By the 14th the strong northerly winds which had been blowing for some days, and sending a heavy sea running into the bay and crashing over the offlying rocks, had subsided but had left a considerable swell. We departed into these uncomfortable conditions at 16.15 hours, HW Dover + 1½ hours, taking the south going tide, and making the short passage under power to the anchorage inside Lindisfarne (Holy Island), arriving at 19.40 hours, distance logged 16 miles.
20. Eyemouth to Lindisfarne, 14th August
Shipping forecast, 14th August 12.01: Forth, Tyne: variable 3 or 4; showers then fair; good.
I was concerned that the heavy north to northeasterly swell would penetrate into the anchorage or even break in the shallow water at the entrance, but once in the lee of Lindisfarne Island and the off lying shoals the sea quickly subsided and the entrance and anchorage proved to be totally sheltered and protected from the swell which could be heard across the island and seen crashing on to the beach on the south side towards Bamburgh.
As on number of previous occasions, my fears had proved to be unfounded though I make no apology for having them. Caution, forward thinking and preparedness should be the watchwords of the sailor; better to worry about something that doesn’t happen that to be caught out by something which does!
We were both struck by an almost magical feeling of stillness and tranquillity as dusk started to close in with the castle on Lindisfarne and also the huge bulk of Bamburgh Castle, a few miles down the coast, standing out dramatically, pink shading to crimson in the light of the setting sun against the darkling sky.
Looking towards the Lindisfarne anchorage from the Triton starboard hand buoy the leading marks for the final approach, a latticework tower with a triangle shape and, behind, the priory bell tower, can be seen just above and to the right of the buoy. The two yachts are in the anchorage; St Cuthbert’s Island is visible on the left of the picture.
NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION