Lowestoft to Wells next the sea - advice requested.

[Bristolfashion]

To quote the song, "should I stay or should I go?"

So given a solid forecast of N & NE winds, what is the scuttlebutt on this trip?

I think the N winds are out, but Tuesday with NE up to 12knts looks possible. High water at Wells Bar is 9pm which makes a 7pm entry also look possible. How dodgy is an entry on a NE? And how "unfriendly", as the almanac says, is the N Norfolk coast in even moderate N weather? I'm not sure how much action will have built up after 3 odd days of northerly weather.

Obviously we'll chat to the harbour master first.

If things don't go to plan, it would be the overnight haul on to the Humber - not a preferred option!

We are not in a schedule, so a wait in the delights of Lowestoft & around would be fine. I'm thinking that any winds SE ➡ SW would be ideal with E being good if not too strong.

Thanks as ever for any hints - we are a 29" Sadler, bilge keel drawing 1.1m. We have all the charts, almanacs & weather info - but wish the ECP went that far!

And, apropos of nothing, the Ore to Lowestoft was a delight - after a whole fleet passing us flying spinnakers, even we hoisted the big sail for a bit!

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Probably , like many others on this channel, not attempted on a regular basis. In my case never.

Don't let this put you off though.

I'm sure Habbety of this forum who is a Norfolk lad will guide you well.

 

[Bru]

well I wouldn't say it couldn't be done but looking at the forecast for Tuesday I would say that I wouldn't do it!

NNE 4 gusting 5 early doors dropping slightly to 3 gusting 4 in the afternoon and then going NE 4 gusting 5 in the evening

About a 0.5m NE swell forecast for the whole day too

(Meteoconsult forecast, my fav other forecasters are available!)

So it'd be heading out wide of Scroby Sands to get an angle on the wind before reaching around past Cromer which is not so bad but punching into the swell will rob you of speed and up the leeway for sure.

You could of course motor it if you're so minded

But my biggest concern, and it caused me to bail out and return to Lowestoft when we were less than 10 miles from Wells some years ago. is that anything from the North with upwards of F4 in it is not advised for entry over the bar into Wells. Going on the forecast, you're going to be close to the limits for safe entry and could very easily arrive (as we did) off the North Norfolk coast to discover that the forecast F4 has turned into an F6

Given that it's getting on for 60 miles to get there, the very real possibility of having to bail out and head either back to Lowestoft or all the way up to the Humber is not enticing!

Our second, and successful, attempt on Wells was in (from memory) generally Sou'Westerly, give or take, fairly light airs. Indeed, we got there too early and anchored off the bar for over two hours in a North Sea that was flatter than I have ever seen it (and I was born on the coast in County Durham!)

 

[Bristolfashion]

well I wouldn't say it couldn't be done but looking at the forecast for Tuesday I would say that I wouldn't do it!

NNE 4 gusting 5 early doors dropping slightly to 3 gusting 4 in the afternoon and then going NE 4 gusting 5 in the evening

About a 0.5m NE swell forecast for the whole day too

(Meteoconsult forecast, my fav other forecasters are available!)

So it'd be heading out wide of Scroby Sands to get an angle on the wind before reaching around past Cromer which is not so bad but punching into the swell will rob you of speed and up the leeway for sure.

You could of course motor it if you're so minded

But my biggest concern, and it caused me to bail out and return to Lowestoft when we were less than 10 miles from Wells some years ago. is that anything from the North with upwards of F4 in it is not advised for entry over the bar into Wells. Going on the forecast, you're going to be close to the limits for safe entry and could very easily arrive (as we did) off the North Norfolk coast to discover that the forecast F4 has turned into an F6

Given that it's getting on for 60 miles to get there, the very real possibility of having to bail out and head either back to Lowestoft or all the way up to the Humber is not enticing!

Our second, and successful, attempt on Wells was in (from memory) generally Sou'Westerly, give or take, fairly light airs. Indeed, we got there too early and anchored off the bar for over two hours in a North Sea that was flatter than I have ever seen it (and I was born on the coast in County Durham!)

Yes, my main worry - not dangerous but a PITA!

 

[LittleSister]

Doesn't sound propitious to me.

