Heybridge Basin to Harwich 26NM
The time approached to leave the Heybridge Basin and on cue it started to rain, thankfully only showers. Although the forecast was for NW-NE with light rain we managed a few miles with the spinnaker but soon to be headed by the promised NW, which sets the scene for the rest of the journey. This first leg was only to Shotley Marina, a journey of 26 miles, which took just 4.5 hours.
Harwich to Lowestoft 52NM
Next morning was an early start, slipping our moorings at 4.00am for the next leg to Lowestoft. At this time of the morning it was misty and cold and did not brighten up for at least 4 hours when the sun finally came out and a light northerly, giving us a pleasant fetch up the coast in good sunshine. This leg was 52 NM and took 10 hours in what was to be the best of the weather for the rest of this week!
Lowesto
ft to Gt Yarmaouth 14NM
This short leg of just 14NM was to put a few miles on the journey and to give us the best of the tide to get around the Norfolk coast and across to the Wash also to change crew, where Mick Balance was leaving us and Peter Copsey was joining for the journey to Inverness. This was also a pleasant day with sunshine and little wind, now long forgotten.
Gt Yarmouth to Scarborough 147NM
ft to Gt Yarmaouth 14NMThis short leg of just 14NM was to put a few miles on the journey and to give us the best of the tide to get around the Norfolk coast and across to the Wash also to change crew, where Mick Balance was leaving us and Peter Copsey was joining for the journey to Inverness. This was also a pleasant day with sunshine and little wind, now long forgotten.
Gt Yarmouth to Scarborough 147NM
Just after 1400 we slipped the lines and motored down the river to leave Gt Yarmouth, this meant pushing the tide for a while in order to get maximum favourable tide to get across the Wash. The forecast was for NW 4-5 occasionally 6 and for the next 24 hours NW 4-5, variable at times. Our original goal was to stop at Grimsby and rest for a few hours but after consulting the almanac it was obvious we was not going to make it in time to lock in so it was decided to push on to Scarborough where there was more time either side of HW to make a safe entry. The weather forecast was not wrong by the time we had tacked out across the wash it was blowing a good 6 with wind speeds of 26-27 knots the seas was very uncomfortable with a northerly swell building to add to our misery. Continuing being headed by the NW-N winds we decide to tack in shore as by this time we were about 20NM of the coast with no sign of the wind either moderating or changing direction to give us a favourable tack. After another 4 hours of beating the wind just died and had to motor for the next 6 hours, arriving at Scarborough at 1630 the following day with a total of 147Nm for the leg. Scarborough Harbour
has a pontoon with a 2m dredged channel which allows you to stay afloat but is not accessible 2 hours either side of LW.
Our plan was to leave at 8am next morning to head for Hartlepool but on leaving the harbour and tacking out for an hour we decided that it was foolish to continue with very rough seas and a 2m swell. That hours experience only took just 15 minute to return with some exciting downhill surfing. The lighthouse keeper’s words on returning was “I thought I would see you Saga Louts again, that will be another 19.98 please”, which we was more than happy to pay.
has a pontoon with a 2m dredged channel which allows you to stay afloat but is not accessible 2 hours either side of LW.Our plan was to leave at 8am next morning to head for Hartlepool but on leaving the harbour and tacking out for an hour we decided that it was foolish to continue with very rough seas and a 2m swell. That hours experience only took just 15 minute to return with some exciting downhill surfing. The lighthouse keeper’s words on returning was “I thought I would see you Saga Louts again, that will be another 19.98 please”, which we was more than happy to pay.
