Homeward bound

Day 13.  At the start of our final week and heading back up north, we departed Bradwell Marina bound for Titchmarsh Marina Walton-on-the-Naze logging 29.3 nautical miles.   On approach we called the marina to be allocated a mooring, D36 it transpired was exactly the same mooring given as last year! 

The Harbour Lights restaurant which overlooks the marina does excellent and good value meals which we tried last year, so this was once again on our visit list.

We are always on the look out for other Hardy Seawings moored within the marina's we visit, and we spotted a 277 model called 'In Da Red'.

 

Day 14. A very short hop from Titchmarsh Marina to Suffolk Yacht Harbour on the River Orwell. We had a very pleasant calm trip travelling at displacement speed logging 10.3 nautical miles. We even spotted another Hardy Seawings 305 'Aurelia' moored in this marina.

 

Day 15. We departed Suffolk Yacht Harbour bound for Lowestoft. Ideally we could have done to have left mid morning in order to gain help from the tide, however since some NE wind was forecast we decided to leave at 07.00 and push the tide but have a smoother ride with wind with tide. Nevertheless, the passage was still rather bumpy at times especially off Orford Ness and Sizewell Bank. Upon arrival at the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club, Moonshine took on more fuel at 94.5p per litre. Since the yacht club was very busy with it being Sea Week (their annual sailing regatta), we decided to moor in ABP's Hamilton Dock marina.  Another 49.6 nautical miles was logged.

Day 16. Since there was a fresh NE breeze forecast for today we spent the day in port relaxing and keeping an eye on the weather forecast for the final sea leg of our journey to Grimsby.

The photos below show the barge 'Charlie Rock' with the assistance of the tug 'Afon Goch' discharging granite boulders at high water for the new sea defence works.

 

Day 17. After keeping a vigilant eye on the weather forecast we decided today was the day to depart Lowestoft, accompanied with a fresh southerly breeze, with wind with tide. The sea was rather lumpy off Lowestoft and Cromer, however the wind was forecast to ease further up the coast giving us a fairly pleasant passage. Visibility closed in off The Wash making the sea earily glassy in places, however after a 4 hour journey the muddy waters of the Humber and Spurn Point were a welcoming sight as it is such a long journey with no safe haven if the weather turns bad. Always being vigilant for crab pots off the Norfolk coast, we certainly didn't expect them being dotted around at the Inner Dowsing and on the approaches to Spurn. Safely moored at Grimsby we had logged  another 99.1 nautical miles. 

Day 18. We spent a relaxing day in Grimsby knowing that the trip back up river to Goole the following morning would be a 'piece of cake'. We took the opportunity to walk into the town for food for a celebratory bbq later in the day, took the dogs for a run on the beach, and took on more fuel at 89p per litre 60/40 split.

Day 19. Homeward bound. We departed Grimsby half an hour before high water, only just making it through the lock prior to the flood gates being shut due to there being such a large spring tide. We had a lovely calm run back up river to Goole in a W f2 passing the 'Tharsis' at Blacktoft inward bound. We entered Goole Bight just as 3 other boats were chaotically entering the lock with none of the crews wearing life jackets. The Dock Master lifted the lock up quickly as he wanted to be ready for 'Tharsis'. On the final leg of our journey we logged 35.6 nautical miles.

Moonshine has excelled in her performance over the past two and a half weeks, with few minor teething problems, such as the repaired toilet seal, shower pump getting clogged and a slight over heating problem on the starboard engine when working hard which we believe to be impeller related. We have logged a rather impressive 683.3 nautical miles and used approx 1970 litres of fuel.

 All packed up with Skipper and Crew ready to leave for home, Moonshine is now due a well earned rest!