Day 19
To be absolutely correct we are in Fish Dock Island and are guest visitors of the Humber Cruising Association (HCA) who own and maintain Meridian Quay Marina which was part of the old fish docks - and no, it doesn't smell of fish!

Fish dock

It was windy through the night and although it's calmer at the moment, wind will be picking up later and it will be from the wrong direction.  So we are going exploring.  We had a brief look at Grimsby yesterday, but it was in the fish dock area - not very inspiring, but today we are going to the Fishing Heritage Museum - centre of town.  As we did the Maritime Museum in Lowestoft, we should really do this one in Grimsby.

Also want to check out more of HCA as they are an intrepid bunch of sailors (must be the Viking in them) - no woozy little boats here - and they all do very high mileages.  We have spoken to some members already and they have some fantastic stories to tell.  One couple are getting ready to do the Baltic ARC - no way!

Just got back from the Fishing Heritage Museum - no dogs allowed, so came back home.  Sun is out so time to get on with some reading.

Day 17, Passage 7 and Day 18

Well we made it - thank goodness! What a long hard journey.  Left Lowestoft at midnight.  I hate night sailing - always have done.  I just kept reading out waypoint data to I didn't have to look into the blackness.  Had a bet on about first signs of false dawn - Perry won, it was 0415.  Very roly poly sea, which was awful in places, and made me feel quite sick.  Also bitterly cold.  Absolutely nothing to see except windfarms.  As we approached the Humber, wind started to pick up a bit (as forecast) and sea got even more roly poly!  Got down to Grimsby Fish Dockland (Meridian Marina inside) but couldn't enter lock for another 90 minutes, so had to wallow about!  Sea was incredibly confused and it was still bitterly cold.  Finally got in and tied up at 1850 - what a long ride.  Whipped Bertie off and he had the longest pee ever, level of marina went up a foot!

It is now Day 18, and we all slept incredibly well.  Sun is out, but it's very windy.  Saw locks gates open on free flow, and there is white water out in that harbour! Marina is part of the old Fish Dockland and although basic is run by Hull Sailing Club.  The main fishdock is used by fishing boats but main by windfarm support vessels.  The club has done a really good job and it is packed here.  Done some washing and Perry is catching up on jobs, while Bertie is catching up on sleep.

They are an incredible bunch of yachtsmen here and manage to do some phenominal miles..... again makes us look like whimps. Going out after lunch to explore the town.  Don't think we'll be moving just yet due to the weather.

Days 15 and 16

Yesterday only some odd bits of excitement.   Some nutter managed to steal a dinghy in the marina, row it along, then got out - but did not tie it up.  Went off for something and then came back to find the dinghy had drifted off.  Not to be deterred, he threw himself into the marina and tried to swim to it.  Fortunately he had a fender strapped to him.  However, when the patrol boat which was parked near him decided to try and get him out of the water, he swam off to the outer harbar (or tried to).  He was eventually rescued, but it appeared that he had also partially untied a couple of other boats.  All a bit strange and confusing.

A schooner from Australia came in about 8.00 last night.  Very impressive, although the owners didn't appear too friendly.  Perhaps they were tired.  They had sailed yesterday from somewhere in the Thames.

We are now ready for our midnight departure to Grimsby.  All the planning has been done, but it is still a very long sail.  I am not sure if I will be able to post anything tomorrow, it depends on the time we tie up in Grimsby and whether we can lock onto their wifi. Glad we are finally moving, although to be honest, I hate night sailing, so I am a bit nervous.  Fortunately, Bertie hasn't a clue what's going on.

Day 13 and day 14
Typical.  Everywhere else in the UK has light SW winds and sunshine.  What does the Est Coast have - snow, hail and wind!

It looks as though we will be here until the end of the week, but we'll be checking the forecast daily.  Additionally, we may be going directly to Grimsby  not via Wells next the Sea.

