A stunning sunset and an unexpected fishing trip

A beautiful sunset over the Solway Firth in Cumbria, UK

A brief weather window allowed us to take Ravensdale out to play on the water at the weekend.

Both Phil and I were convinced we’d been stuck in the marina at Maryport in Cumbria, UK, for at least two weeks, possibly three.

However, when I checked, I discovered we were wrong – it was only 10 days, but it really did feel much longer.

And it was looking unlikely that we would be able to get out for at least another week, so it was brilliant to be able to go on Sunday.

Another highlight of the past week was the amazing sunset on Tuesday evening.

I will never tire of the beautiful sunsets that light up the sky over the Solway Firth.

Unexpected fishing trip

It was looking as though this week was going to be one of those really annoying times when the wind speeds were too high to leave the marina whenever the gate was open.

Ravensdale waiting for the weather to improve so she could go out to play

According to the forecast, the only times when the wind speed was going to be in low single figures was either during the night or while the gate was closed.

And there would have been no chance to go out early in the morning and stay out over two tides because we would’ve been stuck out on the water when the wind blew up.

But the forecast changed.

When I checked the Met Office app on my phone first thing on Sunday, I discovered that the wind was supposed to drop to 10mph at around 4pm, which was just after the marina gate was due to open.

It was then supposed to drop further while we would be out on the Solway Firth to around 6mph at the time we would need to return before the gate closed again at around 8.45pm.

There didn’t appear to be another time that we’d be able to go for the rest of the week, so we decided to go for it.

During the morning, we walked over to The Aquarium by Maryport Harbour to get some more fishing bait.

And, while out, we realised that the higher winds that had been forecast for that day hadn’t really materialised and we kicked ourselves for not going out on the morning tide and staying out until the evening.

A surprisingly calm start to the day on Sunday

We bumped into a fisherman friend by the harbour, who said he was thinking exactly the same thing, so at least we knew it wasn’t just us being over cautious.

The worst thing about the gate opening so late in the day is waiting around for it to happen.

We were ready a good two hours beforehand. Thankfully, the weather was good, so we were able to sit out on Ravensdale’s aft deck and enjoy the sunshine while we waited.

The gate opened later than we’d hoped at around 4.15pm.

Ravensdale heading for the gate on our way out of Maryport Marina

We headed out of the gate into Maryport Basin, then out between the twin piers into the Solway Firth at the first opportunity, waving to the people standing watching by the lighthouse as we went.

The opening between Maryport's twin piers that provides access to the Solway Firth

It felt good to be out on the water again.

I’m convinced that Ravensdale is happier when she’s travelling or even just bobbing around on the waves at anchor than when she’s tied up in the marina, but I guess I’m just projecting my own feelings onto her 😊

Ravensdale heading out of the basin at Maryport

Soon after we’d left Maryport to go to one of our usual fishing spots, Phil’s tablet died and the markers for our fishing locations are on Navionics on his tablet.

He was trying to get it to work while at the helm, so I offered to take over steering, so he could concentrate on sorting the problem, which unfortunately he was unable to do.

I ended up driving all the way to the area in which we normally drop anchor and turned the boat around to face into the tide at what looked like the right sort of place to stop.

Phil went out onto the bow and dropped the anchor before setting up two fishing rods.

Phil baiting a hook on Ravensdale's aft deck

He had another look at his tablet to see if there was anything obvious wrong, but it refused to restart.

We’ve always said that one of the good things about taking our home fishing was that we couldn’t forget anything.

Well, this time we proved ourselves wrong.

One of the dogfish Phil caught on this trip

We forgot to take the live crabs that we’d caught in our prawn pot. We left them in a submerged container that hangs from one of the cleats by our boat.

However, it didn’t matter too much as we had plenty of other bait.

This trip was much like our last few outings with very few fish showing any interest in our bait.

Phil only managed to catch a small huss and four dogfish (sadly, I didn't manage to get a photo of the huss before he threw it back).

My phone lies about the weather!

The weather didn’t do what the forecasters had promised either. It was supposed to be hot and sunny, but it really wasn’t.

