Jomo
Well-Known Member
So happy sailors, thought I'd post a little resume of Wild Otters' trip up the East coast this year.
Having failed to make Whitby last year due the somewhat breezy weather, we (I) decided to have another go this year. We set out from Levington heading for Lowestoft on Tuesday morning 13 July and made good time, arriving at approx 18.00, an 8 hour passage. We were followed by a couple in a Seal 28, who were intending to eventually end up at Lossiemouth.
The forecasts for the next couple of days had been sw 4/5 for a few days on all the sites I check, including UGRIB, so it was a bit alarming ten minutes before departure on Wednesday to get a gale warning, but as it was centred on the Thames and Dover areas, I decided it would be well to the south and slipped for Whitby. I planned for about 160 miles in about 32 hours. As many of you will know I effectively sail singlehanded, as Joy has no training and little interest in the practicalities. She just enjoys the trips away, and visiting new places. So, 32 hours would be quite enough for me, but with the original forecast it should have been an excellent sail.
As we started to head into the North sea properly though, some 8 hours in, the CG started putting out gale warnings for Humber as well as Thames. Should we turn back? I decided that we were now committed, and it would be worse to turn into the gale that to have it on a rear quarter. Night fell, and the gale arrived. WO coped beautifully, as expected, but I could have done without the extra worry of the galeon my first long passage. Watching lightning light up the horizon 20 miles ahead is a little more daunting then watching it in middle England!
Dawn finally appeared with us still having 50 miles to run, and the swell rolling us considerably. However, the appearance of a small family of dolphins perked up the spirits. I tried to get some more video, but tired, and with the swell at about 2m on our quarter, I thought the better of un-clipping and heading on deck.
Dolphin Video:
We approached Whitby in mid afternnoon, and arrived about 17.15, mooring onto a small Hurley on the waiting pontoon, waiting for the swing bridge to open. 162 Miles, 32 hours
Whitby Abbey:
Our companions, en-route to Lossie pulled in about 20 minutes later. They'd taken about 3 hours less than us to get there
Much chuntering by me, but then there were 2 of them to do watchkeeping!
When the Bridge opened, we allowed all the others through first, which was lucky for the Hurley, because as he went through the bridge opening, he caught a hessian bag round his prop and lost his engine. A quick shout to us, a very quick pass of line – well done Joy the none sailor for catching it first time – and we towed him through, up to the pontoons and released him to glide in. Almost looked as though we knew what we were doing
We stayed in Whitby for a couple of days, had wander around and took some piccies:
Whitby Harbour, west Side:
Whitby entrance:
Whitby marina:
Very Nice
On Saturday we sailed, heading for Wells. The wind was forecast S or SW 3 or 4 occ 5, and we had a great sail all day and into the night.
Video Off Flamborough Head
Video Heading South to Wells:
Hunber anchorage at sunset:
Humber anchorage at Sunset:
By midnight the wind had dropped, and moved onto the nose and we started motoring. It then stayed S, but steadily picked up until it was gusting up to 28 knots when we arrived outside Wells, at just after low water. 108 miles, 22 hours.
We dropped the hook, and waited for the tide. The wind stayed up, but the anchor held so well that I had great difficulty in weighing when the time came. Still, better that than dragging
On approaching the pontoon, I recognised Habebty, and we moored alongside, with the welcome assistance of Pete. The next couple of days were very pleasant, with very pleasant company in Pete and Gill, and trying not to drink too many beers after some long trips! Always great to get to know forumites properly – even better if they turn out to be to nice people.
Pete and Habebty:
Joy relaxing in Wells:
We Slipped Wells on Tuesday 20 July at 01.00 (HW-1) and tried to follow the channel out in the dark. All I can say is thank God for Pete's chart plotter, as I'd never have made it without. The hand chart given out by the HM shows all the buoys as lit, but they're not!!!
)
Anyway, once at the clear water buoy, we both set sail for Lowestoft, I certainly enjoyed it, until the wind dropped to about 8 knots, and swung onto the nose, so I motored the rest of the way. Pete had long since disappeared in that speed machine.
Dawn off Blakeney:
Dawn Off Blakeney Video:
Our last leg was out of Lowestoft on the Wednesday for Levington. Forecast was S or Sw 3 or 4, Occ 5 at first, becoming S or SE. Yeah right! Where was the required Guapacast! As can be seen from the photos of both us and Habebty it was breezy, though we pushed on when Pete decided to turn back. He was right and I was wrong. Despite the continual forecasts of 3 or 4, we didn't clock anything less than 25 knots for 10 hours, and we regularly saw 30. WO of course, handled it very well, but we didn't get in to Levington until 03.00 having done over 60 miles beating. 16 hours from Lowestoft!!!! bad decision or what. What's that Jim (Fullcircle) always says about beating?
Habebty off Lowestoft:
Habety Off Lowestoft Video:
All in all then, we had a good trip, even Joy enjoyed it, though she tells me that the next time I sail to Whitby she'll catch the train at Lowestoft! I must learn, however, that there's no point in trying to beat into a force 6, especially with the tides off Lowestoft and Harwich. Much better to turn round and try again tomorrow.
PS. Apologies for the quality of some of the video, I'm only using a digital camera so it doesn't do all the video stuff properly.
