Day 86
27th July
This morning was spent in port. A very helpful chandlery salesman found me a replacement fuse holder, which I managed to solder in place in the switchboard. In clearing weather it was possible to sail the 17nm to Bridlington, nestling in the bay behind Flamborough Head. This place really needs a shake-up. Obtaining
no response to my VHF calls, I tried the mobile phone. No joy. The tide was fine, so in we went, and when I had finished tying up to a catamaran on the South Quay, a harbour worker asked if I was a visitor, and suggested that I tied up to the wall itself, behind the other boat. He explained that they could not keep a full watch going as they had other jobs to do, and they had lost the handheld VHF set. Later he brought a form for me to fill in. I had been looking forward to a shower or even a bath at the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club, but the premises were deserted. There are no other facilities apart from public conveniences at Bridlington Harbour.
Day 87
28th July
From Bridlington I had a long sail down to Spurn, catching mackerel for Jo. I was able to sail sedately at under 4kt until Spurn, where engine was required to cross the Humber VTS shipping lanes into wind and in the teeth of a very heavy shower. Cousin Jo(doubly so, since my father's younger brother married my mother's younger sister) came to the Humber Cruising Association Marina to pick me up. Via the Humber Bridge it did not take long to reach her home in Hessle, where a tasty meal was soon on the table.
Day 88
29th July
A day with cousins Jo, Jon and David, and niece Sarah, ended with Jo, David, his wife Karen and I spending the evening together, eating out at the Wrygarth Inn.
Day 89
30th July
Cousin Jon came over at 06.30 and after breakfast drove Jo and me to Grimsby. Here the Old Fish Dock lock is open for freeflow for two hours either side of high water. Leaving promptly, the westerly breeze soon had us rattling along at over 5kt. At 08.50 we entered the Eastern Hemishere and skirted the bombing range at Donna Nook. The wind became squally, with slight showers, prompting me to reef the genoa, but we beat close inshore as far as Skegness, coming inshore of the wind farm, before a heavier shower killed the wind. The rest of the way to Wells was courtesy of the "iron topsail" bringing us to the Wells Bar an hour before high water. There was space on the pontoon, the harbourmaster taking the lines. During the evening there was a very heavy downpour. Lucky it had not come a few hours earlier. 67nm.
Day 90
31st July
Did jobs round the boat in the morning until the Baileys (elder daughter Hanna, husband Steve, grandchildren Izzy and Dicky) arrived at eleven. We spent a pleasant family day at Wells, walking to the beach, having fish and chips lunch and shopping before generally chilling out on the boat. Izzy and Steve left at about four o'clock to drive back to East Peckham. We settled down to await the morrow. The evening
was enlivened by a recording of a Goon Show.
Day 92
1st August.
The quiet weather continued. Leaving Wells at 09.15 we soon crossed the bar and were heading east over a smooth sea in the company of “Pilet” a Rossiter Pintail sloop, also heading for Lowestoft. The gentle wind ensured that we motored all the way, but a fast passage close inshore brought us to Low
estoft shortly before 19.00. Close inshore by Cromer we witnessed the lifeboat being winched back up the slipway after a training sortie, but the most interesting aspect of the trip was a helicopter/lifeboat demonstration off Caister. Even Dicky got quite excited. Richard is now tall enough to be able to help hand sails, put out fenders and be generally u
seful about the boat. The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club is welcoming and the amenities are excellent. A Dutch yacht rafted up on Pepsand. Two ladies with two little girls scampered over the foredeck en route to the clubhouse. This is an interesting building, having been built a hundred years ago in fine style. It has stood the test of time. The original plumbing in the gents' toilet is a masterpiece of Victorian pipework in copper and brass.
