 |
Ravensdale sitting in the mud when the marina was drained down this morning (Friday) |
It’s been an eventful week at Maryport Marina in Cumbria, UK.
Yesterday (Thursday) morning and again this morning (Friday) the marina was drained down while staff tried to rescue a boat that sank Wednesday lunchtime.
And, on Sunday, two huge cranes lifted a large wind farm boat out of the water after it had proved impossible to lift it on the boat hoist at the boatyard next to the marina.
We’ve also had a busy week during which we’ve taken our 43ft Neptunus 133 motor cruiser, Ravensdale, out on the Solway Firth three times – on Saturday, Sunday and yesterday (Thursday).
Marina drained down twice after boat sank
 |
Floriage surrounded by a boom after she sank on Wednesday afternoon |
At around 2.15pm on Wednesday, our shore power went off, so Phil went up to the marina office to report the outage thinking it was a return of the power cuts that had been plaguing the marina last month.
 |
Floriage under water |
He said Floriage, an old wooden fishing boat that was being restored as a project in our marina at Maryport in Cumbria, UK, had gone down. It was thought that it had “sprung a plank of wood”.
We went to have a look and, at around 2.30pm, she was practically submerged.
Another berth holder later told us that she had been afloat when he walked past at 11am.
Marina staff put a boom on the surface of the water around the stricken vessel in an attempt to stop fuel spreading but without much success as the marina soon had rainbow-coloured water.
And all the timber that had been on Floriage’s deck was floating around the other boats.
The marina gate is usually shut when there’s 2.4m (7ft 10in) of water over the sill but it was allowed to drop to 1.8m (5ft 11in) on Wednesday evening while marina staff tried to get the sunken boat to float again.
Sadly, this didn’t work, so they had to drain the marina down yesterday (Thursday) morning.
The marina's sea gate was due to close at around 6.20am, but it was left open to drop the water level down.
 |
Bubbles rising from the mud at the bottom of the marina |
And we awoke to hear bubbles bursting under Ravensdale’s hull. It was a noise we’d heard before as the water was drained down in December while work was carried out to remove mud from the bottom of the marina’s slipway.
Phil slackened off all our ropes so they wouldn’t become too tight when the boat ended up higher above the pontoon than usual.
The marina ramp became very steep as the water level fell lower than we’ve ever seen it before.
This was the first time we’d actually seen the bottom of the marina around our boat and Ravensdale’s trim tabs became buried in the mud.
 |
Ravensdale's bow lifted out of the water as she settled on the bottom |
At low tide, the water line was about a foot lower than usual on her port side as she tipped to starboard by about six inches.
 |
Ravensdale listing to starboard as she settled into the mud |
It was a strange feeling as she started to float again when the tide started to come in. I felt the boat lurch then she gradually became more mobile again as the water level came up.
 |
Floriage re-emerged when the water level fell as the marina drained down |
Sadly, the marina staff were still unable to deal with the stricken vessel and she went under again when the tide came in, so the marina had to be drained down again this morning (Friday).
We didn't need to get up quite as early as the water level wasn't going to drop until almost an hour later than yesterday (Thursday).
And, as I wrote this, Ravensdale was sitting in the mud again. However, we were less worried this time as we knew from taking her out on the water yesterday afternoon that it hadn't done her any harm and hoped the same would be true today.
The marina staff pumped Floriage out again and they were trying to repair the leaks.
We were told that, if they couldn't get her floating today, they would leave her for the weekend and bring in a firm that specialises in these things next week.
However, she was still afloat when we returned home from our trip out on the Solway Firth today so fingers crossed she stays that way.
 |
Floriage floating when we left the marina this afternoon (Friday) |
Fishing trip on Saturday
 |
Happy to be out on the water again - Phil at the helm of Ravensdale on Saturday |
At long last, we were able to take Ravensdale out onto the Solway Firth for a fishing trip on Saturday – the first time she’d been out of the marina for nearly six weeks.
And it was so good to be out on the water again, especially as we had fabulous weather for our outing.
We knew the forecast was for low single-figure wind speeds but decided to wait until we got up on Saturday before making a decision.
On Saturday morning, the sun was shining, and the water looked calm in the marina, but Phil decided to pop around to the pier to check the sea state and returned to say it was fairly calm.
