Attempting The Impossible

On Saturday we caught the pm tide from Goole to Torksey, planing to Apex Light then running at displacement to Torksey. We attempted planing from Derrythorpe, however we considered this too risky to continue at speed as there was far too much debris in the river.  We finally arrived at Torksey just as the sun set, and settled on the visitors pontoon low side ready to pen in the following morning. 

 

Sunday morning brought with her the warmest day of the year so far, and at this stage we were rather regretting not having packed our summer clothes, however this warm weather was all set to change on the Monday. We penned through Torksey Lock, watered up and set off up a very busy Fossdyke navigation towards Lincoln, passing our very first boat 'Chelmer' a Seamaster 813 which had just been delivered and relaunched in Burton Waters for her new mooring at Torksey... she was still looking exceptionally smart. 

 

 

After spending a night on Lincoln Visitor Moorings in front of the ever expanding university student accommodation, we decided it was time to attempt the Lincoln bridges.  We have made this journey on our previous three boats, however have always been unsure as to whether Moonshine would actually fit through. After careful measuring and deliberation with other boaters with similar sized craft we thought this surely must be worth attempting, as this would once again open Boston cruising ground up for us as an alternative route to the sea if weather conditions were not favourable. 

After an early start we lowered Moonshines mast and ariels backwards to create her lowest airdraft, protected the wheelhouse handrails and set vertical airdraft limit sticks on the forward rails...if these touched we would not fit!

 

 

 We carefully navigated our way through Lincoln's first low bridge, which gave us only a few  inch to spare above the radar reflector, if this was going to be problematic then the reflector could be unbolted. With the first bridge clear it was now time to tackle the Glory Hole.  At a very slow speed we ventured underneath the high street until the middle arch. This middle arch is the lowest point of the Glory Hole, and it was at this point the forward airdraft sticks touched, and this meant that the width of the wheelhouse would not go under.  We then had to carefully reverse back beneath the bridges into Brayford Pool to turn. 

We now have to consider a plan B for the week ahead, but if you don't try these things you never know.