©2009 Hull Sailing Club
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Events 2009
Easter Race
We finally escaped from Hull Marina with the refurbished Lock gates. Typical weather for Easter, grey and overcast, but there was a bit of wind to stir the sails. A loaf down to Chequer Buoy and back via 2B. One of the yachts did a variation and included South Chequer and one yacht followed them. We all fall for it !! Still it was a good sail back from 2B on just the one tack all the way back to buoy 26. Major Slippage was judged to have won after taking into account the handicapping system. A few beers in the Whittington & Cat finished the day off - with most people looking slightly tanned - there must have been a bit of sun.
3 Creeks
Due to the lack of freshwater through Hessle and Barton Haven. It became the 2 Creeks Race,
Barrow & South Ferriby. Barrow was interesting with 3 yachts vying for space. The leader was well ahead of the melee at this time, but missed the major refueling pitstop in South Ferriby. The pitstop was for the crew, not the yachts ! We slaked our thirsts in the Hope & Anchor and then had a drag race back to the Marina. One long reach from the Ancholme River - flying the kite - to buoy 26 off the Minerva. Even the kite run was not enough to catch up with Major Slippage who took line honours and handicap honours.
We really must spend less time on the pitstop next year!!! Finally we hove to in the Green Bricks, to continue the refreshments. What a splendid evening.
Gambol to Goole
It was an idyllic evening cruise to Goole with gentle SW wind F3-4 so we sailed most of the way along the Humber and up the Ouse. Penned into Goole at 1900 and motored into the dock complex and through Lowther Street Swing Bridge to moor up in Ouse Dock. By 1930 we were on our way into the town centre which is only 5 minutes walk. After a pint or two of Ruddles County ( @ £1.29 a pint !!!), it was dinner for two and change from a tenner. Who says dinning out is expensive. We retired back to the yachts for a night cap. The dock was totally silent, not even a quacking duck. Sunday dawned bright and early for what was to be the hottest day this year. We penned out at HW and pushed some of the 'Top Run' for about 45 minutes. Sailed back past Hull and dropped anchor about 1130, just off the Old Lighthouse in Paull. Got round to do those whipping and splicing jobs that always keep getting put off. Penned back into Hull Marina at 1600, the end to a very pleasant trip.
Summer Cruise to Scarborough
It was a bash out of the River with a F4-5 Southeasterly - straight on the nose all the way out.
But the surfing over the Outer Binks made up for it !.
On the way out of the Humber, there was a superb red moonrise over Grimsby, Very artistic.
The wind bated overnight and dawn was bang on time - strangely enough, with a banded sun rise.
Celestial navigators one and all. Since the wind had bated - the kite went up followed by a torrential rain storm which totally flattened the wind and gave the kite a good wash, but no wind to dry it.
Flamborough Head was quiet with a few Gannets and Puffins doing their morning circuits. We arrived first at Scarborough and just slipped into the Harbour with enough water. Tied up and chilled out in the hot sun.
Finally the Commodore arrived early evening after a side trip to Whitby for Fish & Chips for lunch!
Dinner in Scarborough has to be Fish & Chips. Enjoyed by all - the most complicated descision was Merlot or Cabernet Sauvigon. It was that sort of trip. Steve caught up with the gossip at the restaurant from his favourite waitress.
If you missed it - watch next years calendar - It will be scheduled.
Figure of Eight
A select fleet penned out at 1030 for a run down the river and a Figure of Eight around Haile Bouy & Spurn Light float. The wind was westerly and fickle, and out at Spurn it was so fickle we tried a spot of fishing. About 20 expert fish catchers watched us closely before a flick of the hind flippers and they vanished under the waves. So it was back to sailing - once we had rounded Spurn Lightfloat, the asymmetric was hoisted and we were away. In the river the wind freshened and we tacked back up to Hull just managing to carry full sail. As the Commodore said "It was worth the run down the river for the cracking sail back!" . Who won? no-one, we all had to use the 'Iron Topsail' once or twice.
