An East Coast Dilemma

[Momac]

Not sure why Grimsby is considered a detour . Nor why deeper into the Humber or the North Norfolk coast seems not , by some, considered worth a visit.
But I have a motor boat so perhaps that makes a difference.
Grimsby certainly is Grim but a convenient refuelling stop and the HCA marina is nice enough with friendly people.

 

[nortada]

I had a cunning plan to sail from the Solent to Ramsgate and North along the East coast to the Caledonian Canal, followed by a transit to the West Coast. All taking place during the summer of 2022. But now I have done the planning the East Coast seems such a dump with long distances between nice harbours and a lot of dross in between. Am I wrong? Am I missing something?

Agree but I suspect one Maurice Griffiths (Magic of the Swatchways - a good read) may not agree.

As one, whose formative years were spent in South Devon and working life was spent around the South Coast and Solent, can’t think why I have spent my last 28 summers sailing the East Coast.?

Given your mindset, you won’t enjoy it so I would give the East Coast a miss.

A simple solution to your dilemma - use a truck. Unfortunately, with the escalating cost of fuel this could be an increasingly expensive option but this is another discussion.☹

 

[Daydream believer]

If Lowestoft- Whitby is too long and you don’t fancy the detour to Grimsby, Scarborough is a good alternative. It shortens the trip by about 17 NM and is hardly off the direct track

I would agree that Scarborough is an excellent place to visit. However, on my first trip(2012) I found that the showers in the lighthouse were simply the worse that I had been in. Although they did not quite beat the scanky bogs on Kerran in 2014. The door that only partly closed & lack of water on the only working toilet beat Scarborough that time. In 2014 i was turned away from Scarborough , as it was full, which was a pity, so I had to carry on to Grimsby.

 

[Daydream believer]

Grimsby certainly is Grim but a convenient refuelling stop and the HCA marina is nice enough with friendly people.

FRIENDLY??
In the club house I have to admit they were. There was a committee meeting & I sat nearby listening to all the issues. It could have been my own club. (Apart from the fact they only charged £1-50 per pint for the beer. But it did come straight from the horse )
Late subs, people not supporting events, management members resigning, people upset because someone said something "nasty", trying to organise the wrong sort of social events, some dumping their cars in the wrong place , boats left unpaid for years, races not supported- The list went on. But afterwards they invited me to join the group & were fun?
HOWEVER, I walked to the high street
2 neighbours were arguing over a broken fence, the language was definately "Grim"
Further on a bloke & a young woman had a row & he threw the shopping bag with all the shopping spewing out into the road & left with her crying in the street, having told her to carry it her $%^&* self
Then after I crossed a concrete railway bridge (of the type one sees in 60s films where Dixon of Dock Green chases the lad with a gun over the railway- yes my imagination did wander but the place was that old) there were 3 youths around another & they looked as if they were about to give him a good hiding as they shoved him against a wall & did not look at all happy.
In the high street a number of shops had partly boarded up windows, one with a notice about the number of youths at a time allowed to enter
Needless to say I did not dally long.
Yes very-- "friendly"

 

[ean_p]

FRIENDLY??
In the club house I have to admit they were. There was a committee meeting & I sat nearby listening to all the issues. It could have been my own club. (Apart from the fact they only charged £1-50 per pint for the beer. But it did come straight from the horse )
Late subs, people not supporting events, management members resigning, people upset because someone said something "nasty", trying to organise the wrong sort of social events, some dumping their cars in the wrong place , boats left unpaid for years, races not supported- The list went on. But afterwards they invited me to join the group & were fun?
HOWEVER, I walked to the high street
2 neighbours were arguing over a broken fence, the language was definately "Grim"
Further on a bloke & a young woman had a row & he threw the shopping bag with all the shopping spewing out into the road & left with her crying in the street, having told her to carry it her $%^&* self
Then after I crossed a concrete railway bridge (of the type one sees in 60s films where Dixon of Dock Green chases the lad with a gun over the railway- yes my imagination did wander but the place was that old) there were 3 youths around another & they looked as if they were about to give him a good hiding as they shoved him against a wall & did not look at all happy.
In the high street a number of shops had partly boarded up windows, one with a notice about the number of youths at a time allowed to enter
Needless to say I did not dally long.
Yes very-- "friendly"

Life in a northern town.........anyway moving on, I'm fascinated by the need to have an alongside berth every night. If the wind is the prevailing then there are no end of bays and nooks to anchor in for the night including behind Spurn, Bridlington Bay, Flamboro Head, Filey, Runswick Bay- etc etc . Bridlington is a nice harbour too.....!

