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Phil fishing from Ravensdale's aft deck at sunset |
Ravensdale has been out of the marina’s sea gate three times this week but one outing was our shortest yet.
We like to take our 43ft Neptunus 133 motor cruiser out on the Solway Firth from our home marina at Maryport in Cumbria, UK, at least once a week, weather permitting.
However, we had to cut short our first trip last Friday due to choppy conditions.
But the water had settled down sufficiently for us to try again the same evening and we were treated to a beautiful sunset at sea.
Meanwhile, Phil has caught the horrible cough and cold that I brought home from my recent visit to see my parents in Salisbury and is now suffering from the dreaded man flu.
But it didn’t stop him wanting to go out fishing again on Wednesday - even when feeling ill, we still manage to carry on living the dream 😊
Friday’s fishing trips
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Ravensdale heading out of Maryport Marina on Friday morning |
Last Friday’s forecast led us to believe it would be a good opportunity to spend a full day out on the water.
We decided to leave the marina two hours after the morning tide and return on the evening tide about nine hours later.
This meant we were leaving just half an hour before the sea gate would’ve been due to close if it wasn’t broken at the moment.
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Ravensdale leaving the marina through the sea gate that is currently out of action |
Soon after leaving the marina, we realised it was considerably choppier than we’d expected but hoped it was just the usual choppiness we get between the piers.
However, as we headed out towards Three Fathoms Bank, the water wasn’t getting any calmer.
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Ravensdale heading out from Maryport towards Three Fathoms Bank |
Phil asked me whether I thought we should turn back as, even though the marina gate is out of action, there’s only enough water for us to get back into the marina for around two and a half hours either side of high tide.
I agreed that, if it was still possible to get in, we should go back.
I tried to call the marina on the VHF radio while Phil turned Ravensdale around and started heading back towards Maryport.
The manager checked the depth of the water over the sill and said she would get staff to hold the barrier back so we could get in.
Phil took Ravensdale a bit faster than we usually travel and we got back just in time.
The marina sea gate is usually shut when there’s 2.4m (7ft 10ins) of water over the sill. When we crossed it our depth sounder was showing 0.9m (2ft 11ins) under our keel, which meant there was about 2.3m (7ft 6ins) on the sill.
We had left the marina at around 10.30am and were back at 11am having travelled just 3.5 nautical miles – 2.75nm out and 2.75nm back again.
Annoyingly, the water in the marina was still really calm but we knew that wasn't the case out on the Solway Firth.
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Marport Marina looking super calm on our return on Friday morning |
To say we were glad to be back in the marina would be an understatement as it would’ve been no fun sitting at anchor in choppy conditions for at least seven hours waiting until there was enough water to get back into the marina.
We both agreed that it’s very important to know when to turn back and, on this occasion, we definitely made the right decision.
I left all the stuff I pack up inside Ravensdale in crates in the hope we’d get another chance to go out soon and the opportunity was even sooner than we’d hoped.
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Flat calm water at Maryport Marina as we left on Friday evening |
By the evening, the wind had dropped right down so we decided to go back out on the Solway Firth for a few hours.
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Ravensdale leaving Maryport on Friday evening |
We left the marina at 7.20pm and headed straight out across the Solway Firth from Maryport for a couple of miles.
It was a very different experience to our morning trip out – there was no wind and the water was like a mill pond.
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Ravensdale heading out across the Solway Firth |
Phil then stopped the engines and allowed Ravensdale to drift for a while so he could try fishing for mackerel.
He only managed to catch two mackerel so not a great haul, but they were the first he’d caught since we’ve been here, so he was quite happy to get any.
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Phil fishing from Ravensdale's aft deck |
We then motored over to Allonby Bay where we dropped anchor and he set up his rods again.
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Ruby watching Phil fishing as the sun sets over the Solway Firth |
In this location, he caught another mackerel, a small bass and a tiny gurnard.
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Phil with the small bass he caught on this trip |
Ruby got all excited the little bass escaped while I was trying to take a photo of Phil holding it and it flapped around on the deck for a few seconds.
I quickly pulled Ruby back so she couldn’t reach it while Phil rescued the little fish and returned it to the water.
