Our first big adventure on Ravensdale - taking our boat away on holiday for the first time

Ravensdale returning home from Scotland

One of the reasons we decided to sell our house and buy a boat was so we could take her on holiday with us.

Since we moved on board our Neptunus 133 cruiser, Ravensdale, in November 2016, we'd only taken her out fishing on the Solway Firth and for little cruises on the firth.

But, this week, we decided to go further afield for the first time.

Our home port is Maryport in Cumbria on the English side of the Solway Firth and our first proper trip was to Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, which is 26 miles away from here, up the River Dee on the Scottish side of the firth.

Ravensdale at Kirkcudbright

And we're now planning to go further afield for a longer holiday next spring - possibly up the west coast of Scotland.

Planning our first mini-break on Ravensdale

While watching the weather to check for the next chance to take Ravensdale out fishing on the Solway Firth, I noticed that the forecast was for calm conditions from Tuesday to Friday of this week.

It's unusual for us to get such a long calm period, so I suggested it might be worth trying to get away for a few days.

Pilot books for the Solway Firth

Phil thought it a good idea and we started looking at the possibility of going to Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

We spoke to other berth holders here who've visited the marina in Kirkcudbright to pick up any tips on going there.

And we started studying the charts and the pilot guides for that area.

Map showing Little Ross Island and the channel up the river to Kirkcudbright

We were really hoping the forecast didn’t change for the worse forcing us to cancel our plans.

On Monday, we called the Scottish marina to check they would have room for us to be told it should be fine. We agreed to call and let them know if and when we were definitely on our way.

We also contacted the skipper of Range Vessel Gallovidian to check on firing times on the firing range in the Solway Firth that we needed to cross to reach Kirkcudbright and were told there would be no firing this week.

Phil topped up our water tanks and we took Ravensdale over to the fuel pontoon to fill up with diesel.

Maryport Marina fuel pontoon

We also went food shopping, just in case we ended up spending time at anchor.

The final decision on whether to go was left until we got up at 6am on Tuesday morning and the day was everything the weather forecasters had promised so we decided to set off on our first big adventure.

Taking our “house” on holiday for the first time

It was so exciting going away on our boat for the first time even if we weren’t going very far or for very long.

Although, I must confess to having been a tiny bit apprehensive the night before we set off.

I had every faith in Ravensdale and her skipper but couldn’t help feeling it would be strange being further from land than we’d ever been before during the 26-nautical mile journey from Maryport to Kirkcudbright.

It was fairly calm when we set off just before 8am on Tuesday morning.

Ravensdale heading off to Scotland in the sunshine

The average wind speed recorded at nearby St Bees Head for the time we left was 14mph, but it seemed considerably less here.

The top wind speed for Maryport while we were out was 16mph and, for Kirkcudbright, the top average wind speed was 9mph at 3pm.

We had a pretty bumpy ride until we reached the Robin Rigg Wind Farm, which is about halfway across the Solway Firth. The second half of the journey was much smoother.

We averaged 9.5 to10 knots, arriving at Little Ross Island at 10.25am.

Approaching Little Ross Island off the coast of Scotland

We dropped Ravensdale’s anchor to wait for the tide to be high enough for us to head up the river towards Kirkcudbright.

It was really calm and sunny when we first arrived and became a bit cloudier during the afternoon.

We watched porpoises in the bay, but I was unable to get a photograph of them.

Phil fishing near Little Ross Island

Phil tried to do a spot of fishing, but the only fish he caught were dogfish. Sadly, the only decent fish he hooked – a good-sized huss – managed to get away.

While we were anchored off the island, we called the marina to confirm they had room for us.

They said they’d get a boat to move up to make room and we confirmed we would be arriving around high tide.

We had our lunch on Ravensdale’s foredeck in the sunshine and put the generator on for a while to keep the freezer cold, so I took the opportunity to use the coffee maker to make us a cappuccino.

Soon after lunch, a fairly large yacht moored up to a buoy close to the island.

The yacht that arrived while we were anchored off Little Ross Island

As we knew there was only one available mooring in the marina, I called to check the other yacht wouldn’t be able to take the space they had cleared for us but was told that if they got in first they would get it.

It was suggested that, as we were the bigger boat, they could raft up on us (tie up alongside us).

However, I pointed out that our boat would be very difficult for anyone to climb over to get ashore from a yacht.

Thankfully, having seen our boat, the yacht owner thought the same and told the marina that, as we were there first, they would go elsewhere, which we thought was pretty decent of him.

A fishing boat that passed us while we were fishing

We moved to the other side of the bay at about 3.30pm, partly because the fishing was so bad by the island and partly to get closer to the buoyed channel up the river.