The weather app on my phone was telling me it was 20C in my current location when it was cool enough for us to both put on long-sleeved fleece tops.

And the wind, which was supposed to subside while we were out, did the opposite and it started to blow up around the time the tide turned.

As we weren’t catching any worthwhile fish and the weather wasn’t particularly special, we decided to head back to the marina a bit earlier than planned.

We usually use the Navionics chart to follow the same route back, but it didn’t matter that it was out of action as visibility was good and it's an area we now know well.

If we’d needed to use a navigational aid, we still had the small Standard Horizon plotter that was on our Neptunus 133 when we bought her and we always carry the relevant charts.

We were unable to reach the marina on the VHF radio on the way back to let them know we were coming in so, after a couple of failed attempts, we headed back in anyway keeping a careful lookout for any other traffic.

Ravensdale returning to Maryport

We arrived back at the pontoon just before 7.30pm and I had no problem securing mooring ropes without assistance by using our docking sticks. 

They really are some of the best gadgets we’ve bought for our boat as the height from Ravensdale’s deck to the pontoon makes it impossible for me to jump off with our mooring ropes. This means that, without the docking sticks, I would need help every time we wanted to moor up.

Maryport Marina gate

Maryport Marina gate holding water in the marina at low tide

The sea gate here at Maryport Marina in Cumbria, UK, means we can only get in or out of the marina for around two and half hours either side of high tide.

When I write about the impact the gate has on our ability to take Ravensdale out to play on the water, I frequently get asked what I mean and how it works so I thought I’d try to give you a bit of an explanation.

There’s a big difference between high and low tide here, particularly during spring tides which can vary by nearly nine metres (almost 30 feet), and the basin outside the marina gate dries out when the tide goes out.

Maryport Basin at low tide showing the position of the marina gate

So, the gate is closed when there’s 2.4m (almost eight feet) of water over the sill to make sure there’s enough water in the marina to keep the boats afloat.

Marina staff open it as the tide comes in and close it as the tide goes out. They have to wait for the water level outside the gate to be the same as that inside the marina before operating the gate which is lifted and dropped by a cable.

Maryport Marina gate being lowered when the water levels are the same on both sides

Berth holders and visitors to the marina plan their comings and goings around this in the knowledge that the gate is usually open for around two and a half hours either side of high tide.

However, the timing can vary depending on the tides, the swell and the atmospheric pressure so we never know exactly what time the gate will open or close.

It’s sometimes left closed during stormy conditions when there’s a big swell.

Water pouring over the marina gate when it was left closed during Storm Hector in June

And it’s sometimes closed when there’s 3m (almost 10ft) of water over the sill if the marina is planning boat movements while the gate is shut or when weather conditions mean staff feel the gate needs closing earlier than usual.

Shower room leak

Phil has been trying to discover the cause of the water that has started leaking into the en-suite shower room in the aft cabin when it rains.

It appears to be coming through at the starboard side of the bottom of the window and sliding door that provides access to the saloon from the aft deck.

We thought he might have fixed it when he drilled extra drainage holes at the lowest point in the metal channel in which the door runs.

Just in case this hadn’t done the trick, he also sealed along the bottom of the window/door frame where it meets the superstructure.

Phil applying sealant around the door frame

We really hoped this belt and braces tactic had cured the leak until we had more heavy rain on Tuesday and discovered that water was still getting in.

The next step is to lift the corner of the teak deck in front of the door to see if we can find a problem there.

As I said in my last blog post, it really isn’t the most serious place to have a leak as any water than comes in ends up on the tiled floor of the shower and runs away down the drain.

The problem is also fairly minor with very little water coming in, but we really don’t want any leaks on Ravensdale, so the cause will be found and put right, however long it takes to get to the bottom of the problem.

Facebook vocabulary quiz

I never do the various quizzes that Facebook suggests for me because I’d always thought them a bit silly and a waste of time.

However, a friend did one the other day and the results were so funny that I just couldn’t resist having a go.

This one was supposed to tell you what the vocabulary you use on Facebook says about you and I just couldn’t believe what it came up with for me.