Day 93
2nd August
The morning was taken up with shopping, writing cards. As we were heading for Southwold, only 10 miles down the track, we could leave late. A heavy shower delayed things, and we also took the opportunity to refuel. The hop to Southwold was short and sweet. We arrived at about 16.00 and tied up by the pub and clubhouse. The day was improving. We braved the risk of a shower and walked over the fields to the town. A few food items were obtained. We came back to the harbour, had tea, and went into the club for showers at 19.00. Later in the bar we chatted with a lady member of the club, clearly still in the first flush of enthusiasm, having recently bought a boat. The night was quiet, except for Richard's snores.
Day 94
3rd August
An early start was imperative to avoid having to stay until the afternoon. We crept out at 06.00 on a still grey morning. The sea was like a mirror as we motored quietly into the tide past Dunwich, the atomic power station at Sizewell, Thorpe Ness and Aldeburgh. Here a wind started up which swung quickly round to south-west, and as we passed Orford Ness we were able to beat to windward on genoa alone, with the tide now beginning to assist our passage. Soon we were making over 5kt, and reached the mouth of the Deben about 3hrs befor
e high water. This time the least depth was well inside the green buoy as we ran parallel to the beach into the river. Every time it is a different entry. Arriving at Woodbridge well before high water we had to wait almost two hours for a berth. Picking up a vacant mooring, we sat and sat. Then we were hailed, not by the marina on VHF, but by a voice from another boat, “Blue Scoter” from Conyer, whose owners recognised “Pepsand”. Some time later we were hailed again, this time by the owner of the mooring, who politely wondered if he could get back onto it. So we moved to another buoy just outside the marina entrance. Finally, as we were tucking into a much-needed meal, the call came. Tied up at last, we finished our tea before testing out the new ablutions block. This has been built to a high standard, and is well-thought-out. We plan to stay here for two nights, the better to enjoy the town, which is rather special.
Day 95
4th August
Wednesday gave us a pleasant morning in town. I failed to gain WIFI access, but used the library to clear e-mails and explain the problem on the blog. In Mrs. Piper's Café we had coffee and scones. Dicky went for the sausage roll option. A quick dash round the supermarket and butcher's set us up for the rest of the trip. We headed back to the marina for our lunch. Even as we finished, the rain began. However, Hanna and Dicky went over to the Tidemill Museum whilst I changed the alternator belt, which had begun to stretch. Then a siesta. We tried to catch one of the large eels which lurk in the murky depths of the marina, but to no avail. In the evening we walked up the hill to the King's Head for a very enjoyable meal. In the bar the oak beams are reputed to be some of the largest in the country. Then a quiet stroll by a different route back to the boat. Woodbridge has everything you could want: good rail connection; good shopping; good marina; good pubs and eateries, even a cinema close to the marina.
Day 96
5th August
I had planned to drop down the river and go round to Harwich before heading on for Brightlingsea, and, leaving at 08.00 on the tide, we began to do that. As we were crossing the Wadfield Ledge, the dulcet tones of Thames Coastguard announced the weather forecast. The outlook for the following 24 hours was not good, and promised a rough ride along the Swin in “wind over tide” conditions on Friday afternoon, so the decision was taken to use today's good conditions to get to the Swale, and possibly into the marina. The westerly breeze was enabling us to beat past Harwich at over four knots, and the neap tide was weak, reducing our speed over the gr
ound by half a knot. This held until we reached the Swin Spitway and crossed into the East Swin, when the wind backed slightly. However we could motorsail on a track of 220 degrees to the SW Barrow buoy. Annoyingly, as we opened out the angle to cross the Estuary the wind dropped to nothing and then set in from the south. All the way from Walton we had been in the company of “Blue Scoter”, but here we pulled away as I wished to arrive before high water. In the end we arrived at the best time, one hour before high water, and were able to enter the creek, ploughing a few metres at the bar, and scraped into the marina, ploughing our way into a berth at 20.00. The meal that had been cooking since we came into calm water was consumed with gusto. Ingrid arranged to pick us up in the morning, and we spent a final night on board, in some slight discomfort, as “Pepsand” settled with a marked list to port. You win some.....