We set off up the river shortly before high tide, arriving at the marina at around 6.45pm.

Travelling up the River Dee to Kirkcudbright

Fish House on the River Dee

Kirkcudbright in the evening sunshine

Mooring up was more difficult than we’d expected due to the tide and we were very grateful to three local fishermen who just happened to be walking along the pontoon at the time.

They caught our ropes and helped to bring us into the space that had been created for us between two other boats.

They also gave us some mackerel fillets and some pollock.

We secured the boat and got a bit sorted then went into town to get some fish and chips.

Sunset at Kirkcudbright Marina

We knew there was no Wi-Fi at the marina, but there was also no TV signal, so we watched some of the programmes that we just happened to have pre-recorded.

Me and Ravensdale at Kirkcudbright Marina

We slept really well, and, on Wednesday morning, we set off to explore Kirkcudbright on the banks of the River Dee, which is the only town on Scotland’s Solway coast with a working harbour.

Unsurprisingly, the area, which is known as “The Artists’ Town” because it was a magnet for Scottish artists in the late 19^th century, has a number of art galleries.

The picturesque town boasts a ruined 16^th century tower house near the harbourside, called MacLellan’s Castle and some very impressive churches.

MacLellan's Castle at Kirkcudbright

The main street through Kirkcudbright

Another view of Kirkcudbright

Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway

Kirkcudbright Parish Church

Another view of Kirkcudbright Parish Church

View of Kirkcudbright Marina from the harbour

A fishing boat leaving Kirkcudbright Harbour

There is also a good selection of small shops and eating places.

In fact, I ate way more than I should’ve done so the diet started again today (Friday) 😊

On Wednesday afternoon, we took a walk up the River Dee to Tongland Bridge that was built by Scotland’s greatest engineer Thomas Telford in 1806.

An old boat alongside the River Dee

The path out of Kirkcudbright along the River Dee

The River Dee at low tide

Me on Tongland Bridge

Phil on the River Dee walk

We originally intended to stay until today (Friday), but the weather forecast changed giving higher wind speeds than we would’ve been happy to set off in, so we decided to come back to Maryport yesterday (Thursday).

Kirkcudbright sunrise

Early morning reflections in the River Dee at Kirkcudbright

We set off at around 7am, two hours before high water, as that meant we could get back to Maryport on the same tide, arriving back here before the gate was due to close at around 11.30am.

Ravensdale leaving Kirkcudbright on our way home

The trip back was considerably quieter than the journey there, so we were pleased we decided to come back when we did.

We saw Maryport fishing boat Winsome on the Scottish side of Robin Rigg Wind Farm.

Winsome by Robin Rigg Wind Farm

I messaged Tom, who owns the boat, and he said he was glad it was us as, from a distance, he’d thought Ravensdale was the fisheries vessel.

It was good to know Ravensdale looks so scary 😊

Robin Rigg Wind Farm taken from a lot closer than we  usually get to it

The deepest water we encountered during the trip was 22.6 metres (74 feet).

Ravensdale's depth sounder showing 21.2m, which is the depth beneath her keel

As we’d been moored up starboard side to in Kirkcudbright, I needed to swap the ropes and fenders over to the port side for our return to our home marina, so Phil slowed right down as we were approaching Maryport to give me a chance to get them sorted.

We’d hoped to get an extra night but didn’t mind too much coming home a day early.

And we got back to our marina at about 10am after just over three hours at sea.

Ravensdale coming into Maryport Basin on our way home

We really enjoyed our mini break and it has given us more confidence to undertake a longer trip in the future.

And, as soon as we’d moored up Ravensdale in Maryport Marina, the local swan family came to visit in search of food, which was a lovely welcome home.

The swan family waiting for their first feed after our return

One really good thing about taking our home away on holiday with us is that we didn't have to do any packing or unpacking and there was no way we could forget to take anything we wanted or needed as we had everything with us 😊


Changing Ravensdale’s electricity plug

Phil ordered a new socket for the boat and a new plug for the end of the power lead from the electricity bollard on the pontoon to Ravensdale.

They arrived early on Monday morning and Phil planned to fit them straight away ready for our trip to Kirkcudbright.

Unfortunately, although they were ordered together, the plug was too big for the socket.

However, the one Reg, the marina foreman, had fitted for us the night we blew the power to the pontoons was a perfect fit so we’re waiting to hear how much we owe the marina to keep that one.

Ravensdale's new plug and socket

Phil had to make a larger hole for the socket box to fit into as we were unable to get an exact fit and the new one is wider than the old one.

