In this article, we read about ‘Acorn’ as she continues her journey north to a winter berth in Amble. In ‘Acorn’ #1 we hear about her passage from home on the Orwell to Scarborough, the first part of her planned circumnavigation of the UK.
Scarborough to Whitby ~18 nm – strong northerly
Leaving Scarborough we quickly tucked in two reefs as a fresh northerly built approaching Robin Hood’s Bay. The short passage required some determined progress to windward before Whitby harbour finally opened ahead. After several hours waiting just past the Harbour for the bridge to open, we arrived in time to wander up to Whitby Sailing Club just as the Scarborough-to-Whitby race fleet was finishing. What followed was a superb evening of hospitality with North East sailors celebrating the race results. Whitby also introduced us to Harry, an American sailor cruising aboard his Bristol Channel Cutter ‘Indigo’. We ended up spending three very enjoyable days swapping sailing stories before the next weather window appeared.
Whitby to Hartlepool ~41 nm – moderate breeze
Leaving Whitby on 2 June we finally enjoyed a near-perfect sailing day. With a fair breeze we goose-winged north past Salt Scar and the Tees entrance. The gaff sail spreads wide when run like this, the boom squared off and the sail bellied out like an enormous tan wing. Later the sea built again and we reverted to motorsailing with a small headsail to steady the boat. After about seven hours we reached Hartlepool. Just in time. By evening the wind outside was gusting close to 35 knots.
Hartlepool to Blyth ~37 nm – following swell
Two weeks later we returned to the boat and headed north again. A rolling following sea made the morning lively, but conditions eased by midday. We passed Seaham, Sunderland and South Shields before turning into Blyth harbour after around thirty-seven miles.
Blyth to Amble ~27 nm – 20 kt headwind
After another short weather delay we left Blyth in gusty 20-knot headwinds and motorsailed north with only a small headsail set. Puffins appeared frequently along the route, bobbing around the boat as we worked our way north. Crossing the marina bar at Amble required careful timing and very little water beneath us, but ‘Acorn’ slid safely into what will be her winter home.
A Small Boat, A Long Way
By the time we reached Amble we had sailed a little over 300 nautical miles since leaving the Orwell. For a 21-foot wooden boat built over nine patient years in spare evenings and weekends, it felt like a satisfying milestone. There is still a long way to go around Britain, but ‘Acorn’ has already proven that a small home-built boat can travel surprisingly far. Particularly one with a forgiving gaff rig that rewards patience more than speed. Preferably with the occasional steam railway, welcoming harbour pubs, and a continuing search for the East Coast’s best fish and chips along the way.
In ‘Acorn’ #1 we hear about her passage from home on the Orwell to Scarborough, the first part of her planned circumnavigation of the UK.
Words: Marie-Louise (ML) Ferrigno
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