Jottings from our American Correspondent on SV Tadpole
June 2009
Hi John ....
I have been back here in Cape Cod doing fixes to Tadpole for nearly a month now ... I am about to launch & am hoping for a good summer cruising up & down the US east coast ... there are many yacht clubs over here who are happy to allow visiting boats from other clubs use of their facilities, including dockage or mooring at no charge as a reciprocal thing between clubs ... I am therefor keen to have a HSC burgee up my mast as soon as poss & to be able to represent HSC in my travels over here ..
Hi John & all at HSC ...
The HSC burgee arrived today & is fluttering proudly from Tadpole's port flag halyard ...
Many Thanks
Eddie
July 2009
Hi John & all at HSC ...
Just a few lines to update you all of Tadpole's adventures this side of the "pond" ... after completing fitting out & some shake-down sailing I left Cape Cod on 22 Jul ... transited the Cape Cod canal heading north to Canada ... stops were made in Gloucester & Isles Of Shoals for weather ... arrived this evening in Kittery, Maine ... plan to go ashore tomorrow in Portsmouth (28 Jul) for provisions & fuel etc then push on towards Portland & beyond (weather permitting) ..... the place names sound familiar ? ... well it is New England ...
Fair Winds
Eddie Middle
PS ... the HSC burgee flutters a real treat & I have been asked by several folks about it ... "Oh you have a Hull in England too ?" they say surprised !
Eddie got his new HSC burgee - We can deliver anywhere in the world - or you can buy one at easily at Hull Marina £25 ready to fly.
August 2009
Hi John & all at HSC ...
Onwards & Upwards ...
Tadpole left Kittery, the first town in the vast state of Maine as you approach from the south, Wed 29 Jul rather later in the afternoon than preferred ... as the coast of Maine is extremely gnarly & rocky I decided to follow the coastline but 10 to 15 miles offshore ... the gnarly coast of Maine is also reputed to be extremely scenic & enchanting but Tadpole needs to make time toward Canadian waters for visa purposes ... having motor-sailed most of the way in varying weather from gale to calm to thick fog & relying heavily on my tillerpilot ( a singlehander's best pal) Tadpole was stopped sharply short at 4am this morning 1 Aug 10 miles south of Jonesport ... the diesel cut suddenly ... instantly awake, I checked the fuel tank level ... OK there ... the engine started first throw but cut as soon as forward or reverse gear was selected ... the only possible explanation is that Tadpole had fouled the prop on a Maine speciality ... LOBSTER TACKLE ... lobstering seems to be the primary industry in Maine, so much so that in many parts along the coast it is almost possible to walk dryshod across the lobstermen's individually painted marker bouys (american pronounciation = booees) ... since I was well secured & not going anywhere I went back to sleep albeit fitfully as I knew I would have to take a cold dip with a sharp knife come daylight ... 9am came too soon as I knew that the water would be bleddy cold ( lobsters like cold water & Maine has an abundance of the stuff) ... harness & tether on, dive mask on, sharp knife in hand & into the water I go ... I was able reach the prop & could see that there was a substancial amount of warp wrapped tightly around the shaft ... it was so cold that I was unable to catch enough breath to be able to stay submerged for more than a second or two ... 10 minutes later & after several attempts to hack the stuff away I had to give up & fall back on plan B - that being to summon the assistance of TowBoat US ( a kind of on-the-water AA/RAC organisation) ... with unlimited callouts for an annual payment of $140 a bargain worth having ... I began hailing them on VHF channel 16 - no reply ... by 10am I had changed my call to a PAN PAN which was soon answered by the USCG ... they relayed my call to TowBoat US & by noon were able to confirm that the nearest operator would be with me in 3.5 hours (Maine is BIG) ... by 1pm however the USCG called to say that the TowBoat US operator had to return to port with engine problems ... I have to admit that a 7 hour round trip for a fouled prop would not appeal to me either especially knowing that the USCG will be morally obliged to step in ... & so it was that Tadpole was taken very professionally in tow by the Jonesport USCG detachment (boat & mariners armed to the teeth ... just in case the Canadians attack is my guess ?) & by 6pm securely tied up alongside the Jonesport town wharf ... the signpost on the town wharf says "loading & unloading only 30 min" - the USCG Captain said "if anyone tries to shoo you away tell them your vessel is disabled & we put you there" .... & when asked if there would be any charge for his services he replied "no - all part of the service Cap'n" ( I called him Captain & he called me Captain but we both knew that only one of us deserved it) ... I have also avoided the prospect of another cold dip by enlisting the services of one of the local youths who I observed gleefully jumping off the dock into the chill ... he is contracted to turn up a 10am tomorrow Sun 2 Aug with a reward of $20 if he can cut my prop free ... worth every red cent I reckon
Eddie Middle
Clippers Yachts in Humber - September 2009
The 10 Clipper yachts arrived in the Humber on 4th September after a wild ride in the North Sea with westerly winds up to 60 knots. They spent Friday & Saturday in Grimsby and then moved to Hull Marina on Sunday during the Sea Shanty Festival.