http://www.rnli.org.uk/
This morning was spent in port. A very helpful chandlery salesman found me a replacement fuse holder, which I managed to solder in place in the switchboard. In clearing weather it was possible to sail the 17nm to Bridlington, nestling in the bay behind Flamborough Head. This place really needs a shake-up. Obtaining
no response to my VHF calls, I tried the mobile phone. No joy. The tide was fine, so in we went, and when I had finished tying up to a catamaran on the South Quay, a harbour worker asked if I was a visitor, and suggested that I tied up to the wall itself, behind the other boat. He explained that they could not keep a full watch going as they had other jobs to do, and they had lost the handheld VHF set. Later he brought a form for me to fill in. I had been looking forward to a shower or even a bath at the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club, but the premises were deserted. There are no other facilities apart from public conveniences at Bridlington Harbour.Day 87
28th July
From Bridlington I had a long sail down to Spurn, catching mackerel for Jo. I was able to sail sedately at under 4kt until Spurn, where engine was required to cross the Humber VTS shipping lanes into wind and in the teeth of a very heavy shower. Cousin Jo(doubly so, since my father's younger brother married my mother's younger sister) came to the Humber Cruising Association Marina to pick me up. Via the Humber Bridge it did not take long to reach her home in Hessle, where a tasty meal was soon on the table.
Day 88
29th July
A day with cousins Jo, Jon and David, and niece Sarah, ended with Jo, David, his wife Karen and I spending the evening together, eating out at the Wrygarth Inn.
Day 89
30th July
Cousin Jon came over at 06.30 and after breakfast drove Jo and me to Grimsby. Here the Old Fish Dock lock is open for freeflow for two hours either side of high water. Leaving promptly, the westerly breeze soon had us rattling along at over 5kt. At 08.50 we entered the Eastern Hemishere and skirted the bombing range at Donna Nook. The wind became squally, with slight showers, prompting me to reef the genoa, but we beat close inshore as far as Skegness, coming inshore of the wind farm, before a heavier shower killed the wind. The rest of the way to Wells was courtesy of the "iron topsail" bringing us to the Wells Bar an hour before high water. There was space on the pontoon, the harbourmaster taking the lines. During the evening there was a very heavy downpour. Lucky it had not come a few hours earlier. 67nm.
Day 90
31st July
Did jobs round the boat in the morning until the Baileys (elder daughter Hanna, husband Steve, grandchildren Izzy and Dicky) arrived at eleven. We spent a pleasant family day at Wells, walking to the beach, having fish and chips lunch and shopping before generally chilling out on the boat. Izzy and Steve left at about four o'clock to drive back to East Peckham. We settled down to await the morrow. The evening
was enlivened by a recording of a Goon Show.Day 92
1st August.
The quiet weather continued. Leaving Wells at 09.15 we soon crossed the bar and were heading east over a smooth sea in the company of “Pilet” a Rossiter Pintail sloop, also heading for Lowestoft. The gentle wind ensured that we motored all the way, but a fast passage close inshore brought us to Low
estoft shortly before 19.00. Close inshore by Cromer we witnessed the lifeboat being winched back up the slipway after a training sortie, but the most interesting aspect of the trip was a helicopter/lifeboat demonstration off Caister. Even Dicky got quite excited. Richard is now tall enough to be able to help hand sails, put out fenders and be generally u
seful about the boat. The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club is welcoming and the amenities are excellent. A Dutch yacht rafted up on Pepsand. Two ladies with two little girls scampered over the foredeck en route to the clubhouse. This is an interesting building, having been built a hundred years ago in fine style. It has stood the test of time. The original plumbing in the gents' toilet is a masterpiece of Victorian pipework in copper and brass.Day 93
2nd August
The morning was taken up with shopping, writing cards. As we were heading for Southwold, only 10 miles down the track, we could leave late. A heavy shower delayed things, and we also took the opportunity to refuel. The hop to Southwold was short and sweet. We arrived at about 16.00 and tied up by the pub and clubhouse. The day was improving. We braved the risk of a shower and walked over the fields to the town. A few food items were obtained. We came back to the harbour, had tea, and went into the club for showers at 19.00. Later in the bar we chatted with a lady member of the club, clearly still in the first flush of enthusiasm, having recently bought a boat. The night was quiet, except for Richard's snores.
