It wasn't uneventful though!
The night before we set off we had a quick trip out of Whitby and back with some friends, during which we gained about half a litre of water in the bilges. I figured it was probably the stern gland (a supposedly watertight rubber gland which allows the shaft to go from the engine, through the hull to the prop) dripping. Turned out I was correct. It's not really a major issue we need to worry about. We won't sink or anything. But it really needs sorting, and that officially requires a lift out of the water. We may attempt to install a new one while in the water, which is likely to be a difficult and very wet procedure. But £130 just to be lifted out to avoid it makes it a very tempting option. I will consult my more knowledgeable colleagues on another web forum.
Leaving Whitby was emotional. My Dad came onto the pontoon to push us off, and I watched him get smaller and smaller as we went down the river Esk to the bridge. My Mum didn't come as she thought she'd not be able to cope. Instead she walked to a high point on the hills between Whitby and Sandsend and watched from a distance. Some good friends of ours walked along the pier as we passed, waving like loonies and Rose's parents, Uncle and Gran got themselves to the end of the West pier extension and looked down on us from there as we slowly motored out of the harbour.
Shortly after I went below and confirmed my suspicions. The stern gland was dripping.
No wind to speak of so we motored in the sunshine on a very very calm North Sea. A brief anchor and row at Runswick Bay saw our two crewmates, Adam and son Edwin, aboard for the rest of the voyage.
We made good time, even managed to sail for an hour despite the low winds and were ready to enter Hartlepool Marina Lock at its first opening after low water. The lock keeper informed us on the radio that they had a depth of 1.7 meters in the channel. We need 1.6 meters to avoid touching the bottom, so it was tight, but OK considering the lack of any swell. Unfortunately, finding the centre of the channel proved difficult, despite a sector light to help. We were in the white section of the light (the right one to be in) but the depth sounder was showing less than 1.5m and we slowly ploughed a trench through the soft mud towards the lock entrance.
About 20m before the entrance the depth increased substantially and I thought our troubles were over, but no! Just as the bow entered the mouth of the lock the stern suddenly shot over to starboard, threatening to clout the lock gate on that side. I increased revs substantially and managed to avoid the wall, but the correction I'd had to make now put us on collision course with the opposite wall! Swift tiller adjustment and much adrenaline solved this and we made it to our allocated visitor berth without further incident.
Chatting to some locals it turned out that on rare occasions (they think just after low water) the deep pool of water just outside the lock develops a strong swirl. No mention of this in the pilot book. Or of the fact that the channel up to the lock is extremely narrow and steep sided.
Some media for you:
Whitby Web Cam captures us leaving Whitby
http://www.whitbywebcam.co.uk/whitby-se ... ?si=233#im
YouTube video of us waiting for the bridge to open
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk4Toed1Kc8
YouTube video of the leaky stern gland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE1VCo-yi40
Waiting for Whitby's Old Bridge to open
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/w2h1.jpg)
The Whitby Web Cam (http://www.whitbywebcam.co.uk)
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/w2h2.jpg)
Lunar wonders what lies ahead
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/w2h3.jpg)
Rose wonders what lies ahead
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/w2h4.jpg)
Rose's family wave from the pier
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/w2h5.jpg)
Looking back at Whitby
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/w2h6.jpg)
Collecting our crew
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/w2h7.jpg)
Crew mates Adam & Edwin checking out the Tees shipping
![Image](http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/blogfiles/w2h8.jpg)