The weather was bright and sunny and remained that way during the entire week. The crews toiled to prepare their yachts for the round the world race. They played hard as well, with the newly opened Safe Anchorage bar & resturant in Warehouse 13, being drunk dry twice during the week!
During Saturday, there was the Parade of Classic Humber Keels and Sloops, including Amy, Comrade, Phyllis and Southcliffe. Truly a sight to remember. Saturday evening closed with a fabulous fireworks display in the River Humber off Victoria Pier.
Sunday 13th dawned dull but the wind was there with a northerly force 4. Nine of the Clipper yachts had moved to Albert Dock to ensure that the departure was not affected by the neap tide over the sill in Humber Dock. At 10 o'clock the crews assembled on the Clipper Stage at Humber Quays for their send off. They all paraded to their boat songs and then were lead to their yachts by the national flags carried by Hull Sea Cadets from TS Iron Duke. At 1115 sharp, the Red Arrows made a dramatic entrance from the north. There then followed a fantastic aerobatic display in front of Humber Quays.
The yachts left Albert Dock and Hull & Humber sailed out off Hull Marina with the Band of the Royal Marines playing at the lock gates. The Clippers assembled at buoy 26A for a Parade of Sail lead by HMS Explorer and trailed by fire tugs with water cannons from SMS & Svitzer.
At 1350 the ten minute gun fired - which left the ears ringing. The yachts jockeyed for position at the start line off Humber Quays, sizing up the transit and the effect of the ebb tide. At 1400 the start cannon sounded and it was a cannon, very loud and very clear. The Clipper Yachts were away to fast start - beat down to bouy 24 and then round back up to 26A before coming through the line again. They then set off down river past Victoria Dock, King George Dock and near to Paull. They then reached down to Cleethorpes before turning NE to get to the final Humber gate between Hawke light float & Spurn Point, before turning south to La Rochelle and the first pitstop.
The Clipper Yachts will return to the Humber on 17th July 2010 after a 10 month circumnavigation.
September 2009 SV Tadpole - the Adventure continues
Tadpole spent a very pleasant & relaxed 3 weeks in a guest slip at the St John Marina.
Located a few miles up the St John River from the city of St John, New Brunswick, the
marina is situated on the west side of Grand Bay where the mighty St John & Kennebecasis
rivers converge before rushing down a spectacular gorge on the way to the reversing falls.
The exit through the reversing falls was not nearly as nerve-jangling as the entry 3 weeks
ago, mostly due to better timing, it is only possible for a vessel other than a jet-boat
to traverse the falls at slack water which lasts about 20min.