Sadly, I forgot to photograph the mackerel because I was so busy taking snaps of the changing colours as the sun dropped lower in the sky before setting behind the Scottish hills on the other side of the firth.
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Ravensdale setting off on the way back to Maryport with the Scottish hills in the distance |
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Ravensdale approaching Maryport after sunset |
Although we returned after sunset, it was still fairly light, and we had no difficulty seeing our way back into Maryport basin.
As always, once we entered the basin, I set up the docking sticks in case there was no one to catch our ropes and put out the fenders ready to return to the pontoon only this time it didn’t quite go to plan.
As I dropped one of the fenders over the side the knot, which must have worked loose, came undone and it disappeared into the water.
I shouted to Phil that one of the fenders had gone overboard so he motored astern and pulled up alongside the fender while I scooped it up with the landing net and pulled it safely back on board.
We were back in the marina at 10.45pm after travelling 12.2 nautical miles.
And we were delighted to discover that photographer Jay Wood had taken a photo of Ravensdale returning to Maryport.
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Ravensdale returning to Maryport last Friday evening. Photo by Jay Wood of JW Photography |
Wednesday’s fishing trip
Earlier this week, it became clear from the weather forecast that Wednesday was going to be the best day for a trip out on Ravensdale this week.
However, first thing in the morning, Phil was feeling really rough with the cough and cold I’d given him, so we decided not to go.
But that changed when we got up and saw just how nice the weather was.
He decided it was too good to miss so we rushed around and got ready as quickly as possible and left the marina at about 11am.
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Ravensdale leaving Maryport on Wednesday morning |
We headed down to Allonby Bay, dropped anchor and Phil set up his fishing rods.
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Phil fishing in Allonby Bay |
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Me enjoying the sunshine on Ravensdale's aft deck |
He had no bites at all in the first hour, so he decided it was time to move on.
This time we headed out further from land and he tried fishing for mackerel while drifting.
He didn’t catch any mackerel, but he did hook a small smooth-hound, which he returned to the water.
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Phil with the smooth-hound he caught |
He then started the engines again and moved to another spot closer to Maryport where he fished while drifting until it was time to head for home.
I sat on the flybridge on the way back to Maryport, which gave me a chance to get some better shots of the town from the firth.
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My view from Ravensdale's flybridge on the way back to Maryport |
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The controls on Ravensdale's flybridge |
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Looking back from Ravensdale's flybridge through the radar arch |
We were back in the marina at 2.30pm having travelled 8.9 nautical miles.
Radio problems
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Ravensdale's fixed radio |
We discovered on Friday morning that our built-in VHF radio was receiving but not transmitting clearly so ended up using the handheld for our trip out on Friday evening and again on Wednesday.
Phil is now trying to discover the cause of the problem and thinks it could be due to damage to the coaxial cable to the aerial.
Unfortunately, the cable cannot be removed from the aerial so we’ve ordered a new aerial and are hoping that will solve our radio problems.
If not, I guess we’ll be looking at having to buy a new VHF radio.
By yesterday (Thursday), we were wondering why the aerial hadn’t arrived and Phil started chasing it up to discover that it had been sent to Maryport Inshore Rescue in error.
We eventually managed to discover that it had been delivered to Maryport Fishing Co-op for the inshore rescue and we picked it up this morning (Friday). So Phil's next job will be fitting it.
Meanwhile, we're using out handheld VHF radio.
Windscreen wiper problems
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Ravensdale's troublesome port wiper |
Ravensdale’s port wiper also stopped working after Friday morning’s brief outing.
Ever since we bought Ravensdale in 2016, the port wiper has only worked on one speed – fast, while the starboard wiper operated at two speeds.
We just assumed one had broken at some stage and been replaced with a different one.
But the port motor has now packed up all together so perhaps the single speed was a symptom that it was on its way out.
Sadly, Phil caught the cough and cold I brought back from Salisbury and is now suffering from that dreaded condition known as “man flu” so the proper repair will have to wait until he’s feeling better.
