First night passage...

So regarding reefing, I am planning to improve reefing (currently its bit a pain) so we could reef under a minute.

Regarding 'leaks', when sailing the Wallet on my first trip to Felixstowe, there was more and more water in the bilge. I removed around 7 buckets, but the water was still appearing - the situation was starting to look a bit uncomfortable. Turned out, pump water outlets, which are around 6 inches above the water, were being hit by the waves (we were running), and pipes were disconnected at the time.
 
slawosz said:
So regarding reefing, I am planning to improve reefing (currently its bit a pain) so we could reef under a minute.

Regarding 'leaks', when sailing the Wallet on my first trip to Felixstowe, there was more and more water in the bilge. I removed around 7 buckets, but the water was still appearing - the situation was starting to look a bit uncomfortable. Turned out, pump water outlets, which are around 6 inches above the water, were being hit by the waves (we were running), and pipes were disconnected at the time.
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That's OK, we all live and learn and the lesson from that trip is to get all of your boat screwed together before putting to sea. Waterlines change and everything gets thrown about a fair bit when a small boat meets a seaway. As others have sai. Lowestoft is not particularly difficult to enter = the tidal streams are not significantly worse than other E Coast ports, but you will probably be better off going for the shorter pasage to Harwich first. If you ca get a few days at a time, you may consider Southwold as a next stop after Harwich - there is a great video somewhere on here showing just how to make the entrance work. I find it best to go in on the second half of the flood tide and the hairiest bit with a 42 footer is getting her turned just below the bridge to lay alongside the staging outside the pub,but that shouldn't be a problem in a smaller boat.

Night sailing brings plenty of rewards, as others have written here, but I think it's worth getting to know your boat and the local waters a bit in daylight, before taking on a night passage somewhere that you have sailed before to learn about the difference sailing at night will bring.

Happy sailing!

Peter.
 
PeterWright said:
If you ca get a few days at a time, you may consider Southwold as a next stop after Harwich - there is a great video somewhere on here showing just how to make the entrance work.
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Our website stonemoorings.com has the details for entering Southwold along with the Deben & one for Brightlingsea as well plus some tide tables etc which may be of use to the Op
Stone Moorings----- Look under Cruising- navigation- Places to visit
Southwold--- This is the video of how to enter
Deben this is an old video but may lead to a more updated one
Ramsgate ------- Link to the Ramsgate info
Walton Tides-----------Tidal Diferences local tide times & differences- Dover is on the site as well
Orwell Stour--------------Lots of info on the HHA website if one searches
Brightlingsea------- really useful video
Osea to maldon-- his one is a bit sketchy
 
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Daydream believer said:
Our website stonemoorings.com has the details for entering Southwold along with the Deben & one for Brightlingsea as well plus some tide tables etc which may be of use to the Op
Stone Moorings----- Look under Cruising- navigation- Places to visit
Southwold--- This is the video of how to enter
Deben this is an old video but may lead to a more updated one
Ramsgate -------Link to the Ramsgate info
Walton Tides-----------Tidal Diferences
Orwell Stour
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That's a handy compilation of info all in one place, thanks.
I just hope I can get to use it this year.
 
Hello again,
I am finally launching and I planned night passage for 5-6 June. We would leave Osea around 10 PM and go with tide towards Felixstowe. When the tide will turn (around 430 AM) we should be around Felixstowe and turn back to Osea. We are planning to sail close to Wallet bouys and towards S Cork or Medusa. I just wonder if there is lot of pots/nets around, as far as I remember, I haven't asked in this topic.
 
slawosz said:
Hello again,
I am finally launching and I planned night passage for 5-6 June. We would leave Osea around 10 PM and go with tide towards Felixstowe. When the tide will turn (around 430 AM) we should be around Felixstowe and turn back to Osea. We are planning to sail close to Wallet bouys and towards S Cork or Medusa. I just wonder if there is lot of pots/nets around, as far as I remember, I haven't asked in this topic.
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There are bits that are more important to plan, mainly your pilotage plan in the Blackwater, and to negotiate Thirslet, the Bench Head, then either the Knolls, or Colne Bar, and then the Eagle bank. For me it would be Thirslet, Bench, Colne Bar North Eagle then pick up the Wallet buoys. The pots are generally in shore between Clacton and Walton piers
 
Once you clear the Eagle you can forget aiming for the Wallet buoys & Medusa. Just sail up the coast past Clacton & Walton pier. There is enough on the shore to tell you where you are. Then stay close in with an eye on the echo sounder & head for Stone Bank buoy. Pots will beprevalent from just before Walton pier through to Stone Bank. There may be a few more toward felixtowe but not normally a problem
You will find hardest part of navigation in the dark is Osea to the Knoll but the buoys are quite close once you exit the Blackwater. Watch the depth on the south shore once past the power station. I tend to cut the corner using the echo sounder & there are a couple of race marks that I have nudged in the dark in the last 17 years. They just seem to be right on my track!!!!
I always seem to miss the Bench Head buoy, even though I have raced round it from Stone many times, so it can be an awkward one ( in my view)
 
We sailed Brightlingsea to Shotley on Monday. There are a few pots between the Walton peninsular and Stone banks, but no way near as prevalent as previous years.
All but one had black flags ( really useful :rolleyes: ) the one without a flag was a small yellow round marker.

Here's our track for that portion of the journey in case it helps.

IMG_0424.PNG
 
slawosz said:
I bought Imray chart with Lowesoft and now I see its quite tricky to get there. In theory not so far, but I didn't realize how strong currents are. Looks like we will probably do Marconi - Harwich - Marconi: leaving with tide and comming back when tide turns. Ramsgate still is our destination for this season, but during the day.
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How much do you draw?
 
dolabriform said:
We sailed Brightlingsea to Shotley on Monday. There are a few pots between the Walton peninsular and Stone banks, but no way near as prevalent as previous years.
All but one had black flags ( really useful :rolleyes: ) the one without a flag was a small yellow round marker.

Here's our track for that portion of the journey in case it helps.
Click to expand...
Black flags are said to be as good if not better than coloured ones in the dark for visibility.
 
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