrong. We suspected that it had overheated slightly, unlike us two who were freezing and wet. We watched the ships pass by us about 30 yards from where we were anchored, what a great sight. Then when it was over we tried the engine, which started first time and ran like a watch, (a watch yes, but definitely not a Rolex)!

The wind had certainly increased and was blowing from the East, a good direction for sailing home but also a bad direction as it builds up really large seas. We set off at 13.30hrs on a broad reach, full main and Genoa. We were the only boat sailing, others had their mains up and reefed and motor sailed. Some just motored. The wind increased to a 5-6 gusting 7-8 with pretty big seas to boot, but the boat handled it easily. Keith took the first stint as far as Sunderland in fair weather, I took over and the heavens opened and I mean opened. I was like a drowned rat, and where was Keith, not in the cockpit but in the cabin looking out and asking if it was raining. He took over from me after about an hour and the bloody rain stopped, I couldn't believe it! I took over again after about another hour and it poured down again, Keith was back in the sanctuary of the cabin looking smugly as the rain dripped off me or should I say poured off me. He took over after another hour and - yes the rain ceased, but God must have been watching and thought that it was pretty unfair for him to stay dry and me be saturated. So he made this huge breaking wave to hit us on the beam and then empty itself over the top of bone dry Keith, thank you God you made me (a very wet man) very happy.

We arrived back at Hartlepool in just under 5hrs having had a really fantastic sail and two great days on the Tyne. Keith's boat is a 'Tomahawk 25' called 'Wordrum'. What a great sailing boat it is - one that I would definitely consider if I ever downsize. It is quite spacious, sails extremely well and feels unbelievably safe and is also pretty quick for a 25 footer. Cheers Keith for a good couple of days, but you need to sort that drinking water out, (he's fitted a new flexible water tank and the water tastes like crap).

Mike Fellows