Breskens proves to have no fuel berth.
Now we aren't short of fuel to the point of panic.... but would very much like to be able to sail a while on the way back to be comfortable...
So, we are rather pleased at 06:30 to lock out into 20kts of wind.... albeit bang on the nose for the first 3 hours as we work our way back down the coast.... the promise of being able to sail once we reach the end of the channel is lifting.... which is good, as its still pretty lumpy from the previous days wind....
True to form however, as we turn NE, the wind starts to ease.... just enough to sail for a while though, so in 12kts, we plug away north, enjoying the quiet with the engine off.... Our friends, who are equally as concerned about fuel, carry one motoring at full chat.... a mistake it was later to be proved....
We take what seems to be an age in reaching the TSS... as the wind continues to drop, and out speed over the ground reduces to 2.3kts, we put the engine back on.... we've managed to sail for nearly 4 hours though... a good fuel saving....
The TSS is straightforward again... one little jink for a container ship, but only a minor jink.... and then the next waypooint is the cardinal marking the edge of Gallopers.... we might have gone straight across this notorious bank, but when we left, the sea was still running, and given that it shallows to less than 3m, it wouldn't have been nice... but with the engine on, its soon on us.... and then its Long Sand Head.... its just starting to get dusky, so on go the nav lights.... and fortunately, we just clear the new 'roundabout TSS' here before it gets truly dark, which makes Nav a lot easier....
Still motoring, and with the tide now in full flow, we are shot down towards Rough Towers....
Our friends call up.... they are sufficiently low on fuel, that they are now motoring at nearly idle... the price paid for shooting off too quickly earlier... They request that we inform Shotley that they'll be in for fuel in the middle of the night!
Soon Cork Sands Yacht Beacon is upon us... for once we pick it up at 0.5nm range... its usually a pig to spot until the last minute... and within 45mins, we are calling Shotley for a lock in....
As we lock in... we hear the other boat call the coastguard.... they've run out of fuel, and the wind has vanished... whoops!
I have a momentary pang of guilt... should we have waited for them?... but then we were also v low on fuel, so then the coastguard would have had two boats to deal with....
All tied up in our berth, and ready for bed by 12:30... not bad.. 18hrs for the crossing.... and we didn't break anything this time!
Miles logged 96nm
Miles this trip 213nm
Miles this season 284nm
Miles since this blog started 4,181nm
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