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Ruby keeps a lookout while Phil works on the wipers |
Meanwhile, he’s swapped the port and starboard motors over so the windscreen he needs to see out of while at the helm could be kept clear.
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One of Ravensdale's wiper motors |
We didn’t need it while out on Wednesday, but at least it’s available for any future trips out on the water before he can sort the other motor.
Interestingly, it only runs on the fast speed on the port side so it seems that this problem is caused by the switch, which will also now need attention.
Fish and chip supper
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Fish and chip supper |
Last Friday night, we ate the cod we were brought by one of the local fishermen with a boat in the marina.
Phil gutted and filleted them the night they were delivered to us and we put them in the freezer until we were ready to eat them.
Phil coated them in breadcrumbs then baked them in the oven and served them with chips, peas and tartare sauce.
And they were delicious 😊
Flipping flies!
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My homemade fly trap |
And we reckon they’re being attracted into the marina by all the mud that’s exposed at low tide while we wait for a new cable to arrive so staff can fix the sea gate.
We tried fly spray, but there were still loads of them buzzing around so I Googled making your own fly trap.
I found a video showing the viewer how to cut a plastic bottle at the widest point and invert the top part of the bottle in the bottom part. This was fixed in place with duct tape. So far, so good…
It said you could use anything for bait – raw meat, fish, preferably something stinky, which had to be placed in liquid so the flies would be enticed into the trap, be unable to escape due to the inverted bottle top and drown in the liquid.
I didn’t have any stinky meat or fish handy so opened a tin of tuna, which the flies seem to like well enough when it’s in Ruby’s bowl, but it seems it’s considerably less attractive if they have to enter a bottle to get it.
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Our fly paper delivery |
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One of the fly papers on Ravensdale |
I didn’t catch a single fly in my trap but they were still flying around the boat landing on me, the TV screen, my laptop – basically anywhere except in my trap ☹
And, to add insult to injury, the cheeky little blighters walked around my homemade fly trap on the bench in the galley and even landed on the back of my hand while I was using the camera on my phone to take a snap of it.
Oh well, back to the drawing board – or rather Google and I ordered a pack of fly papers instead.
They arrived the next day but they're not proving very successful either as the first strip only caught one fly and there are still lots of them flying around the boat. Aaargh! ☹
Ruby of Ravensdale
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Ruby chilling on Ravensdale in her lifejacket while out on the Solway Firth |
Ruby was even better than usual on Wednesday’s trip out on Ravensdale.
She seems really chilled out about going out on the water with us now.
I put her lifejacket on her when I let her out of her cage while we were anchored in Allonby Bay, but she decided it was too warm up on deck and went back inside where she made herself comfortable on the seating in the saloon.
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Ruby on Ravensdale's aft deck before she decided it was too hot |
She usually wants to be wherever we are – if we’re on deck she wants to stay out but this time she seemed happy enough to be inside on her own for a while.
When we moved on, she seemed so happy on the seating that I didn’t bother putting her in her cage as we weren’t going far.
However, she went in there of her own accord as soon as she realised we were on the move and did the same thing when we moved again.
She seems to have worked out that her cage is where she should be whenever Ravensdale is underway.
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Ruby patiently waiting for me to take her for a walk |
I’ve been walking Ruby on my own quite a lot this week because Phil hasn’t felt up to it much of the time.
I rarely take my camera with me when I’m walking her alone as I have enough stuff to carry with her ball, treats and poo bags.
But that doesn’t stop me taking photos of her with my mobile phone.
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Ruby checking that I'm following her along the coast path at Maryport |
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Ruby playing in the long grass |
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Ruby with Eli, one of the dogs she met while out walking this week |
She was given a new blue ball by a friend we met while out for our morning walk yesterday (Thursday) and she was so happy with it.
We took it with us on her evening walk and I tried to throw it for her as I do with her other balls, but she wouldn’t let me have it back. She wouldn’t even swap it for one of her favourite treats and Ruby will usually do anything for food.
She was so happy carrying it around and rolling around in the grass with it that I decided to indulge her and couldn’t resist taking a few photos of her with it.
