Advice please... Hull to Lowerstoft

[Nostrodamus]

We have a 45ft sailboat and 2m depth.
Next week we hope to sail from Hull to Lowerstoft (depending on the weather)
It will be our first sail down the East Coast and would be greatful of any advice about this jouney, anything to avoid and the entrance into Lowerstoft.
Thank You.

 

[MrCramp]

If you get the tides right it will be a cracking journey. You want the ebb down the Humber and then the flood should carry you all the way to Lowestoft. I would tend to time it so that if anything I was early turning South and maybe pushed a bit of the North going ebb tide.

Lowestoft is an easy all tide entrance. I have only been into the Yacht Club moorings, to port before the road bridge. The Yacht Club has always been very welcoming to visitors and is a good place to go. Have a good trip.

 

[Habebty]

With 45' I might be tempted to turn right into the Hamilton dock Marina at Lowestoft - no where near as scenic but loads more manoeuvring room.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Thank you for your advice and comments. They are all welcome.
At the moment I am looking to go from Hull to Grimsby on Monday and then a very early start on Tuesday morning to try and get to Lowertoft when it is still light.

 

[wingdiver]

With 45' I might be tempted to turn right into the Hamilton dock Marina at Lowestoft - no where near as scenic but loads more manoeuvring room.

Would certainly agree with that. If you don't want to wait to go through the lifting bridge to the other part of the Haven Marina, there are only two choices - turn port or stbd. There is always a lot of manouvering to do to get into the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk to port - even in our old 37 footer. There can be hideous swell in the main entrance too which can get in there - especially with any East in the wind. Turning to stbd after entering between the seaward piers is a wide entrance and it is a reasonable distance from that entrance to the pontoons and the swell will not get at you there. Not pretty but you will probably sleep better after a long sail.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Thank you for the information.
At the moment the winds on Tuesday look as if they may be 1's or 2' but you never know. I will probably be doing all the sailing myself so I will probably not are about the scenery by the time I get there.
I do have a bow thruster which helps but going in reverse the boat sometimes has different ideas to me.

 

[PilotWolf]

Maybe worth trying to arrive in daylight.

My first arrival to Lowestoft (as a pretty experienced Skipper) was in the dark with a NE 6 or 7 and to say it was 'exciting' in a 20m boat with 3 engines would be an understatement!

The visual picture didn't resemble the radar or plotter picture due to the shore lighting.

Also recommend the GY yacht club - but don't overdo it (they're cheap and friendly!) if you have an early start!

Don't cut the corner at Donna Nook.
You maybe able to cross the DZ if you call them instead of going around.
Consider talking to VTS - they are helpful.
Watch out for the Sheringham Shoal wind farm work.
Not trying to teach you to suck eggs but depending on the route you take there are a lot of shallow areas!

W.

 

[Tommyrot]

If you call Donna Nook range on VHF and get no reply, it's usually due to the range being closed.
In that case the Coastguard will normally answer instead, and tell you if it's OK to cross the range.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Again thank you for your advice.
We will go from Hull to Grimsby initially to cut a couple of hours off the jouney. From here it gives us the chace to get out before high water and make the most of the tides.
Being in Grimsby limits the times we can leave with the free flow lock entrance.
The whole of the east coast seems to be a bit of a shallow mud bank but then again that is the challange of sailing.
Looks like I have a choice of an early start, sailing during the day and reaching Lowerstoft at night or sailing during the night to reach it in the daylight.
Does anyone know of any bolt holes between the Humber and Lowerstoft for a 2m boat. I have looked but most have been ruled out due to access times or just being too shallow.

 

[Tommyrot]

Does anyone know of any bolt holes between the Humber and Lowerstoft for a 2m boat. I have looked but most have been ruled out due to access times or just being too shallow.

Wells is the only reasonable choice, but you will be limited by tide even there.
You might be able to get into Kings Lynn most of the time, but it's a long way off your route!

Weather is unlikely to change enough to put your boat at risk during that length of passage (as long as you pick the right weather to start with ).

 

[PilotWolf]

Despite living here (sometimes!) I'm not sure of the current Wells situation (other than the bar is now buoyed) but I think with 2 m you'll be pushing it much either side of HW. Plus if the weathers bad from N through E I wouldn't bother even considering it!

You can get good shelter in the Wash for most weather but as said if there is the likelyhood of it changing I'd stay in GY.

Other alternative is Great Yarmouth but have no idea of the facilities for yachts - laying on the town wall isn't much fun...

W.

 

[bastonjock]

Are you chasing after "Zigzu"?,they left Grimbsby last monday and are now down at Titchmarsh on way to the med.

From Grimbsby the only bolt hole on the way to Lowestoft is the wash,if you get caught by heavy seas from the N-E then head for the Lynn channel,you might be able to go up the nene if the elbow is not too rough,boats with far deeper draughts than yours go up to Sutton,if you have to head into the wash,give the Sutton Pilots a call to find out the conditions.

After the wash,its Gt Yarmouth at a pinch but Yarmouth does not like yotties,there is however a deep anchorage that oil rig support vessels use in heavy weather,its a hembsby and good for a southerly.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Again thank you for the advice.
We are just waiting for some eent weather.
I did not know Zigzu but ys we will be heading towards the Md eventually via costal France, Spain. We are in no hurry and have no time scale.
All our sailing has usually been South coast, Chnnel and abroa but we decided to try Hull overthe winter as we have a lo of family in the area but apart from sailing up here we have not done a lot on the East Coast. I do have to respect the people who sail up here a lot.

 

[Ceirwan]

My north sea tidal chart is on board the boat so this is from memory, but if I were you I'd leave on the levels from Grimsby as late as possible, 2 hours after HW.

Rosse Spit is a good mark to clear and after that just lay a course across the wash, the ebb from humber should carry you down towards the wash and you can pick up the flood to carry along to the middle of the Wash and then when it starts ebbing you'll get a good push down the coast to lowestoft.

Since I imagine you'll have a high average speed on your boat, your going to end up punching tide at some point, but it's an easy run, especially if this wind stays in the SW.
15 hours from Grimsby probably.

 

[Nostrodamus]

With the weather it looks as Friday will be our setting off day.
Winds look pretty light which should give my family a bit of a chance to sleep during the night.
At the moment I am probably looking to leave Hull on Friday morning for a quick run up to Grimsby. A bit of sleep and then out on the tide about 2100 so I have a bit of light to leave the Humber and get in Lowerstoft during the daylight the following day. I am in no particular rush, just want to make the jouney as pleasant as possible.
I do thank you all or your help and advice and if anyone contributing is in Lowerstoft you are more than welcome aboard for a drink.

 

[Ceirwan]

With you size boat if your not yet in Grimsby, if you leave Hull at high water you can probably get the tide all the way out the river and then into the was and back out the other side, as long as you can make an average of around 6 knots, that way you'll leave the river in daylight, and get a very good push from the tide.
Good luck whatever you do