Day 94
3rd August
An early start was imperative to avoid having to stay until the afternoon. We crept out at 06.00 on a still grey morning. The sea was like a mirror as we motored quietly into the tide past Dunwich, the atomic power station at Sizewell, Thorpe Ness and Aldeburgh. Here a wind started up which swung quickly round to south-west, and as we passed Orford Ness we were able to beat to windward on genoa alone, with the tide now beginning to assist our passage. Soon we were making over 5kt, and reached the mouth of the Deben about 3hrs befor
e high water. This time the least depth was well inside the green buoy as we ran parallel to the beach into the river. Every time it is a different entry. Arriving at Woodbridge well before high water we had to wait almost two hours for a berth. Picking up a vacant mooring, we sat and sat. Then we were hailed, not by the marina on VHF, but by a voice from another boat, “Blue Scoter” from Conyer, whose owners recognised “Pepsand”. Some time later we were hailed again, this time by the owner of the mooring, who politely wondered if he could get back onto it. So we moved to another buoy just outside the marina entrance. Finally, as we were tucking into a much-needed meal, the call came. Tied up at last, we finished our tea before testing out the new ablutions block. This has been built to a high standard, and is well-thought-out. We plan to stay here for two nights, the better to enjoy the town, which is rather special.Day 95
4th August
Wednesday gave us a pleasant morning in town. I failed to gain WIFI access, but used the library to clear e-mails and explain the problem on the blog. In Mrs. Piper's Café we had coffee and scones. Dicky went for the sausage roll option. A quick dash round the supermarket and butcher's set us up for the rest of the trip. We headed back to the marina for our lunch. Even as we finished, the rain began. However, Hanna and Dicky went over to the Tidemill Museum whilst I changed the alternator belt, which had begun to stretch. Then a siesta. We tried to catch one of the large eels which lurk in the murky depths of the marina, but to no avail. In the evening we walked up the hill to the King's Head for a very enjoyable meal. In the bar the oak beams are reputed to be some of the largest in the country. Then a quiet stroll by a different route back to the boat. Woodbridge has everything you could want: good rail connection; good shopping; good marina; good pubs and eateries, even a cinema close to the marina.Day 96
5th August
I had planned to drop down the river and go round to Harwich before heading on for Brightlingsea, and, leaving at 08.00 on the tide, we began to do that. As we were crossing the Wadfield Ledge, the dulcet tones of Thames Coastguard announced the weather forecast. The outlook for the following 24 hours was not good, and promised a rough ride along the Swin in “wind over tide” conditions on Friday afternoon, so the decision was taken to use today's good conditions to get to the Swale, and possibly into the marina. The westerly breeze was enabling us to beat past Harwich at over four knots, and the neap tide was weak, reducing our speed over the gr
ound by half a knot. This held until we reached the Swin Spitway and crossed into the East Swin, when the wind backed slightly. However we could motorsail on a track of 220 degrees to the SW Barrow buoy. Annoyingly, as we opened out the angle to cross the Estuary the wind dropped to nothing and then set in from the south. All the way from Walton we had been in the company of “Blue Scoter”, but here we pulled away as I wished to arrive before high water. In the end we arrived at the best time, one hour before high water, and were able to enter the creek, ploughing a few metres at the bar, and scraped into the marina, ploughing our way into a berth at 20.00. The meal that had been cooking since we came into calm water was consumed with gusto. Ingrid arranged to pick us up in the morning, and we spent a final night on board, in some slight discomfort, as “Pepsand” settled with a marked list to port. You win some.....http://www.rnli.org.uk/
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