Once out of St John harbour& into the Bay Of Fundy (with the world's largest recorded tidal range & currents to match) Tadpole turned south for the summers are very short hereabouts. The scenery has tobe seen to be believed, with seemingly endless forest, hills & craggy shoreline ... acertain Monty Python sketch about lumberjacks kept popping into my head. I was informed that such is the vastness of Crown land that for a peppercorn license fee one can do the Grizzly Adams log cabin Hemmingway thing ... Overnight stops made in Musquash Harbour & Beaver Harbour (both idyllic) before crossing into US waters at Eastport, Maine. To reach
Eastport from the east needs timing as the tidal rush in or out of Passamaquoddy Bay can
reach 10 knots around Campobello Island & the world's biggest tidal whirlpool (aptly named
the Old Sow) occurs with each change of tide very close to Eastport. Leaving Eastport via
the Lubec Narrows must also be timed with a falling tide ...Tadpole was literally sucked
through the centre span of the bridge with all efforts at the tiller simply pointless.
When rounding West Quoddy Head one has the Grand Manan Channel to negotiate where the ebb & fill of the Bay Of Fundy is squeezed into yet another rush of water ... I caught the
outflow OK but the wind was blowing inward which created a very confused & big seastate.
Exhausted by tacking to windward & only moving about 8 miles forward in a whole afternoon,
sheltered anchorage was found in a beautiful little cove marked on the charts as Baileys
Mistake ... out next morning & more close-hauled sailing with a last view astern of Grand
Manan Island in her ever present petticoat of mist before putting in to Jonesport for the
night. Tadpole was towed into Jonesport by the US Coastguard during the journey up last
month having fouled the prop on lobster tackle ... It happened again ... leaving Jonesport
& about 2 miles offshore the engine stopped with a thud ... this time I was able to
untangle the mess by starting the engine, increasing rpm to around 50% then swiftly
shoving the gear lever into reverse ... Tadpole was free. If I ever sail the coast of
Maine again I will have a line cutter on the propshaft & will gleefully zigzag about
chopping as much lobster gear as I can. Leaving Jonesport astern & with a favourable
weather outlook, course was set to the eastern end of the Cape Cod canal which was
reached some 60 hours later ...
If you have any photos from HSC events and want them to be on the website, please email to: info@hullsailingclub.co.uk
info@hullsailingclub.
Easter Race
We finally escaped from Hull Marina with the refurbished Lock gates. Typical weather for Easter, grey and overcast, but there was a bit of wind to stir the sails. A loaf down to Chequer Buoy and back via 2B. One of the yachts did a variation and included South Chequer and one yacht followed them. We all fall for it !! Still it was a good sail back from 2B on just the one tack all the way back to buoy 26. Major Slippage was judged to have won after taking into account the handicapping system. A few beers in the Whittington & Cat finished the day off - with most people looking slightly tanned - there must have been a bit of sun.
3 Creeks
Due to the lack of freshwater through Hessle and Barton Haven. It became the 2 Creeks Race,
Barrow & South Ferriby. Barrow was interesting with 3 yachts vying for space. The leader was well ahead of the melee at this time, but missed the major refueling pitstop in South Ferriby. The pitstop was for the crew, not the yachts ! We slaked our thirsts in the Hope & Anchor and then had a drag race back to the Marina. One long reach from the Ancholme River - flying the kite - to buoy 26 off the Minerva. Even the kite run was not enough to catch up with Major Slippage who took line honours and handicap honours.
We really must spend less time on the pitstop next year!!! Finally we hove to in the Green Bricks, to continue the refreshments. What a splendid evening.
Gambol to Goole
It was an idyllic evening cruise to Goole with gentle SW wind F3-4 so we sailed most of the way along the Humber and up the Ouse. Penned into Goole at 1900 and motored into the dock complex and through Lowther Street Swing Bridge to moor up in Ouse Dock. By 1930 we were on our way into the town centre which is only 5 minutes walk. After a pint or two of Ruddles County ( @ £1.29 a pint !!!), it was dinner for two and change from a tenner. Who says dinning out is expensive. We retired back to the yachts for a night cap. The dock was totally silent, not even a quacking duck. Sunday dawned bright and early for what was to be the hottest day this year. We penned out at HW and pushed some of the 'Top Run' for about 45 minutes. Sailed back past Hull and dropped anchor about 1130, just off the Old Lighthouse in Paull. Got round to do those whipping and splicing jobs that always keep getting put off. Penned back into Hull Marina at 1600, the end to a very pleasant trip.