Apart from other considerations, your 7pm anticipated entry is a bit close to getting dark for my liking in all the circumstances.

There's yet more of eastern Suffolk/Norfolk/Essex that you could be exploring/enjoying, if you felt so inclined.

Given that it's getting on for 60 miles to get there, the very real possibility of having to bail out and head either back to Lowestoft or all the way up to the Humber is not enticing!

I've not been there by sea myself, but King's Lynn may be a less grim alternative to slogging up to the Humber in those conditions. There's a visitor's pontoon in the town, and I imagine the entry is a lot less fraught than Wells.

 

[Bru]

I've not been there by sea myself, but King's Lynn may be a less grim alternative to slogging up to the Humber in those conditions. There's a visitor's pontoon in the town, and I imagine the entry is a lot less fraught than Wells.

It's about (roughly) two thirds the distance but you've got to find your way through a lot of shoal water and if the conditions aren't good for entry into Wells, they ain't likely to be too clever in the shoal waters of the Wash either I would have thought (well, did think which is why we didn't do it )

 

[Daydream believer]

The OP mentions a diversion to the Humber
If going direct to the Humber it is 106 miles from Lowestoft.. Adding a kink to Wells will add to the distance & time. Grimsby to lowestoft took me 18 hours both times in my 31 ft boat.. Who ever put the Grim in Grimsby knew what they were doing. The lock opening can be difficult. When I arrived the first time I waited 2 hours for wind farm boats to enter first & the lock keeper was far from helpful. He ignored calls from other yachts waiting to get in. The second time I arrived at 01-00 hours near LW & only just made it over the approach sands. Then I had to pay for the pleasure in a lock where the lines hang vertical & the lock keeper takes no care in how quick the water comes in.
I have since heard that Grimsby are not accepting visitors. This has not been confirmed, so one might check first. If true then Hull is a bit further, but possibly a far better venue anyway.
Still one must be prepared for a hard slog.
I have sailed the Thames estuary since the 70's, But after sailing SH round the UK via the Cally canal, I found the Humber at night easily the hardest bit. Humber VTS were very good in that they advised a couple of coasters of my presence as they approached me.
On top of that the Wash had by far the most lobster pots which you will encounter at night. I hit 3 in one night off Blakeney.

 

[Habebty]

Time to arrive 1.5 - 2 hours before HW and call the HM on VHF to guide you in for the first time. Holding is good(sand) in Holkham Bay if you have to wait - providing wind not above N-NE f4 for comfort. Probably enough depth to cope with a .5m chop - but the lifeboat station is only 500m away ?
Should the Wells pilot not be available, aim for the gap in the surf.
Save your track on the plotter to follow on the way out, as the channel is somewhat serpentine and channel buoys are very small in places and difficult to spot if exiting in the dark.
Last time I was there you could stay afloat at the town end of the pontoons, otherwise about .5m at LW. Wells seems to be continually dredging so could be different, although I suspect only as far as the windfarm sandy harbour which you go past.

As Bru states, weather is the clincher as there is no other port of refuge apart from where you left should conditions not be suitable for entry. There is possible shelter from N-NE at Wainfleet (dries) near Gibraltar Point, but I have never been there so check first.

There is a as LS mentions a basic visitor pontoon at Kings Lynn but be aware of very fast tidal streams and absence of water in the Wash. Kings Lynn not very picturesque in my opinion.

Strong tidal streams around NE Norfolk and fairly narrow channel on inshore route. Personally I would motor with the fast tide inside the Scroby Sands and past Caister. Check the latest chart carefully for mobile shoals. Keep outside the 10m contour in the Cromer area due to crab pot floats or just keep a lookout for them.

There are what looks like little sandy harbours formed by the sea defences in the Sea Palling area, none of which are tenable for shelter other than small shallow draught mobos in very settled conditions.

Looking at the forecast, it isn't going to be a comfortable trip, with wind over tide round Norfolk and bumpy up to Wells. Thursday is right out!

Wells is my favourite place and would be a shame to miss, but I only got there on my second attempt as well.

Hmmm, tricky one! But as you say, ring the HM for likely conditions at the bar.

 

[Bru]

I have since heard that Grimsby are not accepting visitors.