My Facebook vocabulary quiz results

Apparently, I have Thai ancestry (I mean, do I look like I come from Thai stock?), I enjoy vampire hunting (I don’t even like vampire films) and my nickname is “Loco Legs” (what’s that all about?) 😊

I quite like the bit about being 33 though, or at least I would if others I know who are older than I am hadn’t come out with younger ages

I can only think it’s because I use much more grown-up language on Facebook 😊

I guess I’ve just proved that I was correct in my assumption that such quizzes are silly and a waste of time.

Would I do another one?

I’d like to say “no”, but I’m not so sure as I laughed myself silly at the results I got this time 😊

Photo opportunities

Most of the photos I’ve taken this week, other than recording the weather, have been of our trip out on Ravensdale on Sunday and the beautiful sunset on Tuesday evening.

I still have problems getting clear photos while out on the water.

I use a higher shutter speed to hopefully make up for the rocking motion of the boat and for shots of other boats, which are often also moving, but am still rarely happy with the results.

Photography friends have tried to help me rectify this problem but, so far, without success. I’m beginning to think it’s just me ☹

Fishing from Ravensdale on the Solway Firth

One of the other boats on the Solway Firth on Sunday

A mackerel sky over the Scottish hills on the other side of the Solway Firth

Meanwhile, Tuesday evening on the beach watching the sun go down was an absolute delight.

I saw the sky starting to colour up in good time and headed out with my camera well before sunset.

I was out for well over an hour wandering along the coastal walk above the beach and then down on the shore, where I very nearly got my feet wet a couple of times.

I’m becoming an expert at looking through the viewfinder on my camera with one eye and checking what the water’s doing with the other one while taking photos and I usually notice when the waves are getting dangerously close to my feet, but I still get caught out from time to time 😊

Tuesday evening's sunset on the shore at Maryport in Cumbria, UK

A closer view of the sun setting over Scotland

Sunset reflections on Maryport Pier

Impressive cloud formations during Tuesday evening's sunset

And, on Wednesday, I just had to take my camera for a walk around the harbour and along the river when the rain stopped and the sun came out.

Both the harbour and the river look better at high tide but, even without water, I couldn’t resist the blue sky and fluffy white clouds.

Maryport Harbour at low tide

Another view of Maryport Harbour at low tide

Fishing boats sitting on the mud in Maryport Harbour

The River Ellen in Maryport at low tide

Another view of the River Ellen at Maryport

We had to go to Cockermouth on Thursday for an appointment and I meant to take my camera but totally forgot it and didn’t have time to go back.

My camera takes really poor quality photos, so I borrowed Phil’s to take a couple of snaps of the bustling market town on the edge of the Lake District National Park.

Floral displays in Main Street, Cockermouth

Looking in the opposite direction along Main Street, Cockermouth

The River Cocker at Cockermouth

Weather watch

We’ve had a pretty mixed bag of weather in Maryport over the past week - sun, rain and plenty of wind.

It rained during the morning last Friday, stopping just before lunchtime and we awoke to a dry and bright day on Saturday.

Last Saturday at Maryport Marina - the first rain-free day for more than a week

Amazingly, there was no rain all day after the rainiest week we'd had in a long time. In fact, I was so surprised by the lack of rain that I totally forgot to check the wind and temperature information 😊

Sunday also started dry and bright.

It was very calm first thing, while the gate was closed but it started to increase during the afternoon and blew up later while we were out at sea.

The top temperature was 19.1C (66F) and the top average wind speed recorded locally was 11mph. It was supposedly 8mph while we were out, but it was definitely more than that where we were.

Monday started dry and a bit breezy, but the wind got up and it started raining just before 10am when it literally tipped it down. There were further periods of heavy rain until it cleared up later in the day.

Ravensdale's aft deck after a torrential downpour on Monday

The top temperature was 15.7C (60F) and the top average wind speed was 17mph.

We had rain first thing on Tuesday, but it dried up during the morning and was much brighter during the afternoon with the temperature peaking at 16.2C (61F).

The windiest part of the day was early afternoon when the average wind speed reached 13mph. And the day ended with a beautiful sunset.

Wednesday started wet again and there were heavy showers throughout the morning. The sun came out during the afternoon making way for blue skies and fluffy white clouds, with a top temperature of 16.8C (62F).

