A Giant Leap South
We had spent enough time in the North and it was now time to make haste southwards as we started to feel the approach of shorter days and colder nights.
So we bade farewell to Whitby and set off to sea again on a mission to reach warmer waters!
We left Yorkshire on Monday and by Thursday had found Kent - having covered a distance of 260 nautical miles.
We had optimistic plans to sail overnight to Lowestoft but were making such painfully slow progress south, as the forecast NW wind had failed to appear, that we diverted to Spurn Head at the mouth of the Humber Estuary to spend the night at anchor. We struggled to reach Spurn Head against a foul tide as darkness fell and a fog set in, obliterating our ghostly view of the succession of coastal windfarms. It was 10:30 pm when we finally rounded Spurn Head to find shallow water and drop anchor next to the lonely RNLI Lifeboat station there. We had to radio Humber VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) first for permission to enter the Humber estuary and to confirm that our route would avoid the busy shipping lanes.
Next day, we set off at 6:30 am and by now the forecast F5 NW wind had arrived - yippee! This was our chance to really make progress as we bowled along with the wind behind us at an average speed of 7 knots. We tied up to the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club Marina in Lowestoft at 8:30 pm.
I hastily changed out of my sea-going clothes to sign in at the very posh clubhouse ashore. This was just as well since their information sheet gave advice on the necessary dress code for visitors commensurate with this being a "Royal" yacht club :) - smart clothing, no wet sailing gear and deck shoes with chinos allowed.
We were on our way with the midday tide next day for another downwind sail to Shotley Marina where the Orwell and Stour rivers meet at Harwich and Felixstowe docks.
We arrived at 6:30 pm and went ashore for a welcome meal at the Shipwreck Bar next to the marina.
Walking back to the boat afterwards, the lights of busy Felixstowe Port lit up the sky.
Next day, it was off to sea again with the midday tide south but this time the NW wind failed us and we were once more having to beat against S winds as we threaded our way past a series of offshore sand banks and wind farms.
I could not help noticing what a different looking coast this was - so flat compared with the North and West of Britain with shallow water all around us.
It grew dark and we were still inexorably beating eastwards into the Thames Estuary. Finally we entered the River Medway but a series of dark squalls hit us with heavy rain and strong winds, making our progress even harder! Large ships passed close by, making their way upriver to the busy port of Sheerness. At 9:30 pm, after such a long frustrating sail, we entered the Swale creek and crept past the unlit moored boats to find a vacant mooring at Queenborough to spend the night. Ahh.
So we bade farewell to Whitby and set off to sea again on a mission to reach warmer waters!
We left Yorkshire on Monday and by Thursday had found Kent - having covered a distance of 260 nautical miles.
We had optimistic plans to sail overnight to Lowestoft but were making such painfully slow progress south, as the forecast NW wind had failed to appear, that we diverted to Spurn Head at the mouth of the Humber Estuary to spend the night at anchor. We struggled to reach Spurn Head against a foul tide as darkness fell and a fog set in, obliterating our ghostly view of the succession of coastal windfarms. It was 10:30 pm when we finally rounded Spurn Head to find shallow water and drop anchor next to the lonely RNLI Lifeboat station there. We had to radio Humber VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) first for permission to enter the Humber estuary and to confirm that our route would avoid the busy shipping lanes.
 |
| Early Morning Start from a Gloomy Spurn Head |
Next day, we set off at 6:30 am and by now the forecast F5 NW wind had arrived - yippee! This was our chance to really make progress as we bowled along with the wind behind us at an average speed of 7 knots. We tied up to the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club Marina in Lowestoft at 8:30 pm.
 |
| The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Marina at Lowestoft with their Smart Clubhouse Behind |
I hastily changed out of my sea-going clothes to sign in at the very posh clubhouse ashore. This was just as well since their information sheet gave advice on the necessary dress code for visitors commensurate with this being a "Royal" yacht club :) - smart clothing, no wet sailing gear and deck shoes with chinos allowed.
We were on our way with the midday tide next day for another downwind sail to Shotley Marina where the Orwell and Stour rivers meet at Harwich and Felixstowe docks.
 |
| The Approach Channel to Shotley Marina |
We arrived at 6:30 pm and went ashore for a welcome meal at the Shipwreck Bar next to the marina.
Walking back to the boat afterwards, the lights of busy Felixstowe Port lit up the sky.
 |
| Felixstowe Port Viewed from Shotley Marina |
Next day, it was off to sea again with the midday tide south but this time the NW wind failed us and we were once more having to beat against S winds as we threaded our way past a series of offshore sand banks and wind farms.
 |
| The Flatline Coast South Of Harwich |
I could not help noticing what a different looking coast this was - so flat compared with the North and West of Britain with shallow water all around us.
It grew dark and we were still inexorably beating eastwards into the Thames Estuary. Finally we entered the River Medway but a series of dark squalls hit us with heavy rain and strong winds, making our progress even harder! Large ships passed close by, making their way upriver to the busy port of Sheerness. At 9:30 pm, after such a long frustrating sail, we entered the Swale creek and crept past the unlit moored boats to find a vacant mooring at Queenborough to spend the night. Ahh.
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