Holy Island Rally

Due to the weather this was to be a rally with no sailing. However, I did get the opportunity to try sleeping onboard in a bit of a blow which was a great experience.

The Jet Stream had other ideas

In previous years the North East region of the DCA has held a rally on Holy Island, Northumberland and members have successfully cruised to the Farne Islands some 5 nautical miles to the South-East.

Unfortunately the weather had other plans with the Met Office confirming that we were on the “wet side” of the Jet Stream and as a result the inshore waters forecast put the wind at force 4, gusting force 5-6 westerly. Nonetheless four intrepid boats arrived on Friday afternoon navigating their trailers across the tidal causeway that links the island to the mainland to arrive ahead of high water. We were to anchor in the harbour referred to as “The Ouse” on the chart.

Over the winter layup I had completed some important jobs to strengthen the boat ready for sea. Excitingly on this trip I was going to attempt a first night sleeping aboard with a makeshift boom tent.

Camping is prohibited on Holy Island to help maintain visitor numbers and protect the wildlife that resides there. Simon from the DCA had however obtained prior permission from the Harbour Master for our rally and camping in boats.

Parking between the fishing huts - constructed from upturned hulls of a long ago fishing fleet and each one over 40 feet in length - I stepped our of the car to hear the scream of the wind ripping through the rigging of yachts in the harbour. No chance of sailing today!

Making Camp

Despite not being able to sail I couldn’t let the opportunity pass to attempt a night aboard in the shallow waters of the bay. My fellow sailors were extremely helpful and fours of us slid Curlew onto the beach below the high water mark (high tide was due 03:45)

I deployed my 4.5 kg Danforth anchor with about 15m of scope, and dug this in securely on above the high water mark. I was offered the loan of a second anchor for the stern but foolishly refused (this became important later). I believed the the force of the wind was such that the boat should lie snugly offshore bows to the wind for the night.

I setup my makeshift boom tent with some difficulty but eventually I was able to rig something that would keep the wind off and rain out and I was able to setup my sleeping mat on the bottom boards of Curlew. The wind against the tarpaulin was noisy and I didn’t drift off until after 11pm. My log contains the following notes from the early hours.

Log

Friday 7th June 2024

The Ouse (Harbour), Holy Island. High tide 0355 (Saturday)

1800 Launched boat for sleeping on ebb. Wind WNW F5, gusting F6. Sea state calm/slight. Weather fine/clear and 13 °C

1900 Boat chocked on fenders - tide out - boat shaking in wind.

0330 Awoken by first tide.

0400 Afloat, bumping on bottom. Wind veering WSW. Boat over stone; rising and falling with waves

0430 Sunrise. Reset anchor on beach to pull boat over sandy bottom. Boat still rising and falling against shoreline with waves.

0500 Wind veering WSW; gusts visible on the water. Boat pushed broadside on to beach with a crunch onto stone bottom. Decide to haul out. Wishing I had set a stern anchor.

0530 Hauled out. Back to sleep.

0800 Excellent breakfast (porridge and coffee) with beautiful views.

Notes

• Tarpaulin boom tent made snug but ill fitting to boat shape - boom legs too far forward. Loose material noisy in near continuous strong wind.

• My birth was snug but uncomfortable. I was warm and dry but bedboards atop the thwart would be comfier. These would also need a better fitting tent.

• Stern anchor would have helped.