Blue sky and fluffy white clouds over Maryport Marina on Wednesday

It remained quite breezy with a top average wind speed of 16mph.

Thursday was dry and sunny but felt cooler than the top temperature of 16C (61F) as there was a stiff breeze and a top average wind speed of 15mph.

And the weather so far today (Friday) has been a combination of sunshine and very heavy showers.

Never a dull moment as Ravensdale puts us to the test

The window that sprang a leak when the heavens opened after a long dry spell

The past week has proved the accuracy of a well-known boater’s saying - while you’re enjoying a glass of wine and relaxing on your boat something somewhere is breaking.

I laughed when I first read it, but it’s definitely been true on Ravensdale this week.

No sooner had we sorted one problem on our 43ft seagoing cruiser than another one developed.

The first real rainfall after weeks of hot, sunny weather here at Maryport in Cumbria, UK, gave us a nasty surprise with three windows developing leaks last Friday and over the weekend.

The cooker packed up just before lunch on Monday.

And, on Tuesday evening, it was a bit cooler than of late, so we switched on Ravensdale’s diesel heating system to discover it had stopped working.

It quite literally never rains, but it pours 😊

Phil’s theory is that if we stopped drinking wine then things would stop breaking but I don’t somehow think it would work - or that we would even consider such drastic action 😊

Ravensdale springs a leak – or three ☹

Heavy rain after a long dry spell created a new problem for us.

One of the great things about our Neptunus 133 cruiser was that, unlike so many other boats we’ve come across, she’s never had any leaks, so we stayed warm and dry inside whatever the weather.

But that all changed when the skies opened and delivered a deluge of rain last Friday morning.

The worst leak was along the top of the window onto the aft deck

It started to fall around the time we got up and I needed a waterproof jacket to go up to the marina facilities for my shower, but the real downpour arrived while we were having breakfast.

And I discovered the problem after we’d finished eating when I went down into our bedroom to dry my hair.

The wooden steps leading down from the saloon into the aft cabin were very wet and there were regular drips falling from the top of the aft deck windows, one of which is a sliding door.

A bowl and towel on the steps to the aft cabin

I couldn’t believe it when I discovered water pouring in.

We put a towel over the steps with a washing-up bowl catching the worst of the drips on the top step.

The previous day, we’d arranged to spend Friday in the Lake District with a photographer friend who was visiting the area.

When we discovered the leak, Phil said he had to stay and deal with it as soon as it stopped raining, but he was happy for me to go and leave him to it, so that’s what I did.

While I was out, he stripped out the old sealant across the top and down the side of the window frame where it joins the superstructure.

He dried it as well as he could then resealed it using sealant that can be used in wet conditions.

I didn’t manage to get any photos of him doing this as I was out photographing lakes and mountains 😊

We’re hoping its done the trick, but we haven’t had any more really heavy rain yet.

I asked if we could point a hosepipe at it to see if it had worked, but Phil thought it was better to let nature test it when the time comes.

The only reason that we can think of as to why it suddenly started leaking is that the long spell of hot sunny weather had dried out the sealant causing it to pull away from the window frame and/or the gelcoat.

It rained again on Sunday evening and overnight into Monday. We discovered smaller leaks on two of the windows in the dinette, but no water came in through the one on which Phil had replaced the sealant.

On Tuesday, he removed the bow hatch to discover the sealant in the corner that had been leaking was badly discoloured.

Discoloured sealant around the bow hatch

He scrapped the old sealant off and replaced it with new.

Phil scraping off the old sealant

Phil sealing around the leaking port side window

And yesterday (Thursday) he was planning to do the same thing to the long window on Ravensdale’s port side that stretches across the back of the dinette and into the forward cabin.

He removed the window trim to expose the screws but could not get any of them to turn.

At this point, we had a bit of a rethink and decided that it looked as though the water was getting in between the frame and the glass. This window doesn’t open so he was able to seal all the way around with translucent sealant.

All that remains now is to see what happens the next time we get heavy rain. Fingers crossed that it all stays outside this time 😊

Cooker problems

Our propane gas cooker decided that it didn’t want to cook any more on Monday of this week.