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Ruby with her precious blue ball |
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Ruby refusing to let go of the ball |
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Another photo of Ruby with her special ball |
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Ruby getting a cuddle from Phil |
But, sadly, the ball, that was supposed to be indestructible was in pieces within minutes of getting home, so I had to throw it away and she really wasn’t happy about that.
In fact, I’m not sure if she’ll ever forgive me for that one ☹
We took Ruby back to the vet on Monday for the second dose of the treatment for her ear infection.
Thankfully it seems to be better and she’s not scratching any more, but the vet said she may start again when the steroid injection wears off in the next week or so.
If it does, the vet wants us to take her back so she can treat her for summer allergies so we’re hoping that doesn’t happen.
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Ruby resting on Ravensdale |
Wildlife
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A barrel jellyfish |
We saw two different types of jellyfish while out on Ravensdale on the Solway Firth this week – a barrel jellyfish and a couple of lion’s mane jellyfish.
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A lion's mane jellyfish |
There were lots of ladybirds on the wall alongside the coastal walk to the lighthouse, including a number of pairs that looked as though they were making more ladybirds 😊
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A mobile phone photo of a ladybird on the sea wall |
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Two ladybirds playing piggyback 😊 |
There are some lovely wild orchids growing in the long grass near the marina.
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Wild orchids |
And painted lady butterflies are regular visitors to the wildflowers in the area.
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A painted lady butterfly |
Photography
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Maryport Pier and the sun going down over the Solway Firth |
Most of the photographs I’ve taken this week were snapped while we were out on the Solway Firth on Ravensdale last Friday and on Wednesday.
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Maryport with the northern fells in the distance |
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A yacht on the Solway Firth |
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Maryport from the Solway Firth |
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Maryport lighthouse and the town on our approach from the Solway Firth |
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Sunset over the Solway Firth |
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The sun setting over the Scottish hills on the far side of the Solway Firth |
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A closer view of last Friday's sunset |
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A seagull at sunset |
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Golden light on the Solway Firth and part of Robin Rigg Wind Farm |
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A close up of part of Ravensdale's wake |
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Another close up shot of our wake |
I also had another go at taking a selfie of Ruby and I on Ravensdale.
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Me and Ruby |
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Ruby trying to work out what I'm doing |
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Another photo of me and Ruby |
The rest of my images this week were a few shots of the marina and some photos taken with my mobile phone while I was out waking Ruby.
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Evening light at Maryport Marina |
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Reflections at Maryport Marina |
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Phone photo of the shore at Maryport |
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Phone photo of rain clouds over Maryport Harbour |
Weather watch
We’ve had some decent weather this week including some warm sunshine and some low wind speeds which enabled us to get out on the water.
Saturday was cloudy but very warm and muggy with thunder late afternoon along with a heavy downpour followed by showers. The top temperature was 21C (70F) and the top average wind speed was 13mph.
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Saturday morning at Maryport Marina |
Sunday started dry and cloudy. It was bright during the morning with light rain during the afternoon. The top temperature was16C (61F) and the top average wind speed was 21mph, gusting 31mph.
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Bright skies at Maryport Marina on Sunday |
The wind got up overnight with average wind speeds of up to 28mph, gusting 38mph. Monday was dry and bright but fairly breezy with a top temperature of 16C (61F) and a top average wind speed of 24mph, gusting 38mph.
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Lenticular clouds over Maryport on Monday |
Tuesday was another dry, bright and breezy, feeling warm at times. The temperature peaked at 18C (64F) and the average wind speed reached 21mph.
Wednesday was dry, sunny and calm with a top temperature of 17C (63F) and a top average wind speed of 11mph.
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Bright sunshine at Maryport on Wednesday |
Yesterday (Thursday) was mainly dry and cloudy with a little rain late afternoon, but it was very short-lived. The top temperature was 16C (61F) and the top average wind speed was 11mph.
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Cloudy weather at Maryport Marina yesterday (Thursday) |
And, so far today (Friday) the weather started overcast but bright with the cloud thinning and the sun coming out around lunchtime. The top temperature so far was 16C (61F) and the top average wind speed was 14mph.
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Clearing skies at Maryport Marina today (Friday) |
