Hartlepool and On to Whitby

Gemini1
Sat 24 Aug 2019 22:40
Hartlepool was windy but full of surprises. Some of the marina eating places were good finds, overlooked by HMS TRINCOMALEE, the oldest floating RN ship (1817) in existence, which was worth a lengthy visit. Gemini was craned out of the water for the first time since starting the Round Britain passage on 10 June. She had a relatively clean hull, which I patched up with antifoul where needed, changed both hull and prop shaft anodes and secured the prop rope cutter which was spring round the shaft.
A huge thanks to the marina team at Hartlepool, who charged me nothing for the lift as I was sailing round for charity, a very kind gesture.

I was again sad to see a crew member, Peter Forbes, leave me. His experience as a Round the World skipper was most useful. His eagle eye focused on my wind driven tiller pilot, which I had been deploying back to front! It was little wonder that I had been scratching my head as to why it did not always work! We had some windy days’ sailing together, which were great fun.
James Neary joined me yesterday, having sat in the train some 5 miles way from the station, unable to reach Hartlepool through a technical fault. Do I detect a claim for full reimbursement for his ticket?

We departed early this morning for Whitby, with little wind and want there was of it was on the nose, a pattern looking likely for the next few days, sadly. The upside was that we stopped to fish and caught 2 mackerel and one cod for supper this evening.

And finally, I was so pleased to see Ian Purkis with his wife Margaret, armed with home made millionaire’s shortbread and a bottle of wine for me. Readers may recall that Ian crewed a Cornish Crabber 26, with which I sailed and had time ashore in Caernarfon earlier during my trip. It was kind of them to drive so far to see me.

As for Whitby during a holiday weekend, I have not seen so many people for months. However the abbey, church and imposing harbour entrance were memorable.

HMS Tricomalee

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Gemini being craned out in Hartlepool

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