20/07/2009
After a few photos with the Harbour Master we got under way, south westerly winds 4 to 5 so we were going to have a reasonably hard time, 124 miles the wind was gusty and with this it was making the going hard and slow, with the first fuel tank empty we started to have a case of sticking throttle cables to the point that Sunny managed to be not so carful and broke the end, given the conditions it was the easiest option to try to get to port Fraser but with Sunny going nowhere it was plan “B” i always have a plan B i quickly had a look on the Plotter for the nearest Slip and this was 3.9miles so out with the tow rope and we were moving to shore looking for the small harbour, once in we lubricated cables and made Sunny’s push cable in to the pull cable, this simple operation is easy to do at sea but in the right condition but today was not the day. Getting back out life was great boats felt much more responsive and we were in a lull in the wind and flying pushing 32knots but not for long around the next headland and we were back to been beaten to death by waves and wind so the pace was slow.
KEEPING A LOOK OUT FOR US
We has a scheduled meeting with the RNLI at 1930 but as it was now 1630 and 60 miles to go it was never going to happen but we were pushing on as fast as we could, now at 1745 we were in the Firth heading towards the Isle of May after approximately 40 minutes of beating up wind into the waves we stopped for a rest in the distance i could see a bright orange glow, this was Gary in the Lifeboat out on practice they had been out and having been given my last position they were out on the lookout for us, a welcoming sight i have to say, we came along side and after a big smile i turned Zapcat 1 round and as i accelerated away guess what the throttle cable broke, at this point one of the lifeboat men jumped on board to help, cable swapped over and we started to head off in to Dunbar harbour we had a quick jump around on the waves and then tucked ourselves neatly in behind Gary, this had to be the best 12 miles of the day sat in the wake of the lifeboat, a easy ride in.
A WELCOMBE SIGHT DUNBAR LIFEBOAT TEAM
In the harbour we were moored up and collected by the RNLI Rib and taken ashore, we were given the full hospitality of the Crew and Station so all the kit was dried and we were treated to a god hot shower, we all had lots to talk about around the table until none of us could keep our eyes open, Gary the Dunbar Coxswain told us all about the lifeboat and station along with some stories of rescues one of which has earned Gary a RNLI Bronze Medal this was for saving a couple from there Yacht Gary along with the crew from that night will all receive Medal Service Certificates, i could go on all night talking about the Dunbar station and crew as they are all fantastic members and it shows in the team spirit, when that lifeboat pulled up alongside me i have never seen so many smiling faces it was just such a great moment.
HEADING FOR HOME
Tomorrows another day with some small repairs to be made.