Eyemouth - Blyth
Trip Start
May 06, 2008
1
100
130
Trip End
Sep 30, 2008
Blyth,
England,
United Kingdom
Thursday, August 14, 2008
The wind was light and from the east, which meant that we could use the sails to augment the engine but only by a little. It seems that we are doomed to repeat the story of two years ago ie, any passage making entails using the engine. Oh well. Again, note to myself, especially when being passed by the pretty Dutch boat that left ages after us, get propeller checked this winter!
One nice facet of this part of the coastline and journey is that one passes Holy Island and Lindisfarne
Bamburgh Castle
. Last time we were here, we anchored out in the Farne Islands, I must say I would like the luxury of a little more time hereabouts but we'll have to plan that in for the future. It's incredible to think that in 8 short miles there is so much history and historical artefacts as over this distance, you pass Lindisfarne, Bamburgh Castle and Dunstanburgh CastleStarting with Lindisfarne on Holy Island, this is arguably as important as Canterbury in the origins of Christianity in England. The first English diocese was founded here in AD 635 by St Aidan but the castle is much more recent, dating from 1550. It is now owned by the National Trust. Bamburgh Castle is almost a 'folly' as it was built largely during the 18th and 19th centuries, although fortified structures have been there since AD 547 when King Ida built his fort, which was later rebuilt by the Normans. Bamburgh Castle as we see it today though, was used for rather more prosaic reasons, namely as a boarding school to train servant girls! Finally, the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle evoke a bloody period in our history. Built in the early 14th century, it changed hands several times during the wars of the roses and has been a ruin since 1538.
Further south, the landscape gradually becomes more industrial, as you enter the once mighty industrial sector of the UK
Being Overtaken by Dutch Yacht - Grrr!
. From far away, the wind turbines that have been added onto the north breakwater of Blyth harbour are visible and it makes pilotage very easy ( mind you, it always is thanks to our wonderful chart plotter)We entered the imposing jaws of the two opposing breakwaters at Blyth at about 17:15 in the drizzle and were safely moored in the visitors section of the Royal Northumberland Yacht Club marina by 18:00. The whole marina and dock area had a fairly decrepit aura in truth and it was utterly silent, quite unsettling, in fact. Dominating the right hand corner of the marina was the RNYC clubhouse, in the form of a retired Calshot Spit ( Southampton) light vessel. Tyne is over 110 years old and she's a cracker. The ambience on board is super, it would have been miles better if there had been anybody else there other than Julie and me, as well as the barman, Allan. Still, it was nice to see her and I imagine she would have lots of stories to tell if she was in the mood!