Summer Cruise to Scarborough
It was a bash out of the River with a F4-5 Southeasterly - straight on the nose all the way out.
But the surfing over the Outer Binks made up for it !.
On the way out of the Humber, there was a superb red moonrise over Grimsby, Very artistic.
The wind bated overnight and dawn was bang on time - strangely enough, with a banded sun rise.
Celestial navigators one and all. Since the wind had bated - the kite went up followed by a torrential rain storm which totally flattened the wind and gave the kite a good wash, but no wind to dry it.
Flamborough Head was quiet with a few Gannets and Puffins doing their morning circuits. We arrived first at Scarborough and just slipped into the Harbour with enough water. Tied up and chilled out in the hot sun.
Finally the Commodore arrived early evening after a side trip to Whitby for Fish & Chips for lunch!
Dinner in Scarborough has to be Fish & Chips. Enjoyed by all - the most complicated descision was Merlot or Cabernet Sauvigon. It was that sort of trip. Steve caught up with the gossip at the restaurant from his favourite waitress.
If you missed it - watch next years calendar - It will be scheduled.
Figure of Eight
A select fleet penned out at 1030 for a run down the river and a Figure of Eight around Haile Bouy & Spurn Light float. The wind was westerly and fickle, and out at Spurn it was so fickle we tried a spot of fishing. About 20 expert fish catchers watched us closely before a flick of the hind flippers and they vanished under the waves. So it was back to sailing - once we had rounded Spurn Lightfloat, the asymmetric was hoisted and we were away. In the river the wind freshened and we tacked back up to Hull just managing to carry full sail. As the Commodore said "It was worth the run down the river for the cracking sail back!" . Who won? no-one, we all had to use the 'Iron Topsail' once or twice.
Jottings from our American Correspondent on SV Tadpole
June 2009
Hi John ....
I have been back here in Cape Cod doing fixes to Tadpole for nearly a month now ... I am about to launch & am hoping for a good summer cruising up & down the US east coast ... there are many yacht clubs over here who are happy to allow visiting boats from other clubs use of their facilities, including dockage or mooring at no charge as a reciprocal thing between clubs ... I am therefor keen to have a HSC burgee up my mast as soon as poss & to be able to represent HSC in my travels over here ..
Hi John & all at HSC ...
The HSC burgee arrived today & is fluttering proudly from Tadpole's port flag halyard ...
Many Thanks
Eddie
July 2009
Hi John & all at HSC ...
Just a few lines to update you all of Tadpole's adventures this side of the "pond" ... after completing fitting out & some shake-down sailing I left Cape Cod on 22 Jul ... transited the Cape Cod canal heading north to Canada ... stops were made in Gloucester & Isles Of Shoals for weather ... arrived this evening in Kittery, Maine ... plan to go ashore tomorrow in Portsmouth (28 Jul) for provisions & fuel etc then push on towards Portland & beyond (weather permitting) ..... the place names sound familiar ? ... well it is New England ...
Fair Winds
Eddie Middle
PS ... the HSC burgee flutters a real treat & I have been asked by several folks about it ... "Oh you have a Hull in England too ?" they say surprised !
Eddie got his new HSC burgee - We can deliver anywhere in the world - or you can buy one at easily at Hull Marina £25 ready to fly.
August 2009
Hi John & all at HSC ...
Onwards & Upwards ...