When I went to light it to make lunch, it refused to play so I had to microwave our food.

Our galley with the cooker and fridge pulled out

After we’d eaten, Phil started to investigate the problem. He pulled out the cooker and the fridge to get to the wiring behind them.

It looked as though neither had been moved for a very long time as the outside of the appliances and the cooker housing needed a good clean.

That was the easy bit.

Identifying the problem was considerably more difficult.

The two cables going to the cooker were dead. Phil tried to trace the wires back to the fuse box, but without success.

After much searching, he decided the best solution was to put in new cables from the cooker to what we thought to be the 12V fuse box.

Thankfully, he tested the fuses before connecting them up to the cooker as, although they are clearly labelled “12V”, they’re actually 24V.

Phil connecting up the new cables for the cooker

As we haven’t added anything to these fuses so far, we’re assuming that everything connected to them is actually 24V and they've just been mislabelled, but it definitely needs further investigation.

Meanwhile, the cooker is back doing what it is supposed to do – cooking 😊

Our diesel heating system refuses to work

Phil was already beginning to think he’d spent most of this week working on Ravensdale when she decided to throw another problem into the mix.

Ravensdale's Webasto 5 heater

We really couldn’t believe it when the Webasto 5 diesel heater we had installed 18 months ago apparently broke down this week.

It had been so warm here that we hadn’t used it for weeks, but we were feeling a bit chilly on Tuesday evening, so we decided to run it up for a while to warm the boat up.

We switched it on and waited, but nothing happened. I turned it up a bit, but still nothing happened. I then noticed the green light on the console controls was flashing.

The Webasto heater controls

Last time that happened it was because the power had been accidentally switched off, so Phil checked that and found it was still on.

It was getting late, so we decided to leave it for the evening and take a look at it in the morning.

After attempting to start it by turning it on and off at the switch three times, it refused to even light up.

Phil assumed it needed resetting, so he found the fuse to the system and removed it for a couple of seconds.

He replaced the fuse and found it had restarted, which gave him three more attempts.

He had to repeat this process three times before he got it working.

Phil checking the pipes on our Webasto 5 diesel heater

Phil checked the hot air pipes had not been crushed and were securely attached to the heater.

He then took off the fuel filter, noticed that there was no fuel coming from the feed pipe and decided this was probably because it hadn't been used for so long that the fuel had drained back into the tank.

He then changed the filter for a new one, left the pipe undone for a minute and turned the fuel supply off and on at the tank several times.

Shortly afterwards, some muck came out of the pipe into the filter and the heater started working again.

We then had to leave it to run for a while to clear the system of any coke, which meant we were sweltering and had to open all the windows. Thankfully it wasn’t raining.

Phil was pretty pleased with himself when he’d finished and commented that 12 months ago, he probably wouldn’t have been able to tackle the job himself.

Before long, we will hopefully know everything there is to know about the various systems on Ravensdale.

Cleaning the aft deck

Another job that Phil undertook while I was out this week was using teak cleaner and brightener on Ravensdale’s aft deck – hence the lack of action shots again ☹

He tackled this task while I went along to soak up the atmosphere and take photos of Maryport Carnival on Saturday afternoon.

Phil removed the tables and chairs and other items from the deck and used Teak Wonder cleaner to remove the dirt, algae and fish stains that were spoiling the look of the teak. He then applied the corresponding brightener.

Ravensdale's aft deck looking spotless after cleaning and brightening

Knowing he was planning to do this, I made sure all the windows in the aft cabin, which is our bedroom, were closed as last time we deep cleaned the aft deck we forgot to close them.

The windows open inwards, so all the dirty water poured in and soaked a pile of clean washing that I’d just brought back from the marina launderette.

It was neatly stacked ready to put away when we’d finished what we were doing outside. Instead, it was dirtier than before I’d washed it and had to go back in the machine for another wash.

Sadly, I didn’t get any before photos of the deck, but this photo of Phil baiting a hook on a recent fishing trip shows that it needed something more than its usual hose down.

