May 2019 - Ipswich to Whitby

The plan for 2019 and probably 2020 is to circumnavigate the UK.  The decision was made due to the uncertainty of Brexit and we really fancied doing it.  It may take one or two years.  We have no hard and fast plan for the route.  Weather will be the big determining factor.

Arrival at Ipswich

After the beautiful Easter weekend we caught the train to Ipswich on the 1st May.  The train driver was mislaid at Oxford Rd, Manchester and we had to change trains.  A herd of pensioner wildebeests carting their belongings over the bridge at speed, to travel one stop into Piccadilly. 

The boat was re-launched on the 2nd May, and we managed to secure a berth near the office for our short stay.  The short stayed ended up being 10 days as we waited for the Easter sunshine to return.

Plenty of jobs to do to fill the time.  Thankfully on the 7th, Liz and John arrived and we had a pleasant few days catching up.  We were also visited by Adrian and Jane on the 8th, it was a hideous weather day, made so much better by a lunch on board and plenty of laughter, Bon Voyage.  On the 9th Liz kindly drove us to Lidl for a big shop.

John recommended we get some Crag-hopper fleece lined trousers for night passages, which I found in the sale at Millets.  They work a treat.

11th May - Departure Day

Mick in Ipswich Marina.  Hopefully the 'Wine-rack' behind will be complete on our return.

Liz and I went shopping in the morning to relieve the pre-departure stress.  The lock gates were due to open on free-flow at 16.30.  We all decided on sailing down the river and overnighting on a buoy near Levington.  It was good to make all our engine, electrical, electronics and instrument checks.  Our first hop to Lowestoft is quite a long first trip, so we needed to be confident that all systems were operational.  Mick has been checking for the past 10 days, can't be too careful.

We moored 4 buoys from Liz and John.  They left at 06.30 for a long trip to Ramsgate.  Bon Voyage.

12th May - Sunday - Ipswich to Lowestoft

We cast off from the mooring buoy at 7.45 am.  It was a beautiful calm morning, if a little chilly.  As we rounded the headland at Felixstowe the wind picked up a little and the sea state became more roly.   We had all our gear on so it was hot behind the canopy but as soon as we poked our heads outside the wind chill bit into our faces.  A very strange hot and cold day.  The wind was on the nose in the morning and we motor-sailed against the wind in the afternoon. 

'Wonderwall' came on the radio as we were passing Sizewell, and it felt like a good day.  Passing Sizewell took 4 hours, so time for a snooze.

My lifejacket makes a great pillow

Orford Ness a radio station in WW2

Its great to see a ship in full sail

The sea became more unsettled in the afternoon, but we managed well, arriving in Lowestoft at 17.30.  We moored at the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht club.  Rafting alongside the visitor pontoon, with a fleet of Dutch sailors.
One of our fellow pontoon rafters, in a very beautiful big new boat said they had made it from Holland in 15 hours (took us 26), he said the boat 'went faster than his wallet'.

45 miles in 10.5 hours, up to 12 knots of wind.  Good first leg.

13th May - Monday - Lowestoft

Mick completed two trips for white diesel to the local Asda with his new trolley.  Then we went for a walk around town, acquiring a new flask for the boat.  Wetherspoons for tea, which is in an old department store formally called Tuttle.

The windfarm business is providing plenty of employment, these are two of 8 we saw, with probably more out at sea.

Sailors Port Info

Expect to raft up in Lowestoft Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht club.  There is a lovely bar and restaurant.  The facilities are a little dated but good with hairdryers.  Coded access from the town, which is a short walk.  Short walk also to Asda.  £34 per night felt a little steep.

14th May - Tuesday - Lowestoft to Whitby

With great apprehension on my part, as overnight sailing is not my favorite thing, we departed at 06.00 on a sunny but cold morning.  Fully fueled with sea sickness pills, even though the forecast was near on perfect.

The sea state was calm and the wind, such as it was, was behind us.  We had the sail up and it occasionally leant a hand to the engine.  Later in the day it was warm enough to just wear long sleeved t-shirts with our lifejackets.  I changed from cozy pants to jeans and back twice during the trip. 

I had made a large box of sandwiches, to grab as required.  Special mention must be made to the Sliced Cumberland Sausage we found in Asda, with a bit of brown sauce, lovely.  We also bought lasagne to put in the oven in the evening.  We had tried making hot food prior to trips before, but it has never been eaten.  However, this time we had such calm sea that the lasagnes went down a treat.  A warm meal before a night passage is a glorious thing.

Windfarm assembly at Great Yarmouth.  They are assembled upright and floated out on barges.

Windmills.  I like how they line up like soldiers as you slowly pass them.  It takes a couple of hours to pass a windfarm and we past 5 in total, containing at least 100 windmills each.  They are well lit in the dark with red lights.

 Some very big traffic and gas rigs.  The sea was very busy with windfarm traffic and large shipping until 10pm.

 Taking it easy.

Approaching sunset.

 WOW.

Our night seat.  Two cockpit seats with 'Work-shirt quilt' for extra comfyness.  Also see our harnesses which tether us to the boat when we are in the cockpit alone at night.  Not forgetting the hot water bottle.  Easy to refill as the boat water is piping hot when the engine is running.

We both had a little sleep during the day, then the shifts started.  We waited until the last of the windfarms and the calming of the traffic at around 10pm.  Mick slept from 10pm until 1.00am.  Then I slept from 1.00am till 05.30am.  Then he slept again 06.00am to 07.00am.  I did 4 hours in total and he did 4.5 in the graveyard shift.

People go mad for the Jurassic coast in the SW, but the coastline to Whitby is absolutely beautiful, especially on a sunny day.  We sailed slowly past Robin Hood’s bay in order to make the entry time of 10am, 2 hours before high water.  We settled on the visitor pontoon, awaiting the 12 noon bridge opening.

154 Nautical miles (177 normal miles) 28.5 hours.  I wish all night sails could be like this.

We will be here for a few days to enjoy the town, the fish and chips and see friends.