Not a spectacular place, as we are finding out

sand at Lowestoft

more sand at Lowestoft

 but Bertie is happy that we are not moving

a happy Bertie

Have met quite a few Dutch sailors.  What an intrepid bunch.  The cross, sometimes sailing 36 hours, stay one night, and then go back.  We must look like total woozies to them!

Perry has been chasing some dampness we've had in the forecabin, and is now refitting a load of deckscrews with more sealer in the hope that that's the problem.

Meeting up with Alison this evening, to hear about her adventures.  Bertie is not allowed - in fact dogs have not been welcome anywhere yet.  Quite different to the Island's attitude.

I was unable to send this blog yesterday, so we have now moved on a day.  Met Alison and had a really good time catching up on her exciting adventures (she must have some Dutch blood in her not just Scottish). 

We are catching up on jobs, chasing leaks, washing and navigation.  It is looking as though very late Friday will be departure time, but will confirm later with further updated weather forecasts.  Still very cold with sleet, rain and hail. However, nice and warm on the boat.

Day 11, Passage 6 and Day 12

Left Shotley Marina at 8.30.  Started out fine with a good wind and tide to get on to Lowestoft.

Pretty imposing site as we left the marina

However the lift by the tidal stream got much stronger and although we were tramping along, there was a lot of yawing about.  We passed Sizewell but although pretty impressive from the sea, not so when I looked at the photo - sorry.

Wind picked up and put in first reef.  Tide got stronger and wind changed direction to SE - not the direction we wanted.  We were surfing down waves and showing more than 8 knots - not really what we wanted.  All this meant that we would arrive at Lowestoft too early, making it hard to get into the harbour due to strong N setting tidal stream.  Bertie was starting to show signs of strress.  This was all quite a handful for three hours! 

Got to Lowestoft too early, but got permission to enter the harbour and whooshed in!  Turned a sharp left into the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club - tied up.  Wind was increasing all the time and pushing us off the mooring.  A cup of tea later, went down to the sea front, waves really crashing in now.  Perhaps it was better that we arrived early!  Had a portion of chips, but halfway through, wind picked up the packet - and that was the end of that.  Don't think we'll be moving tomorrow and Bertie is fine now.

Day 12 - I couldn't type up day 11 yesterday as we had poor wifi signal.  I am now in the club catching up.  Confirmed, that because of the weather we will not be leaving today (or tomorrow probably) due to weather pattern.  Wind in wrong direction - again.

Day 10
Decided to stay here for the day, but perhaps in hindsight it was not the best idea! Perry nearly drowned himself in the shower because the water wouldn't drain away and when I was doing the washing, the machine broke down.  By the time it was all sorted and everything dried and put away, it was too late to take the (not very regular) ferry to Harwich town.  That meant just a stroll around here.  Some places were inaccessible so we were just left with the muddy water's edge.  Although we had some bits of sunshine, the day was a bit overcast and very cold, hence no photos.  Lots of very expensive boats here.

Tomorrow we are leaving for Lowestoft.  Should be interesting.

Day 9, passage 5

Well we made it to Shotley Marina, Harwich.  It was a very, very long day.  Left Ramsgate at 6.30 and arrived here at 5.00. Bertie had really  had enough.  The day was just grey and overcast, and although we crossed the Thames Estuary, which is very busy with shipping, we saw very little because it was so overcast.  The entrance into Harwich/Felixstowe was very long and it seemed to take forever to get to the Marina.  No photos because there was just nothing to take of.  We will be checking out the weather shortly to see if it's a good idea to move on to Lowestoft tomorrow.  I think Bertie will rebel, but his part in crewing is a bit minimal!  However, this marina is lovely.  I think I will do a review of marinas...... We have now moved three charts and two tidal stream atlases into the filing system.  Only another 14 left!  We have now also completed 180 nautical miles, i.e. 10% of the trip.  I'm off to have a shower now in these lovely facilities.