The start of our last week and we are now homeward bound. We departed Chatham Maritime Marina lock after discovering they penned every half hour as this involves a bridge lift each time. We left on a much quieter river than when we arrived, enjoying help from the last of the ebb until we had gotten into the Medway Approach Channel. We planed from Hoo Island when it was safe to do so, until we heard Medway VTS in conversation with a work vessel at Thamesport Gas Terminal with men working at the waterline. We dropped off the plane for 5 minutes so as not to cause them any problems with our potential wash, and when we were safely away from them we attempted planing once again, however we must have had some weed around Moonshine's drives as she wasn't happy at all. After going astern and releasing said weed, she went back up on the plane with no problem. We were against the flood from the Medway Approach to the Inner Whittaker, where we dropped off the plane as we crossed Whittaker Spit as the tide was still quite low and we were down to 2.5 mtrs depth. Once back into deeper water we were able to plane once again quickly covering some decent ground, we then dropped down to a slow speed just passed the River Roach off the River Crouch and obtained a mooring for the night in Burnham Yacht Harbour. You couldn't have asked for any better sea conditions today, as it was flat calm all the way. A keen breeze got up later once we were moored up but we could only put that down to sea breezes, but it freshened the air considerably after yet another swelteringly hot day.
Logged 46.2 nautical miles.
Day 14. Burnham on Crouch to Woodbridge
This morning prior to heading back out to sea we decided it would be an idea to obtain fuel. Unfortunately the fuel pump in Burnham Yacht Harbour was out of commission, so we ended up heading across the river to Essex Marina to fuel up. We then headed back down river in a very brisk breeze with wind over an incoming tide to get back out to sea. Once out at sea it was pretty calm (but nowhere like the conditions we had enjoyed yesterday) until it got a bit choppy off Walton on the Naze, then plotting a course due north to cross the Harwich deep water shipping channel it calmed off again and we enjoyed a good run up to Woodbridge Haven. Once in Woodbridge Haven we came off the plane to run steady up river, however with a very fast flowing inward tide behind us we had to navigate very carefully as the tide was pulling the anchorage buoys just beneath the water making navigation very challenging. We obtained a mooring in the Tidemill Yacht Harbour for a one night stay.
Logged 49.1 nautical miles.
Day 15. Woodbridge to Lowestoft
We had a very lazy morning waiting for there to be enough water over the cill at the Tidemill Yacht Harbour moorings before we could set off. We had a walk around the grounds, and just like everywhere else around here the grass is parched and quite uncomfortable to walk on even with sandals. The dogs also have to be carried to shore as the gaps between the wooden jetty boards are too wide for them. Apart from that this is a very tranquil place to be. With a very light breeze we departed the yacht harbour, and steadily made our way punching the tide in the River Deben heading back out to sea. It was quite choppy in the River mouth, but once out to sea we enjoyed calmish sea conditions, gaining help from the tide once past Orford Ness. When we approached Lowestoft sea conditions had chopped up a bit, however we were able to follow the wind farm vessels in, which were returning back to the harbour in true 'wacky race' form, and they smoothed the path nicely for entry. With all this green energy, it would be interesting to see what the wind farm boats carbon footprint is.....
Logged 47.4 nautical miles
Day 16. Lowestoft
If it's not the wind that keeps us in port, it's the fog! Our intention today was to have an early start to visit Wells next the Sea. Unfortunately the morning started with a loud fog horn blast! We awoke to the sight of dense fog which at times thinned slightly but repeatedly became dense again. We had a time window of up to 13.40 to safely get into Wells, however since we would have to plane with our now later start, we considered this far too risky with the reduced visibility. The fog eventually cleared late morning, so a day spent in Lowestoft was in order. It isn't such a bad thing as this allows us to restock up on our badly depleated alcohol stock, oh and the four letter word beginning with f.....FOOD!
Day 17. Lowestoft to Wells next the Sea
With no fog this morning our penultimate sea passage this holiday went very smoothly in very calm seas. We encountered a myriad of crab pots close into the coastline just off Cromer and Sheringham, and it seemed there was no getting away from them, until we altered course to head further back out to sea. Once passed the Wells leading buoy we could then steadily make our way in following the harbour launch, and upto the pontoon on the quay. Now we are here, this will be a pleasant finale to our holiday, before having to make the final sea passage back to the Humber.
Logged 55.4 nautical miles
Day 18. Wells next the Sea
A gloriously hot lazy day was spent in Wells today. We love just sitting on the boat relaxing watching the tides change and the boats moving about.
Day 19. Wells next the Sea to Hull
It is far too easy once ensconced in Wells Harbour to not want to move on, but time is now running short and we need to head back to the Humber today. Our final sea passage was a bit bumpy for the first half hour from the leading buoy, but after that the sea state smoothed off. Once in at Spurn the only chop we encountered was from other vessels, and we made Hull Marina after two hours and fifty minutes of planing. Tomorrow we are heading back to our home mooring in Goole, this means we will be back to dodging floating debris instead of crab pots. It is nice to be back to more familiar territory and our normal stomping ground.
Logged 72.7 nautical miles
Day 20. Hull Marina to Goole
We enjoyed a flat calm run back up river to Goole, and had excellent service from Goole Docks on a return pen. Thankfully there was no floating debris to contend with today. We returned back to the polluting atmosphere Moonshine calls home after a respectable 58 minute run.
Logged 21.8 nautical miles
We have now been away for almost three weeks, and it has been a heatwave from start to finish with not even a drop of rain. The only slight issues from the weather were sea breezes due to the heat, and one morning of fog. Moonshine has run faultlessly, and it has been a pleasure to discover new places we never visited before.
Overall total logged 564.2 nautical miles.
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