Humber Cruising Association

[tome]

I just returned from a weekend visting family and friends in Grimsby. Whilst there, I thought I'd visit the marina in the old fish docks, where I'd read about the co-operative.

We encountered a work party ashore putting together the main pontoons to extend the marina, a really friendly bunch who pointed out their new 35 ton travel hoist and hardly gave me any stick at all about being a South Coast sailor. I wasn't worried anyhow as it was the 5th anniversary of my marriage to a Grimsby gal, and I'd taken my father in law along for local credibility and protection.

The association holds a 50 year lease from ABP, and charges members a £2500 returnable loan for membership plus about £750 a year marina fees, reduced by £50 if you join the work parties.

Hoist in or out is £50 and they are extending from about 150 to 250 berths. Visitors are welcome and the cost is about half Solent charges.

We had a look around the marina, where there are classic old gaffers, fishing boats (mainly day anglers), an HR 352 which took my eye, an assortmen of Westerlys (didn't spot a Centaur), a strongly rigged She 33, and many other sail boats plus a good selection of stinkies including a Trader and a Grand Banks, both of which looked resplendent. Great place, well worth a visit and a chinwag with the many friendly boat owners. The fish dock is pretty derelict now, but you can get the sense as you pass the remains of the ice factory and the rusting conveyors of the bristling nature of the place in its heyday. Reminds me of Leith before it became trendy.

When I worked out the finances, my mooring fees didn't look too expensive at about double their charges. In fairness, there aren't that many places within a day sail or so of Grimsby. For my price I get access to the Solent (which I love, stinkies and all) and the channel, first rate showers at the top of my pontoon, and a drive of only 20 minutes from home. I'm also lucky enough to conduct much of my business within 5 minutes of my boat.

What they did have, and we miss, is security of tenure and a great feeling of comaraderie amongst the berth holders. The place belongs to them and they even tolerate live-aboards without problems. Eat our hearts out, we've got MDL.

Good on them: North Sea sailors with strong rigs and stomachs.

 

[tomboy352]

......we met earlier this afternoon, on the interesting HR352,as far as weekend sailing goes, it is 3 hours to Hull Marina,another two beyond to South Ferriby. There are 3 anchorages within two hours, all of which give good holding and are suitable for over night (weather permitting) Weekend sailing to Bridligton, keel boats settle in the soft mud, Scarboro- now has pontoons but good drying out facilities,Wisbech pontoons and Wells on Sea (Norfolk) also drying out. The Bilge keelers have sheltered natural harbours near Brancaster. The day sailing in the River is good. You never run out of water and have to turn around. The tides and shipping hone your seaman ship skills. The summer cruise has plenty to offer. The East coast rivers start at 24 hour. 36 hours to Holland. 60 hours to S.Norway or Kiel Canal, gate way to the Baltic.Whitby and the North east start at 18 hours. Sailing Scotland? we are half way there! In our cruising ground, we dont meet hordes of Yachts, who are fleeced dearly for their visitor berths . Motor boaters and sail boats live as neighbours and in harmony on the Humber. The angling boats are active all winter and there is a friendly racing fraternity.
It is true, the docks are a dirty, grimy place, and you kindly omit to mention the fishy smell, but as you pointed out, we are just one big happy family. Our £750 pa as a member has no restriction on boat length but berths above 45ft are in limited supply. For boats smaller than 25ft ish, we have limited pontoon berths at a reduced rate.

 

[Guest]

Tomboy said what I was going to say - but I still want to endorse it.

Once you get to know the area the Humber provides magnificent sailing/boating - plus the chance to whip inland, through Lincolnshire and out into the Wash - or even deeper into the canal system via the Trent, Ouse etc if that takes your fancy.

Plus a permanently manned RNLI Station at Spurn Point, plus a few creeks that Tomboy didn't mention (e.g. Saltfleetby Haven, Wainfleet Haven etc), plus some great fishing all the year round (cod in winter, mackerel and tope in summer).

Plus sandy shores, great beaches and nature reserves for the kids when the sea is calm.

Plus the chance to dry out and do a bit of cockling (delicious as a main course with a bit of crusty bread) or shrimping.

All within a days sail from Grimsby.

And then there is Cleethorpes - "the last resort" to quote a local saying!!

Best regards )

Ian D

 

[tome]

I stand well corrected on the cruising area, apologies to HCA. Apart from anchoring at Bull Sand and a few visits to Immingham, my local knowledge is limited to a very enjoyable trip from Goole in a Humber Billy some years back.

I know there are a lot of rants on this forum about the Solent, but I still enjoy sailing here after 25 years despite the costs and crowding. I don't have any horror stories about stinkies, it's probably a lot to do with tolerance on both sides. If you find yourself down this way, I'd be pleased to take any members who don't know the Solent out for a sail to see for themselves, subject to my commitments.

True, I could have made more of the fishy smell and not-so-blue water of Grimsby but to do so would miss the point. I've never encountered such a great sense of belonging as I saw at HCA - as you say, a family feeling. It's hard to describe this to someone who hasn't been there, and we certainly don't have this where we are - despite the fact that our's is probably one of the most friendly small privately owned marinas.

Incidentally, I met a couple from Wrawby who keep a boat here and use it as a sort of weekend activity centre (complete with Mirror dinghy for kids) when not out sailing.

It's good to place a face to a name - the first forum member I've personally met! As you'll have gathered, I'm a HR fan and looking at one this week. My wife and I would love to cruise Norway (I have family in Bergen) and Grimsby seems to be the ideal departure point for us. Having now visited, I'd want to spend a few days there and wander around the fish docks with my camera trying to capture the atmosphere of the place. I can sense a plan emerging...