Lowestoft to Whitby - Days 35; 36

Thursday 6th September 2012 - Lowestoft to Whitby - Day 35

Yarmouth Roads Wind Farm

We left Lowestoft at 10.30 and hoisted the main as soon as we passed the piers and engaged Popeye (auto helm).  We had a south westerly wind and with a preventer fitted to the boom and full genoa, we were making good progress against a foul 2 knot tide.  By 13.00 we were passing Great Yarmouth looking at its many seaside attractions.  An hour later and we were going by the large wind farm on the Scorby sands. These are also occupied by a large colony of grey seals which every now and again one would pop up to have a look at us as we sailed by.

Sunset

The wind was changing in its strength all through the evening and night so we changed sail settings accordingly and for a more comfortable night ended up with 2 reefs in the main and 1/3rd genoa.  We had been told if sailing along the north Norfolk coast you had to have the tide right when passing Bacton, this is where most of the gas and oil pipelines come ashore from the north sea.  If you do not get it right you will just stay there for six hours until the tide changes.  We had a favourable tide with us. The sunset at 19.30, we had passed the Sheringham sand bank and switched on our tricolour navigation light.
At 22.00 we were heading north through the Race channel between two sandbanks and watching out for the other ships as they headed south.  We were closely passed by some of the large ferries running out of Hull but it was very reassuring looking at the lights of another yacht which was following close behind.

Friday 7th September 2012 - Lowestoft to Whitby - Day 36

Skipper at Dawn

It is a great pleasure when sailing at night especially when there are lots to see and do.  The many varied lights and characteristics of the buoys which inform you of the direction you should be taking.  The different size and shapes of the ships as they pass in the night.  The moon light reflecting on a continuously moving sea and the sky filled with stars which you cannot see if living in a light polluted city.  Your own yacht's sounds, twists and turns as she moves through the water giving the impression you are actually going faster.  While down below your fellow crew are hopefully getting some rest and sleep as you take on the responsibility of a safe night passage.

Dave

The engine had to be started at 01.15 as we were losing battery power.  The chart plotter, auto-helm, radio, navigation lights all consume power and this can only be replenished while at sea by running the engine.  At dawn we had crossed the Humber passing through the many large ships at the anchorages and heading across Bridlington Bay to be confronted by another hazard, namely lobster pots.  These are laid by the local fisherman mostly out of Bridlington but the marks which float above the pots are connected by a rope but not marked by a flag.  They are only balls either coloured orange or white and are very difficult to spot until you are almost on them.  If you get caught up on one they are very difficult to entangle and it normally ends up with calling out the lifeboat and being towed into port.

Flamborough Head

For a short while we were becalmed off Flamborough Head while the wind sorted itself out and started blowing from a north westerly direction.  This was not a good direction for us and Scarborough for a while looked like a good option for the night but it was discounted as we decided to press on.  At 19.30 the sunset as we put on our navigation steaming lights and at 20.00 we were passing the Whitby High lighthouse.  Whitby is very critical, to make the swing bridge before the marina, as it only opens two hours either side of high water.  A VHF call to bridge control confirmed we were ok for the 9 o clock bridge opening.  Once established which was the correct entrance through the piers we made our way into the river, moved quickly through the half-opened bridge and the harbour master was waiting to tied us up at the marina.   We had travelled 159 miles in 36 hours.  A quick shower and we were in the 'Station' pub at 22.15 and the beer tasted good, they had live entertainment on and we reflected on our trip which had taken us a little further north and nearer to home.