Nothing on the HCA website (which doesn't mean it's not true of course!)

And yeah, the fact that commercial vessels (of all types) have priority for the lock (not to mention the cost) rather put me off considering it as a diversion port along with all the other reasons

 

[Bru]

Hmmm, tricky one!

Nah, dead easy

Just follow the Pagan philosophy of passage planning ... does it look GOOD? No? Go to the bar instead

 

[Momac]

I have since heard that Grimsby are not accepting visitors. This has not been confirmed, so one might check first.

We visited Grimsby for a night in July this year .
Free flow was 2hrs before HW up to HW only due to a fault with a pump I believe.

 

[Daydream believer]

And yeah, the fact that commercial vessels (of all types) have priority for the lock (not to mention the cost) rather put me off considering it as a diversion port along with all the other reasons

In fairness I should mention that I left on free flow & then one can pass free of cost. I think free flow is about 1.5 hours either side of HW( do not take my word for that) but it was reduced on one visit as they were dredging. This involves strirring up the mud in the harbour & letting the water go in a rush when the outer water level is lower. Bit of a sleigh ride going out

 

[fredrussell]

Just out of interest, if one got to Wells in unsuitable conditions to enter, does Blakeney offer a potential place to anchor or grab a mooring to wait/sleep? Just been on (camping) hols up there and there seemed to be a few mooring buoys in the channel ‘behind’ Blakeney Point.

 

[Habebty]

Just out of interest, if one got to Wells in unsuitable conditions to enter, does Blakeney offer a potential place to anchor or grab a mooring to wait/sleep? Just been on (camping) hols up there and there seemed to be a few mooring buoys in the channel ‘behind’ Blakeney Point.

No, the entrance is shallower and even more susceptible to swell. The wreck of the Hjordis is now apparently in the channel. The channel has moved not the wreck! Thanks to Tillergirl for that nugget of information posted on his regular East Coast Forum nav updates and Eastcoast Pilot Website. Beautiful in settled conditions though, and lots of seals.

 

[[2574]]

Whilst watching the Countryfile week forecast on the telly last night I was thinking of your passage plan - I think a diversion to Maison Gosselin at St Vaast is the best strategy……….

 

[Halo]

Having been in an out of Wells a few times I would not do it with any N in the wind or a Swell with N/NE (which seems to be established already ) It’s as bad as they say. Under the right conditions Wells is great and the harbour master may lead you in but my earlier advice stands.
If you are heading up N I would do a leg straight to Scarborough from Lowestoft. A straight line from cockle buoy to Flamborough works for me. Use the tide up the Norfolk coast as its strong

 

[Robert Wilson]

All the above is good advice. I can add that when I did it I was lucky - perfect weather and seas but getting into/out of Wells with a N//NE'ly swell would IMHO be a nightmare. To arrive after a day's sail from Lowestoft to see the nav buoys high and dry on the sand is a rather perturbing but interesting sight!!

Next day I had a brilliant sail from Wells to The Humber. Risked anchoring behind Spurn Point in a strong NE'ly which turned out to be a very worrying night regarding swinging round and round. But a lovely, useful place in calm weather? And it shaved-off hours going into/out of Grimsby.

To add :- next day a long, hard, cold punch out to sea in the dark and a long beat to Bridlington then out to Flamborough Head; then magically the sea turned blue again having been muddy green/brown all the way from Rye.
Overnighted in Scarborough - useful, attractive harbour.

 

[Daverw]

Currently in Wells and boats been coming in and out for last few days on both tides with N and NNE wind, lumpy but not hard, channel well marked and soon steadies as you go past the cardinal

 

[WoodyP]

Force 4 ok, but your engine needs a bit of umph if you want to get in safely in anything over. It's a long slog into head winds until you turn the corner into the Wash, l have been in on a f6, but don't try it for fun.

 

[Gary Fox]

I entered Wells in a NNE 3-4 and the waves over the bar were huge, despite pleasant conditions coming down the coast, and I was borderline out of control.
I wouldn't particularly recommmend doing it after dark either.
The whole shallow seabed off Wells is infested with sand humps and similar type features which cause unpleasant sea conditions, even in light weather.
It's a pleasant place to visit though..