Debbie Webb

Now wind to start but we had to leave in the afternoon to get through the swing bridge. Motored for a while then the wind came up and we had the most fantastic sailing through the night. I did 8 to 11. Steve did 11 to 2 and I did 2 to 5. Going through the oil and gas fields was amazing. All lit up. Saw Venus rising. Beautiful sunset and sunrise. We made really good time. Had expected to take 26 hours but did it in 22.

Very lumpy. Started off sailing but after a couple of hours had to motor. Worst passage so far. Really uncomfortable. Great welcome in Hartlepool though. Enormous marina. Very friendly. Met Jup and MarieJesu on Vleiger again. They are waiting for a Windo to go across to the Netherlands.

Left early on the high tide. Forecast was for increasing wind so we wanted to reach Newcastle by 5pm. Main and Genoa. Good sailing. Had to avoid pots. Took inside passage from Holy Island past the Farne islands. Lovely. Kept close to coast. Wind dropped and we motored for a few hours with just main up. Wind increased three hours from Newcastle so we brought out the Genoa again. But wind increased again so swapped for staysail. Wind soon dropped and we were close to Newcastle so we brought in all sails. Had to refurl Genoa as it was too tight. Called Tyne VTS. Told us we could come in as cargo ship and DFDS ferry were leaving. Crossed channel to South Shields anchorage. Wind increased. Anchor holding well. Rocky in the wind.

Wonderful sailing day. Sunshine and wind. Genoa and main.

First 100 days spent sailing up the west coast of Wales England and Scotland then across Scotland on the Caledonian canal to Inverness on the east coast. The down the east coast of Scotland to Edinburgh.