The aim was now to get to Hartlepool to meet up with my dad on Thursday. This afternoon looked like the best chance to catch the tide to take us twenty miles down the coast.

Shortly before 1pm we left the lock of Royal Quays and made our way down the Tyne. Hartlepool normally has a couple of hours either side of low water when it cannot be entered. However, with the current neap tides we had twenty-four hour access – this always makes planning a little easier!

As we exited the Tyne breakwaters the northwesterly wind was sprung on us. Varying steadily between a force three and four we were soon making seven knots down the coast under a full main and No. 2 jib.

Within an hour we had rounded the Lizard Point Lighthouse. It was a pity it is not the one of Cornish origin but we soon left it in our wake in any case (Lizard point in Cornwall will be the last major headland before Penzance).

As the sun was setting we were only a few short miles off Hartlepool. The navigation lights of the town are hard to make out from the north as they are laid on the backdrop of Teeside. Regardless it was easy to orientate ourselves with plenty of water around the harbour to play with.

As it often seams to happen, as we approached this unknown harbour the wind started to gust. As the sails needed to be removed we were racing along at eight knots in a force five (sods law!). We soon had it all under control however and were under engine.

With only a meter under the keel we worked our way up to the lock of the marina entrance and were followed in by two lifeboats on passage. The staff of the marina welcomed us in and the security guard even jumped on board to help us berth. In the evening I replaced the little fuel we had used over the last few days and had a good look around the vast harbour. Once back on board it was not long before I had found my bed.