Ravensdale's dirty aft deck during a recent fishing trip

The deck now looks great, so we’ll have to try to keep it that way.

Last year, when we gave it the full cleaning treatment, we then used a product to dress and seal it, but it was only supposed to last 12 weeks so we’re undecided as to whether to bother this time.

Replacing the antifreeze in the port engine

Phil drained the fresh water cooling system below the heat exchanger on the port engine on Sunday.

One of Ravensdale's two 300hp Volvo Penta engines

This was long overdue as it probably should have been done when he replaced the heat exchanger and intercooler after they’d been cleaned earlier this year.

When he changed the water in the heat exchanger at that time, he was hoping the water in the system was good enough to top up, so he just replaced the water and antifreeze he’d drained out.

He’s since checked the water that was sitting in the engine below the heat exchanger and discovered it needed replacing.

So, this time, he drained all the water out of the system and flushed it through with a hosepipe several times before replacing it with a new 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze.

Phil pouring the new antifreeze/water mixture into Ravensdale's port engine

He used a 50/50 mix to provide a higher level of anti-corrosion protection.

The heat exchanger and intercooler on Ravensdale's starboard 300hp Volvo Penta engine were removed, cleaned and replaced by a local man, who keeps his family's fishing fleet running, to cure an overheating problem. He showed Phil how to do the port engine himself.

The starboard engine was just topped up so Phil's considering draining it and hosing it through before refilling that one as well, although he's checked the mixture and it doesn't seem to be too bad.

Maryport Carnival

Up until last Saturday, I would’ve said I wasn’t into carnivals – not at all.

However, I decided to go up to Fleming Square in Maryport, where the carnival was congregating before it set off through the town, to get a few photos.

I left the boat at about midday telling Phil I really wouldn’t be long - probably about an hour at most – and, at that time, I meant it.

However, I was so impressed by the floats and costumes and the acts that the various groups and organisations put on that I just couldn’t tear myself away.

A mermaids and pirates float at Maryport Carnival

It was a beautiful sunny day, which helped a lot, and the atmosphere was brilliant.

I already knew that Maryport people were some of the friendliest I’d encountered anywhere I’d lived, but they surpassed themselves on Saturday.

Everyone was in party mood and the kids were having a ball.

Local children on a Votes for Women float at Maryport Carnival

A pensive moment for a young girl on one of floats

The streets were packed with people of all ages trying to get a good view of the procession as it passed and many of them were happy to have a chat as we waited for the next group to arrive and perform for us.

The emergency services led the parade.

And there was a big cheer for Cumbrian hero Simon Lawson, a Paralympian who won the bronze medal in the T54 event at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and won the men’s wheelchair race at the 2017 Great North Run.

All in all, it was a great day and my “hour at most” turned into almost four hours 😊

I then faced the prospect of looking through more than 800 photos and processing the best of them to put on a local Facebook group.

I will definitely be going to the carnival next year, if we’re still in Maryport…

Lake District photography trip

A photographer friend, who was visiting the area, offered Phil and I the opportunity to join him on a photography trip in the Lake District last Friday.

We both accepted but Phil had to pull out at the last minute when water started coming in around the window and door from Ravensdale’s aft deck.

He told me to go without him as he knew I was really looking forward to the trip and I had a great day out.

I was very glad we hadn’t been put off by the heavy rain first thing as it quickly dried up and, although it remained fairly cloudy, we only had a little light drizzle during the morning then it was dry for the rest of our outing.

In fact, the moody, grey, cloudy skies were much better for photography than clear blue skies and bright sunlight would’ve been.

Cloudy skies over Lake Buttermere in the Lake District

Tree roots and reflections in Lake Buttermere

A dead lone tree on the shores of Lake Buttermere

We went to Buttermere and Crummock Water, stopping at several different locations to take photographs.

A tiny white building on the shores of Lake Buttermere

Conifers reflected in Lake Buttermere

A small island in Crummock Water in the Lake District

A closer view of the island with two swimmers in the water

A gate in a stone wall at Crummock Water

Mountains on the far side of Crummock Water

It really is a lovely area that we need to get out there and explore.