He would normally have waited for good weather to do an outside job but needed to get it done before we set off for Kirkcudbright so he had to work in the rain.

Our shore power lead was very long – too long – and our generator lead was too short, so Phil cut a length of the shore lead and used it to make a longer lead for the generator.

Testing our outboard

We’d been meaning to blow up our dinghy and try our outboard motor to make sure it was still working for some time as we realised it hadn’t been started for about a year.

However, before we got around to doing this, we discovered that the marina had a large plastic drum fitted with a board for testing outboards.

We asked Reg, the marina foreman, if we could borrow it to save us having to get our dinghy out and he told us where to find it.

Phil testing our outboard motor

We took the empty drum through to the hard-standing and filled it with water.

Phil then filled our motor up with petrol before carrying it up to the drum to test it and we were delighted when it went on the second pull of the starting chord.

It then ran without a problem until Phil switched it off again.

So at least we know that, if we need to use it on our dinghy, it should work OK.

Thornback ray

The thornback ray we ate this week

At long last, we actually got to eat one of the fishes caught on our fishing trips this summer.

We ate a couple of cod caught last winter and, a few months back, Phil filleted a smooth-hound for us to eat, but sadly we forgot it was in the fridge until it was past its best, so it went in the prawn pot as crab bait.

We kept a thornback ray (AKA skate) from last week’s fishing trip.

Phil filleted it as soon as we got back, and we ate it the following day.

He pan-fried it in oil and it was delicious, so we will definitely be keeping any we catch in the future.

Creaking ropes

Phil washing our mooring ropes

Washing the ropes in fabric softener seems to have worked as they are much quieter than before we took them up to the marina launderette to wash them.

We’re hoping that they really are creaking less, but we’re well aware that the noise reduction could be due to the ropes being tied differently.

Or it could be because we haven’t had wind from the direction that was causing so much creaking before the ropes were washed and softened.

Time will tell, but, so far, it’s looking like it has been successful.

Weather watch

The week started grey and damp but the weather improved from Tuesday onwards.

Soggy Saturday at Maryport Marina

Saturday started grey and fairly calm, but the wind increased as the day went on. There was a short shower around lunchtime then light rain during the early evening.

The highest temperature recorded locally was 14.9C (59F) and the top average wind speed was 17mph.

Sunday was mainly overcast and dry with drizzle and light rain at times.

Grey Sunday at Maryport Marina

It was fairly windy and became cooler during the morning from 16.7C (62F) at 7am to 15.8C (60F) by 11am. The top daytime temperature was 15.9C (60.5F) and the average wind speed peaked at 18mph.

It was warm overnight with a temperature of 15.9C (60.5F) at 1am.

Monday started grey and damp with light rain from first thing until mid-afternoon. It was fairly calm during the morning with the wind increasing during the day.

The temperature dropped during the morning to 10.5C (51F) at 10am. The highest temperature during the day was 13.7C (57F) and the top average wind speed was 17mph.

It was dry, bright and calm first thing on Tuesday and we left Maryport to set off Kirkcudbright in bright sunshine.

Maryport Marina in the sunshine on Tuesday morning

The day continued sunny with a little more cloud in the afternoon.

The top average wind speed for Maryport while we were out on the water was 16mph and the top temperature was 15.7C (60F). The highest average wind speed at Kirkcudbright on Tuesday was 9mph at 3pm when the temperature peaked at 15.9C (60.5F).

A sunny day in Kirkcudbright on Wednesday

There was a calm, sunny start to the day in Kirkcudbright on Wednesday. It remained sunny throughout the morning, with cloud increasing from 2pm. The temperature reached 16C (61F) and the top average wind speed was 11mph.

We were up bright and early yesterday (Thursday) morning and there was mist on the River Dee in Kirkcudbright at sunrise.

Mist on the River Dee at sunrise on  Thursday morning

It was calm and sunny when we left the marina and headed down the river to Little Ross Island, where we left Scotland to cross the Solway Firth.

The cloud increased as we crossed the firth. It was bright and dry when we arrived in Maryport, but there was a bit of light rain early afternoon followed by clouds and sunny intervals.

The top average wind speed in Kirkcudbright, while we were travelling, was 8-10mph and, for Maryport, it was 8mph.

The highest daytime temperature in Maryport was 15.6C (60F) and the average wind speed reached 17mph. 

Clouds and sunny intervals at Maryport Marina today (Friday)

And, so far, today (Friday) the weather has been a mixture of clouds and sunny intervals with a light rain shower early afternoon.

The temperature has reached a high of 15.2C (59F) and the top average wind speed was 24mph, gusting 32mph at 9am this morning so we were very glad we decided to travel home yesterday.