Ian
Having failed to make Whitby last year due the somewhat breezy weather, we (I) decided to have another go this year. We set out from Levington heading for Lowestoft on Tuesday morning 13 July and made good time, arriving at approx 18.00, an 8 hour passage. We were followed by a couple in a Seal 28, who were intending to eventually end up at Lossiemouth.
The forecasts for the next couple of days had been sw 4/5 for a few days on all the sites I check, including UGRIB, so it was a bit alarming ten minutes before departure on Wednesday to get a gale warning, but as it was centred on the Thames and Dover areas, I decided it would be well to the south and slipped for Whitby. I planned for about 160 miles in about 32 hours. As many of you will know I effectively sail singlehanded, as Joy has no training and little interest in the practicalities. She just enjoys the trips away, and visiting new places. So, 32 hours would be quite enough for me, but with the original forecast it should have been an excellent sail.
As we started to head into the North sea properly though, some 8 hours in, the CG started putting out gale warnings for Humber as well as Thames. Should we turn back? I decided that we were now committed, and it would be worse to turn into the gale that to have it on a rear quarter. Night fell, and the gale arrived. WO coped beautifully, as expected, but I could have done without the extra worry of the galeon my first long passage. Watching lightning light up the horizon 20 miles ahead is a little more daunting then watching it in middle England!
Dawn finally appeared with us still having 50 miles to run, and the swell rolling us considerably. However, the appearance of a small family of dolphins perked up the spirits. I tried to get some more video, but tired, and with the swell at about 2m on our quarter, I thought the better of un-clipping and heading on deck.
Dolphin Video:
We approached Whitby in mid afternnoon, and arrived about 17.15, mooring onto a small Hurley on the waiting pontoon, waiting for the swing bridge to open. 162 Miles, 32 hours
Whitby Abbey:
Our companions, en-route to Lossie pulled in about 20 minutes later. They'd taken about 3 hours less than us to get there
Much chuntering by me, but then there were 2 of them to do watchkeeping!When the Bridge opened, we allowed all the others through first, which was lucky for the Hurley, because as he went through the bridge opening, he caught a hessian bag round his prop and lost his engine. A quick shout to us, a very quick pass of line – well done Joy the none sailor for catching it first time – and we towed him through, up to the pontoons and released him to glide in. Almost looked as though we knew what we were doing
We stayed in Whitby for a couple of days, had wander around and took some piccies:
Whitby Harbour, west Side:
Whitby entrance:
Whitby marina:
Very Nice
On Saturday we sailed, heading for Wells. The wind was forecast S or SW 3 or 4 occ 5, and we had a great sail all day and into the night.
Video Off Flamborough Head
Video Heading South to Wells:
Hunber anchorage at sunset:
Humber anchorage at Sunset:
By midnight the wind had dropped, and moved onto the nose and we started motoring. It then stayed S, but steadily picked up until it was gusting up to 28 knots when we arrived outside Wells, at just after low water. 108 miles, 22 hours.
We dropped the hook, and waited for the tide. The wind stayed up, but the anchor held so well that I had great difficulty in weighing when the time came. Still, better that than dragging
On approaching the pontoon, I recognised Habebty, and we moored alongside, with the welcome assistance of Pete. The next couple of days were very pleasant, with very pleasant company in Pete and Gill, and trying not to drink too many beers after some long trips! Always great to get to know forumites properly – even better if they turn out to be to nice people.
Pete and Habebty:
Joy relaxing in Wells:
We Slipped Wells on Tuesday 20 July at 01.00 (HW-1) and tried to follow the channel out in the dark. All I can say is thank God for Pete's chart plotter, as I'd never have made it without. The hand chart given out by the HM shows all the buoys as lit, but they're not!!!
)Anyway, once at the clear water buoy, we both set sail for Lowestoft, I certainly enjoyed it, until the wind dropped to about 8 knots, and swung onto the nose, so I motored the rest of the way. Pete had long since disappeared in that speed machine.
Dawn off Blakeney:
Dawn Off Blakeney Video:
Our last leg was out of Lowestoft on the Wednesday for Levington. Forecast was S or Sw 3 or 4, Occ 5 at first, becoming S or SE. Yeah right! Where was the required Guapacast! As can be seen from the photos of both us and Habebty it was breezy, though we pushed on when Pete decided to turn back. He was right and I was wrong. Despite the continual forecasts of 3 or 4, we didn't clock anything less than 25 knots for 10 hours, and we regularly saw 30. WO of course, handled it very well, but we didn't get in to Levington until 03.00 having done over 60 miles beating. 16 hours from Lowestoft!!!! bad decision or what. What's that Jim (Fullcircle) always says about beating?
Habebty off Lowestoft:
Habety Off Lowestoft Video:
All in all then, we had a good trip, even Joy enjoyed it, though she tells me that the next time I sail to Whitby she'll catch the train at Lowestoft! I must learn, however, that there's no point in trying to beat into a force 6, especially with the tides off Lowestoft and Harwich. Much better to turn round and try again tomorrow.
PS. Apologies for the quality of some of the video, I'm only using a digital camera so it doesn't do all the video stuff properly.
Ian
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