From Inverness to Ipswich ..

jimi said:
Planning to do this over a long weekend, if you had to stop anywhere, where would it be?
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I've done this or similar a few times. Lots of the options are either shallow or dangerous in strong E winds. There are of course many places, but here are some of the important ones...

Peterhead - safe entrance, marina

Anywhere between Stonehaven and Blyth is off route and likely to be upwind

The Tyne - doable in most conditions and all states of the tide, but there have been deaths from a yacht in the Tyne entrance in a strong E, so not safe in all conditions.

Hartlepool - locked, not all tide states, not strong E winds. Good for provisioning

Whitby - pretty, tide and weather limited

Humber - Grimsby/Hull up a very tidal river. Hull especially is quite a bit up river.

The Wash - Dylan is the expert here

Lowestoft - well you are nearly there


If I was going to stop half-ish way and the winds and tides were right, I'd go to Whitby because it's lovely; otherwise the Tyne.
 
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After the Humber......

Easiest/best place in The Wash would be Wisbech, but at 30 miles in, you've need a good reason to want to go there.

Wells is the next possibility, very pretty town, tide restrictive to around 2 hours either side of HW. The bar makes for an "interesting" entrance, depending on the weather. Bit of a twisty channel but the harbour staff are happy to escort you in. I have a saved track from my Garmin plotter from a very recent visit. It's possible to do the Humber to Wells in a sensible leg, Dylan just did it.

Wells to Lowestoft is simple enough and easily doable at circa 45 miles. Easy access, stay at the yacht club to port as you enter, or the Hamilton dock (facilities limited to toilets, showers and laundry) to starboard.

Lowestoft to Ipswich haven is another 45 miles.

On a long weekend, i'd to the Humber to Wells, then Wells to the Harwich haven. Keeping The Wash and Lowestoft as bolt holes.
 
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AngusMcDoon said:
Whitby - pretty, tide and weather limited


If I was going to stop half-ish way and the winds and tides were right, I'd go to Whitby because it's lovely; otherwise the Tyne.
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BEWARE - Whitby with the wrong wind/tide is a horror to get into and out of. I'm no expert, and I've never done it myself, just reports from those who have. But I used to live in NE England and I've seen the sea there in a verrry bad temper!
My sister and BiL sailed from there for a year or two - abandoned it due to said entrance and lack of places to go. They now sail West & Northwest Scotland.
Amble marina is pretty, useful and established so that may be worth checking out afore ye go.
Good luck.
Oh, and make sure your mast fits under the Kessock Bridge 29.2m clearance- refering to a recent, embarrassing report of "BIG BOAT" !!
 
jimi said:
Planning to do this over a long weekend, if you had to stop anywhere, where would it be?
Click to expand...

It depends on where you are at the time you decide you HAD to stop.

From Inverness, your options are -
Lossiemouth - Watch the entrance in easterlies.
Whitehills - Watch the entrance in northerlies.
Peterhead - Can be a bit bouncy in easterlies.
Arbroath - Can only get in a couple of hours either side of HW, and not after 8PM.
Eyemouth - Watch the entrance in easterlies.
Tyne - As stated by Angus McD

Never been further sooth, so can't advise.

If you do have to come into Peterhead, give me a shout.
 
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Good advice above, also worth considering are Arbroath (but entrance timing is limited also easy to get stuck there in E/SE winds), Blyth, very welcoming club, Hartlepool. Agree about Whitby, a great stop in the right conditions but can be a bit terrifying in the offing.
Cheers
 
cromarty

Peterhead - safe entrance, marina

holy island

Eyemouth

Blyth

Hartlepool - locked, not all tide states (use kafiga landing in harbour free)

Filey

Humber - Grimsby or the bay opposite were the rnli lifeboat is.


Lowestoft - well you are nearly there 45 miles
 
THanks all, I draw 6'6" and I suspect the only reasons to stop would be to refuel if no wind or refuge if too much. From the sound of it best to stay offshore if the latter!
 
It may not show on the report, but this skipper was advised not to go to sea by vts.

As if that wasn't enough, a small car carrier was 0.5M ahead and pitching badly. Her prop was half airborne.

Nevertheless verdict not guilty on a re-trial.
 
Going t'other way, Lowestoft, Sunderland, Peterhead. We only stopped at Sunderland to let a crew member off who had another appointment. It was Northerly all the way to Peterhead, by which time we were fed up with slamming into a cold April sea. Past Rattray the wind eventually helped and we had a lovely sail. Its a long way, and not much fun in adverse conditions.
 
Coming down from the Orkneys to Ipswich we stopped at Eyemouth, Blyth and Whitby.

We draw 1.9m so both Eyemouth and Whitby could have been a problem at the wrong state of tide and both are a problem in strong onshore winds. However, both are worth a visit in the right conditions. Blyth has no facilities other than a friendly yacht club but is a safe all tide harbour which is pretty rare on that coast.

Once past Whitby/Scarborough its not worth stopping if you are on a tight schedule.
 
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