I started packing away all the loose items inside while Phil did his usual preparations in the engine room and outside.
 |
Ruby stays in her cage while we're travelling |
We put Ruby in her cage just before setting off and left the marina at 11am. She laid down and stayed in there quite happily while we were on the move.
 |
Ravensdale leaving Maryport |
We had a nice calm ride up to Allonby Bay where we dropped anchor so Phil could fish.
On the way out, he took the speed up to 18.6 knots, which is the fastest he’s taken Ravensdale so far to see how the engines reacted to a higher speed and everything was fine.
 |
Ravensdale heading towards Allonby Bay |
Once we were anchored, Phil set about setting up his rods while I let Ruby out of her cage to put her life jacket on so she could go out on deck.
I then discovered that she had grown so much that it would no longer do up around her chest so I had to take her out on deck in her harness but we always keep her on a lead when we’re out of the marina, so it wasn’t really a problem.
 |
Ruby on my lap on the aft deck |
It was lovely and warm in the sunshine on the aft deck, feeling cooler when the sun went in for a while.
We went inside for lunch at this stage and, by the time we’d finished eating, the sun was out again.
 |
Ruby sunbathing on Ravensdale's aft deck while the boat was out on the Solway Firth |
I tied Ruby’s lead onto the ladder up to the flybridge and she seemed happy to sunbathe on the aft deck.
As has been the case on recent fishing trips, the fishing really wasn’t great.
Phil caught two small dabs, a small flounder and half a dozen dogfish.
 |
The two small dabs Phil caught on this trip |
 |
One of the dogfish that were caught on this trip |
Despite the poor fishing, we were all happy to be out on the water. Sunshine definitely makes the whole experience much more enjoyable.
Phil tried Ravensdale’s autopilot for the first time on the way home and it worked perfectly.
 |
Ravensdale's autopilot |
We were back in the marina just before 3.30pm after almost four and half hours out on the water during which we did 9.1 nautical miles.
We moored Ravensdale up facing in the opposite direction so Phil could clean her starboard side.
 |
Ravensdale moored facing in the opposite direction |
 |
Phil cleaning Ravensdale's starboard side |
 |
Ruby keeping an eye on the cleaning process |
 |
Ravensdale on the Solway Firth. Photo by Glyn Dixon |
I left all the inside stuff packed up in case we decided to go fishing again the following day.
And I disappeared off to the beach with Ruby so Phil could get on with cleaning the boat in peace as Ruby likes to try to help which is actually anything but a help 😊
When we got back, I discovered Glyn, who operates a local fishing charter boat, had posted a photo of Ravensdale leaving Maryport on Facebook, which was a nice surprise.
I love it when other people take photos of us when we're out on the Solway Firth as there's no way I can take these photos myself.
We left Ravensdale moored up the wrong way around overnight and it felt really weird as the views out of the port and starboard windows were the opposite to what we are used to seeing.
It almost felt like being on holiday 😊
Aborted fishing trip on Sunday
 |
Ravensdale leaving Maryport on Sunday |
Sunday morning was relatively calm and, as Phil had finished the cleaning he wanted to do on Ravensdale’s starboard side, we needed to turn her around to face into the prevailing wind.
So, we decided we might as well take her out onto the Solway Firth again.
We left the marina at about 11.50am and discovered it was much windier and choppier than we’d expected.
 |
Lots of spray being thrown up over the bow as Ravensdale ploughed through the waves |
We headed up to Allonby Bay again and saw two local fishing boats that had gone out before us rolling around pretty dramatically while trying to fish.
 |
Sunrise on the Solway Firth |
 |
A party of fishermen on Sunrise |
We decided it was not going to be comfortable sitting at anchor and fishing in those conditions so took a bit of a mini cruise before heading back to the marina.
 |
Este Belle on the Solway Firth |
This time, we discovered that Steve on Sunrise had taken photos of Ravensdale while I was snapping his boat and the angling club members who were fishing from his boat.
 |
Ravensdale on the Solway Firth on Sunday. Photo by Steve on Sunrise |
We were back in the marina before 1pm after just one hour and 10 minutes out on the water and having travelled 6.8 nautical miles.
This time we moored Ravensdale up with her port side alongside the pontoon, as usual.