Splash party

We were invited to an impromptu splash party on Tuesday when a friend’s 26ft Robert Clark sloop went back in the water after seven years on the hard standing at Maryport Marina.

Tony invited everyone who was on their boats, the marina staff and some of the folk staying in their caravans and campervans on the marina’s caravan site.

Considering how few people were here on Tuesday, there was a good turnout for drinks and the buffet he laid on in the marina’s customer lounge.

Some of us then carried on with the party at his boat, Janina of Dorset.

Tony (left) with some of his party guests

Phil (third from left) chats to Tony at his splash party

Janina of Dorset back in the water at Maryport Marina

Tony was very glad to see her floating again and is now looking forward to being able to take her out to play on the water.

And his party turned into a double celebration.

On the same day, Marcus from the US bought a catamaran that is currently berthed in the marina.

Marcus, his friend Oscar and Marcus’s dog Ruby also came along to the party, so we drank a toast to his new acquisition.

Marcus (right) and Oscar at Tony's party

He’s planning to keep Kuri Moana in Maryport for a while before sailing her down to London, where he intends to live on her on the Thames.

Marcus’s maiden voyage on Kuri Moana

Marcus and Ruby

Marcus and Oscar took Kuri Moana out for a sea trial when the marina gate opened on Wednesday afternoon.

He’d hoped the previous owner would join him for her first outing after he’d bought her, but this was not possible.

He asked us if we’d like to go along for the ride, but we had things we needed to do here so politely declined his invitation.

But I offered to pop along and get some photos of his boat leaving the marina and heading out into the Solway Firth for the first time.

The wind speed was higher than we would’ve wanted to take Ravensdale out in and he seemed to be having a few issues with the wind, but he took her out and brought her back safely.

I took some shots of her leaving her mooring, going out through the marina gate into the basin and then heading out between Maryport’s twin piers.

Kuri Moana in Maryport Basin

Kuri Moana heading out into the Solway Firth

Meanwhile, Phil helped catch the ropes of another catamaran that had been stuck on the mud at the entrance to Maryport Basin since the previous tide.

The catamaran stuck on the mud at the entrance to Maryport Basin

It refloated as the tide came in and returned to the marina just before Kuri Moana headed out to sea.

Phil (right) helps to moor up the cat when it returns to Maryport Marina

A change in the weather

The long spell of warm, dry weather in Maryport ended with the torrential downpour last Friday morning.

But we’ve still had plenty of good weather over the past week and it hasn’t been cold enough to stop me wearing shorts and vest tops.

However, we’ve also had more clouds and some rain, but more is desperately needed as falling water levels in the reservoirs that serve this area mean a hosepipe ban is due to come into force in Cumbria on August 5.

Last Friday started wet but it stopped raining during the morning. It stayed fairly cloudy throughout the day but was still quite warm.

Saturday was sunny, dry and warm with a top temperature of 18.7C (66F) and a top average wind speed of 15mph.

Young lads having fun in the sun in Maryport on Saturday

We had similar conditions for most of the day on Sunday when the mercury reached 19.1C (66F) and the average wind speed peaked at 16mph.

Rain on Sunday afternoon 

It rained later on Sunday and into Monday morning. It was then overcast for much of the day, but it remained fairly warm.

The top temperature was 17.5C (63.5F) and the top average wind speed recorded at St Bees Head was 7mph, but it was definitely higher than that in Maryport.

There was more rain overnight and Tuesday was a day of cloud and sunny intervals with the temperature peaking at 16.9C (62F) and the average wind speed reaching 14mph.

Cloud and sunny intervals on Wednesday

Wednesday started dry, overcast and fairly windy. It brightened up during the morning giving way to broken cloud and sunny intervals. The temperature rose to 18.6C (65F) and the top average wind speed was 14mph.

Yesterday (Thursday) was dry, bright and sunny from the get-go, but there was still a good wind. The highest temperature recorded locally was 18.6C (65F) and the top average wind speed was 10mph.

Blue skies at Maryport Marina on Thursday afternoon

So far, today (Friday) the weather has been horrible. It started raining around the time we got up and has been doing it on and off ever since, but it's only supposed to last for one day and the forecast is much better for tomorrow.