Tadpole left Kittery, the first town in the vast state of Maine as you approach from the south, Wed 29 Jul rather later in the afternoon than preferred ... as the coast of Maine is extremely gnarly & rocky I decided to follow the coastline but 10 to 15 miles offshore ... the gnarly coast of Maine is also reputed to be extremely scenic & enchanting but Tadpole needs to make time toward Canadian waters for visa purposes ... having motor-sailed most of the way in varying weather from gale to calm to thick fog & relying heavily on my tillerpilot ( a singlehander's best pal) Tadpole was stopped sharply short at 4am this morning 1 Aug 10 miles south of Jonesport ... the diesel cut suddenly ... instantly awake, I checked the fuel tank level ... OK there ... the engine started first throw but cut as soon as forward or reverse gear was selected ... the only possible explanation is that Tadpole had fouled the prop on a Maine speciality ... LOBSTER TACKLE ... lobstering seems to be the primary industry in Maine, so much so that in many parts along the coast it is almost possible to walk dryshod across the lobstermen's individually painted marker bouys (american pronounciation = booees) ... since I was well secured & not going anywhere I went back to sleep albeit fitfully as I knew I would have to take a cold dip with a sharp knife come daylight ... 9am came too soon as I knew that the water would be bleddy cold ( lobsters like cold water & Maine has an abundance of the stuff) ... harness & tether on, dive mask on, sharp knife in hand & into the water I go ... I was able reach the prop & could see that there was a substancial amount of warp wrapped tightly around the shaft ... it was so cold that I was unable to catch enough breath to be able to stay submerged for more than a second or two ... 10 minutes later & after several attempts to hack the stuff away I had to give up & fall back on plan B - that being to summon the assistance of TowBoat US ( a kind of on-the-water AA/RAC organisation) ... with unlimited callouts for an annual payment of $140 a bargain worth having ... I began hailing them on VHF channel 16 - no reply ... by 10am I had changed my call to a PAN PAN which was soon answered by the USCG ... they relayed my call to TowBoat US & by noon were able to confirm that the nearest operator would be with me in 3.5 hours (Maine is BIG) ... by 1pm however the USCG called to say that the TowBoat US operator had to return to port with engine problems ... I have to admit that a 7 hour round trip for a fouled prop would not appeal to me either especially knowing that the USCG will be morally obliged to step in ... & so it was that Tadpole was taken very professionally in tow by the Jonesport USCG detachment (boat & mariners armed to the teeth ... just in case the Canadians attack is my guess ?) & by 6pm securely tied up alongside the Jonesport town wharf ... the signpost on the town wharf says "loading & unloading only 30 min" - the USCG Captain said "if anyone tries to shoo you away tell them your vessel is disabled & we put you there" .... & when asked if there would be any charge for his services he replied "no - all part of the service Cap'n" ( I called him Captain & he called me Captain but we both knew that only one of us deserved it) ... I have also avoided the prospect of another cold dip by enlisting the services of one of the local youths who I observed gleefully jumping off the dock into the chill ... he is contracted to turn up a 10am tomorrow Sun 2 Aug with a reward of $20 if he can cut my prop free ... worth every red cent I reckon
Eddie Middle
Clippers Yachts in Humber - September 2009
The 10 Clipper yachts arrived in the Humber on 4th September after a wild ride in the North Sea with westerly winds up to 60 knots. They spent Friday & Saturday in Grimsby and then moved to Hull Marina on Sunday during the Sea Shanty Festival.
The weather was bright and sunny and remained that way during the entire week. The crews toiled to prepare their yachts for the round the world race. They played hard as well, with the newly opened Safe Anchorage bar & resturant in Warehouse 13, being drunk dry twice during the week!
During Saturday, there was the Parade of Classic Humber Keels and Sloops, including Amy, Comrade, Phyllis and Southcliffe. Truly a sight to remember. Saturday evening closed with a fabulous fireworks display in the River Humber off Victoria Pier.
Sunday 13th dawned dull but the wind was there with a northerly force 4. Nine of the Clipper yachts had moved to Albert Dock to ensure that the departure was not affected by the neap tide over the sill in Humber Dock. At 10 o'clock the crews assembled on the Clipper Stage at Humber Quays for their send off. They all paraded to their boat songs and then were lead to their yachts by the national flags carried by Hull Sea Cadets from TS Iron Duke. At 1115 sharp, the Red Arrows made a dramatic entrance from the north. There then followed a fantastic aerobatic display in front of Humber Quays.