Short trip out yesterday (Thursday)
 |
Ravensdale leaving Maryport Marina |
The forecast for yesterday was fairly calm and the weather was lovely during the morning while the marina was drained down.
It was sunny and very calm, so we decided to take Ravensdale out again when the tide came up.
We left the marina soon after 2pm and headed up towards Allonby Bay but we didn’t stay out for long.
 |
Fishing boat Sunrise being rocked around on the Solway Firth |
It was much choppier than we’d expected and, as happened on Sunday, we could see other smaller fishing boats being bounced around so decided not to bother dropping anchor and headed for home.
 |
Ravensdale returning to Maryport |
As we were approaching the entrance to the basin at Maryport, two fishing boats from the harbour were heading for home so we hung back and waited for them to go in between the piers ahead of us.
This also gave me a chance to take a few photos of them, but it wasn’t easy to get them in focus because we were bouncing around a lot.
 |
Our James, the local fishing boat that we followed into Maryport |
When they had both entered the basin, we followed them in and, as we crossed the tide, to turn in between the piers we were caught by a large wave that gave us a good rolling causing a couple of things that don’t usually move to be thrown around.
Ruby was safely in her cage, but I think she was a bit startled by the noise of things crashing to the floor.
It was soon over, no real damage was done and Ruby seemed happy enough once we were back in the marina after less than 45 minutes out on the water during which time we travelled 4.4 very bumpy nautical miles.
We may not have managed to get in any fishing again, but at least we gave Ravensdale’s bottom a wash after she’d been sat in the mud and ran her two 300hp Volvo Penta engines to make sure they hadn’t been adversely affected by the experience.
We took Ravensdale out on the water again today (Friday) but I will have to include that outing in next week's blog as I've run out of time today 😊
Ruby of Ravensdale
 |
Ruby on Ravensdale's aft deck |
Ruby continues to grow rapidly. She is now five and a half months old and weighs 14.5kg.
And she really is becoming an excellent boat dog.
She was really good and very calm during her latest trips out on Ravensdale.
Ruby happily goes into her cage before we take the boat out and stays there without complaint all the time we’re travelling but, once we’re at anchor she soon lets us know that she thinks she should be set free.
 |
Ruby in her cage while Ravensdale was travelling on Saturday |
She seemed very happy and relaxed while we were at anchor and spent time sunbathing on the aft deck.
It was almost as though she wasn’t aware that anything was different compared to when Ravensdale is in the marina.
But she was very interested in the different views she could see while sat on my lap on the aft deck and, as usual, spent a lot of time looking at the water through the gaps in the dodgers around the aft deck.
 |
Ruby watching the water while Ravensdale was out on the Solway Firth |
She’s spent quite a lot of time sunbathing over the past week, either on deck or anywhere inside that she could find a patch of sunshine to lay in.
 |
Ruby relaxing in the sun on the floor in the saloon |
 |
Ruby catching the sun on the couch in Ravensdale's saloon |
 |
Ruby spreadeagled on the aft deck in the sunshine |
And she’s becoming braver on her walks on the beach.
She goes a bit further from us to explore rock pools or while running on the sand when off the lead but comes back when we call her as she knows she will get lots of praise and a tasty treat on her return 😊
She walks through puddles and little streams that she would’ve previously refused to cross as if they’re not there and actually brings the ball back when we throw it for her. Until recently, she often ran after it and came back without it so one of us had to go and fetch it.
She also enjoys playing with other dogs we meet on the beach, with their owner's permission, of course.
 |
Phil and Ruby on the beach |
 |
Ruby tugging on an old seaweed-covered length of rope on the beach |
 |
Ruby playing with another dog on the beach |
Her new harness seemed to be helping with getting her to walk properly on a lead. She was responding to our commands to come back when she was pulling and wasn’t stopping and refusing to move anywhere near as often as before.
 |
Ruby wearing her new harness |
However, we’ve had a couple of walks over the past few days when she’s reverted to stopping and refusing to move so we’re really hoping she’s going to grow out of this habit very soon.
Cranes lifting wind farm boat
 |
Windcat 41 being lifted out of Maryport Marina on Sunday |
Two large cranes overshadowed Maryport Marina on Sunday afternoon when they were brought in to lift a wind farm boat out of the water.
The previous week, attempts were made to lift Wildcat 41 out with the boat hoist belonging to the boatyard next to the marina, but this proved unsuccessful.