 

[AntarcticPilot]

HOWEVER, I walked to the high street
2 neighbours were arguing over a broken fence, the language was definately "Grim"
Further on a bloke & a young woman had a row & he threw the shopping bag with all the shopping spewing out into the road & left with her crying in the street, having told her to carry it her $%^&* self
Then after I crossed a concrete railway bridge (of the type one sees in 60s films where Dixon of Dock Green chases the lad with a gun over the railway- yes my imagination did wander but the place was that old) there were 3 youths around another & they looked as if they were about to give him a good hiding as they shoved him against a wall & did not look at all happy.
In the high street a number of shops had partly boarded up windows, one with a notice about the number of youths at a time allowed to enter
Needless to say I did not dally long.
Yes very-- "friendly"

I'm afraid that is a common picture in the post-industrial north. I've just come back from my home area (the heavy woolen district of West Yorkshire), and it is sad to see that a high proportion of shops are empty, and those that are in use have a high proportion of charity shops and takeaways. But the people (except, as you note, the disaffected youth) are friendly,

 

[jamie N]

Grimbo used to be a good run ashore, back in the day!

 

[HappyAfloat]

I would agree that Scarborough is an excellent place to visit. However, on my first trip(2012) I found that the showers in the lighthouse were simply the worse that I had been in.

During our visit in 2018, they were building a new facilities block, looks like it's now open.

Google Maps

 

[Daydream believer]

Life in a northern town.........anyway moving on, I'm fascinated by the need to have an alongside berth every night. If the wind is the prevailing then there are no end of bays and nooks to anchor in for the night including behind Spurn, Bridlington Bay, Flamboro Head, Filey, Runswick Bay- etc etc . Bridlington is a nice harbour too.....!

Is Spurn still considered an excellent anchorage? I was under the impression that the peninsular had almost disappeared & the area no longer had protection from some quarters
Surely Bridlington dries, so not so clever; even with bilge keels

 

[fifer]

Bridlington has a drying harbour/marina and is a reasonable place for a stop-off on the way north

 

[Daydream believer]

Bridlington has a drying harbour/marina and is a reasonable place for a stop-off on the way north

If it dries it can hardly be considered good for a typical AWB with short fin . Or even a long keel if one has to be tending lines all the time. Even long ones need adjusting & the boat has to be made to lean to the wall.
If the floor falls away it can be bad for a bilge keeler.
I would certainly give it a miss. That being said I seem to recall that Roger Oliver, in his excellent book ( to be recommended Sailing round Uk ) does describe going in there on his journeys

 

[Momac]

FRIENDLY??
In the club house I have to admit they were. There was a committee meeting & I sat nearby listening to all the issues. It could have been my own club. (Apart from the fact they only charged £1-50 per pint for the beer. But it did come straight from the horse )
Late subs, people not supporting events, management members resigning, people upset because someone said something "nasty", trying to organise the wrong sort of social events, some dumping their cars in the wrong place , boats left unpaid for years, races not supported- The list went on. But afterwards they invited me to join the group & were fun?
HOWEVER, I walked to the high street
2 neighbours were arguing over a broken fence, the language was definately "Grim"
Further on a bloke & a young woman had a row & he threw the shopping bag with all the shopping spewing out into the road & left with her crying in the street, having told her to carry it her $%^&* self
Then after I crossed a concrete railway bridge (of the type one sees in 60s films where Dixon of Dock Green chases the lad with a gun over the railway- yes my imagination did wander but the place was that old) there were 3 youths around another & they looked as if they were about to give him a good hiding as they shoved him against a wall & did not look at all happy.
In the high street a number of shops had partly boarded up windows, one with a notice about the number of youths at a time allowed to enter
Needless to say I did not dally long.
Yes very-- "friendly"

I see you are from the South.

In the HCA marina we have always been made to feel welcome by the boat owners.
As one example . Last year a chap in the boat next door offered to take me to Halfords in his car (it was Sunday) to get a new battery.

I think the idea is HCA is a club so folks are expected to participate and do their bit as well as pay their subs. I am not a member of that club nor any other club with the reasons you describe sounding quite typical.

I can't comment on the town really but my wife and I were approached within the old docks area one time by a couple of young ladies looking for love. But no offence was taken when we declined. ?

The nearby town of Cleethorpes is, by comparison with Grimsby, a much higher class of dump.
.
They will not get any Camra awards for the beer.
.

 

[Daydream believer]

I see you are from the South.

Does that make a difference?
Actually I have distant relations from Hull. My father was most amused to hear a story about my mothers 3 aunts. They were quite wealthy, owning businesses & property, so considered themselves of some standing in the community. One of them was married to the Military band master. Now pre war such a post was one considered with high esteem.
As the story goes, there was a new dock opened at Hull. ( some might be able to find how long ago that would be) The band was engaged to play & this old boy was there leading the band with his mace .
It seemed that at some point he stepped back & prompty fell in the dock
It bought much disgrace to the family & nothing was said for years. My grandmother was very straight laced & when my father found out he really piled it on.
Well it is funny when you think about it- so long as it did not happen to one's self
But that is as near as i can get to Grimsby

 

[Momac]

Does that make a difference?

It can do.
The North can be a shock to some .

 

[Daydream believer]

deleted

 

[luke1000123]

The Sailing Brothers on YouTube did a round Britain last year and sailed from Scotland down the coast - they made it look more interesting than I expected it to be, with options for stopovers I hadn't considered.

It was really interesting, loved sailing around Britain