The yachts left Albert Dock and Hull & Humber sailed out off Hull Marina with the Band of the Royal Marines playing at the lock gates. The Clippers assembled at buoy 26A for a Parade of Sail lead by HMS Explorer and trailed by fire tugs with water cannons from SMS & Svitzer.
At 1350 the ten minute gun fired - which left the ears ringing. The yachts jockeyed for position at the start line off Humber Quays, sizing up the transit and the effect of the ebb tide. At 1400 the start cannon sounded and it was a cannon, very loud and very clear. The Clipper Yachts were away to fast start - beat down to bouy 24 and then round back up to 26A before coming through the line again. They then set off down river past Victoria Dock, King George Dock and near to Paull. They then reached down to Cleethorpes before turning NE to get to the final Humber gate between Hawke light float & Spurn Point, before turning south to La Rochelle and the first pitstop.
The Clipper Yachts will return to the Humber on 17th July 2010 after a 10 month circumnavigation.
September 2009 SV Tadpole - the Adventure continues
Tadpole spent a very pleasant & relaxed 3 weeks in a guest slip at the St John Marina.
Located a few miles up the St John River from the city of St John, New Brunswick, the
marina is situated on the west side of Grand Bay where the mighty St John & Kennebecasis
rivers converge before rushing down a spectacular gorge on the way to the reversing falls.
The exit through the reversing falls was not nearly as nerve-jangling as the entry 3 weeks
ago, mostly due to better timing, it is only possible for a vessel other than a jet-boat
to traverse the falls at slack water which lasts about 20min.
Once out of St John harbour& into the Bay Of Fundy (with the world's largest recorded tidal range & currents to match) Tadpole turned south for the summers are very short hereabouts. The scenery has tobe seen to be believed, with seemingly endless forest, hills & craggy shoreline ... acertain Monty Python sketch about lumberjacks kept popping into my head. I was informed that such is the vastness of Crown land that for a peppercorn license fee one can do the Grizzly Adams log cabin Hemmingway thing ... Overnight stops made in Musquash Harbour & Beaver Harbour (both idyllic) before crossing into US waters at Eastport, Maine. To reach
Eastport from the east needs timing as the tidal rush in or out of Passamaquoddy Bay can
reach 10 knots around Campobello Island & the world's biggest tidal whirlpool (aptly named
the Old Sow) occurs with each change of tide very close to Eastport. Leaving Eastport via
the Lubec Narrows must also be timed with a falling tide ...Tadpole was literally sucked
through the centre span of the bridge with all efforts at the tiller simply pointless.
When rounding West Quoddy Head one has the Grand Manan Channel to negotiate where the ebb & fill of the Bay Of Fundy is squeezed into yet another rush of water ... I caught the
outflow OK but the wind was blowing inward which created a very confused & big seastate.
Exhausted by tacking to windward & only moving about 8 miles forward in a whole afternoon,
sheltered anchorage was found in a beautiful little cove marked on the charts as Baileys
Mistake ... out next morning & more close-hauled sailing with a last view astern of Grand
Manan Island in her ever present petticoat of mist before putting in to Jonesport for the
night. Tadpole was towed into Jonesport by the US Coastguard during the journey up last
month having fouled the prop on lobster tackle ... It happened again ... leaving Jonesport
& about 2 miles offshore the engine stopped with a thud ... this time I was able to
untangle the mess by starting the engine, increasing rpm to around 50% then swiftly
shoving the gear lever into reverse ... Tadpole was free. If I ever sail the coast of
Maine again I will have a line cutter on the propshaft & will gleefully zigzag about
chopping as much lobster gear as I can. Leaving Jonesport astern & with a favourable
weather outlook, course was set to the eastern end of the Cape Cod canal which was
reached some 60 hours later ...
If you have any photos from HSC events and want them to be on the website, please email to: info@hullsailingclub.co.uk
info@hullsailingclub.