The cranes drew a lot of onlookers as they hoisted the large catamaran out of the water and onto the dockside on Sunday afternoon.
 |
A closer view of Windcat 41 being lifted out of the water |
She was returned to the water the same evening after her bottom had been cleaned.
Wildlife
We hadn’t seen Clyde the crow on our beach walks for a few days, but he was back last Friday afternoon.
He followed Ruby and I for our entire walk.
Ruby chased him away more than usual and he seemed to be fighting back.
It was so funny when Clyde flew off and sat on a rock in the middle of a large pool so she couldn’t get to him.
 |
Clyde keeping out of Ruby's way |
She was running around the edge of the pool trying to find a route across to the rock, but he was safe because it was too deep for her to be willing to cross it.
The pigeons in the drainage hole in the wall by Ravensdale are still building a nest in there.
But another pigeon family was left homeless after Floriage sank on Wednesday and they were flying around trying to find out what had happened when the boat was almost under the water.
 |
One of the pigeons that was looking for its previous home on Floriage |
The marina drain down exposed a number of small starfish and some strange slug-like creatures that we hadn’t seen before.
 |
A starfish exposed by the falling water level when the marina was drained down |
 |
A slug-like creature that we found in the mud |
Photography
Most of my photos this week were taken while we were out on the Solway Firth on Saturday, Sunday and yesterday (Thursday).
 |
Maryport from the Solway Firth |
 |
Skiddaw and Ullock Pike from the Solway Firth |
 |
The entrance to Maryport Basin from the Solway Firth |
 |
Another view of Maryport from the Solway Firth |
 |
Looking back at Maryport from beyond the end of the pier |
I also grabbed some landscape photos during Ruby’s beach walks this week.
 |
Golden sand on the shore at Maryport just before sunset |
 |
The sun going down over the Solway Firth |
 |
A wider view of the sun going down over the Solway Firth |
The best ones from her walks this week were taken just before sunset on Monday evening.
And I took a few photos of the harbour on Wednesday.
 |
Fishing boat Fredwood in Maryport Harbour |
 |
More fishing boats in Maryport Harbour |
My favourite abstracts this week were of oil on water.
I just couldn’t resist taking lots of snaps of the beautiful rainbow-coloured patterns caused by fuel that leaked out of Floriage when she sank in the marina.
 |
Patterns in the oil on the surface of the water in the marina |
 |
Another oily pattern on the marina water |
 |
Colourful oil on water pattern |
I also took a few more photos of rust on old fishing boats in the harbour.
 |
Rust and fading paintwork on an old fishing boat in the harbour |
 |
Another close-up of rust on the same boat |
Weather watch
We’ve had some great weather this week for the time of year.
It hasn’t been the warmest spring weather ever, but we’ve had a good bit of sunshine and it has been relatively calm.
 |
Maryport basking in the sunshine on Saturday |
Saturday was dry, bright and sunny with the temperature reaching 10C (50F). The top average wind speed was 15mph and 8-13mph while we were out on the Solway Firth.
Sunday started grey but bright and not too windy. The wind got up as the day went on and the clouds cleared allowing the sun to come out late afternoon.
 |
Grey cloud at Maryport Marina on Sunday morning |
The top temperature was 12C (54F) and the top average wind speed was 13mph with speeds of 10-13mph while we were out on the Solway Firth.
Monday was the warmest day in the past week with the temperature peaking at 16C (61F). It was dry, bright, sunny and very breezy with a top average wind speed of 17mph.
 |
Sunny weather on Tuesday at Maryport Marina |
We had similar conditions on Tuesday, but it was a bit cooler with a top temperature of 12C (54F). The top average wind speed was 16mph.
Wednesday was dry, sunny and fairly calm with a top temperature of 12C (54F) and a top average wind speed of 16mph.
 |
Another sunny day at Maryport Marina on Wednesday |
Yesterday (Thursday) started overcast but the clouds soon cleared to give a lovely sunny day with very little wind.
The top temperature was 11C (52F) and the top average wind speed was 19mph.
The average wind speed while we were out on the water was 17mph, so it was considerably higher than the forecast of 7-9mph.
And today (Friday) the weather has been dry, sunny and calm with the temperature reaching 10C (50F) and a top average wind speed of 18mph.
