Sojourn in Ipswich

After two and a half months sailing I was happy enough to stay in Ipswich for a while doing a little spring cleaning aboard Toucando and some essential admin.
"Ipswich is much better than it used to be," opined some people at a gig at The Thomas Wolsey pub, "Especially St Peter's Street and the Quayside." The old industrial and harbour buildings have now been transformed into apartments, bars and restaurants. There is a surprising number of medieval houses amongst the town centre streets. Some churches have been turned into arts venues and tourist information centres. Between doing chores on the boat I have enjoyed visiting some local pubs, looking round the amazing Tudor Christchurch Mansion and the classic Victorian style museum. Day trips included a visit to the Gaffers after the East Coast Race at Brightlingsea and to family in Harwich.
A rest from sailing has been no bad thing, but now I am looking forward to setting sail on Thursday: Destination Ramsgate.


The Quayside at Ipswich


Christchurch Mansion


The Thomas Wolsey


Brightlingsea


Air sea rescue demonstration at Harwich Maritime Festival


A lively sea at the breakwater in Harwich


A pair of Toucans at Ipswich Museum

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Location:Neptune Quay,Ipswich,United Kingdom

What next?

I am sitting at a quayside bar enjoying a ginger beer on a beautiful evening in Ipswich. I plan to stay here for the rest of the week (Ipswich, not the bar). I have some admin to catch up on and a few boat jobs need doing. The next fixture in Toucando's programme is the gaffers' event in Ramsgate on the weekend of 3rd/4th August. Anybody interested in a cruise from Ipswich to Ramsgate starting next weekend is invited to get in touch at: toucando(at)citybeat(dot)org(dot)uk
Intermediate ports of call could include various east coast destinations, London, or perhaps Ostend. After that it is the final passage of Round Britain to Cowes.


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Location:Neptune Quay,Ipswich,United Kingdom

Ipswich

Where did we get to ? Ah yes, Woolverstone. Mooring across the tide proved not to be such a good idea when it came to leaving. To begin we couldn't get off at all. This was a two biscuit problem, as we waited for the wind to come round and we could use the headsails to help blow us off. Great rafts of fine seaweed managed to block the ship's log (underwater speedometer), cooling water intake, and intake for seawater flushing of the heads (sea toilets). Apart from that everything was fine.
We motored up towards Ipswich, under the Orwell Bridge, to the waiting pontoon for the lock. We then locked in accompanied by various members of the gaffer fleet. The water in the lock was quite swirly, and our mooring lines groaned as we were swung this way and that.
Then we were in. We found our place amongst the fleet. Parents Donald and Audrey and family friend Christl came to visit. We had a light lunch before the crew and I went to the Old Customs House to be welcomed by the Deputy Mayor. We enjoyed wine and nibbles. Later we had a barbecue in The Last Anchor and were well entertained by David Ward and Mario Price who had a well judged repertoire of shanties, folk songs and classic rock and roll. They were both true virtuosi.
On Sunday I was visited by friends Anne, Isabella, Janey and Steve. They lounged on the deck enjoying frittata, cheese, salad and sourdough bread, followed by fruit. We watched the festivities in the dock: sailing and rowing races. We loaned Caley Toucan to Senja and friend. Then there was the rubber flubber football competition which was chaotic fun. Nobody drowned as far as I know. An evening of pontoon merriment followed. The Ipswich event had been a great success.


Approaching Ipswich


The lock is nearly ready to open


Our arrival (Photo: Barbara Runnalls)


Welcome by the Deputy Mayor


The crew mingling with the the gaffer crowd


Mario and David: our excellent band


The crowd


Sailing


Sculling


Caley Toucan taking part in the blindfold rowing race









Rubber flubber football: the Netherlands won 4-3


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Location:Common Quay,Ipswich,United Kingdom

Stour and Orwell

We arrived in Harwich Haven on Wednesday evening and parked remarkably successfully in a very tight spot on Ha'penny Pier. We relocated to a more generous berth in the morning.
We had a look around Old Harwich in the morning, which surprised and impressed the crew with its history and charm. Then we set off up river, in a fairly stiff breeze to practise tacking and gybing. When we had got good at that we went further and anchored at Wrabness for afternoon tea.
We went to Shotley Marina in the evening, had salmon for dinner and visited "The Shipwreck".
On Friday we had a leisurely start before locking out and sailing out of Harwich Haven into the open sea. We had intended to do some man overboard drills, but had second thoughts when a fog bank appeared, obscuring anything beyond Dovercourt. We then had third thoughts when it disappeared. The crew very successfully retrieved the traditional casualty (a fender tied to a coil of rope) on the first pass each time. We then had a lost dinghy situation: Caley Toucan of Inverness was rescued just as efficiently. We did some heaving to, before having a beautiful sail back into the Haven and up the Orwell to Woolverstone.
We enjoyed a meal out on the terrace at Buttermans before walking to the Butt and Oyster. This met with the crew's approval. We then returned in the dark along the riverside path to Woolverstone.


Toucando on Ha'penny Pier at Harwich


Street scene in Harwich


Approaching Wrabness (picture courtesy of SY Bonify


At Shotley with Harwich in the distance


Lovely sailing on the Orwell


The crew enjoying a pre-dinner drink


Approaching the Butt and Oyster


Dusk at the Butt and Oyster

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Location:United Kingdom

We're in Harwich

We had a brilliant afternoon sailing from Lowestoft taking advantage of a sea breeze, then an interesting night entry to Harwich. We're looking forward to a couple of days local sailing before the East Coast event in Ipswich at the weekend.


The leaving of Lowestoft


The Suffolk coast


Sea breeze


Sunset

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Location:Felixstowe,United Kingdom

The mystic east: we are in Lowestoft

New crew arrived in Grimsby. We did quite a lot of sorting out on the boat to deal with the consequences of the extended stay in Eyemouth, went shopping, and enjoyed a pork stir fry aboard.
On Monday we motored out of the Royal Docks, the home of our hosts the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Yacht Club, and went to refuel at the Humber Cruising Association's base in the fish docks.
It turned out to be a long motor sail to Lowestoft: we were only able to turn the engine off for an hour or so. The sun set as we approached the north Norfolk coast, then rose as we approached Great Yarmouth. We listened with concern to reports of a fellow yachtsman running aground. We slowed our speed so we would arrive in Lowestoft when the marina staff were up and about. We were allocated a berth at the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club, and once moored had a quick breakfast and (in the case of the skipper) caught up on lost sleep.
We had enjoyed our night passage, identifying ships, buoys and lighthouses. Lowestoft is the most easterly place in Britain. It also feels like home territory, even though I haven't been here for over thirty years. Soon we'll be on the Orwell and Stour where I first started sailing.


Grimsby


Ships in the Royal Dock manoeuvre very close


Our stir fry


... And dessert


Our night passage to Lowestoft


The crew stow the mainsail












Lowestoft views


The skipper on the pier may be the most easterly person in Britain
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Location:London Road North,Lowestoft,United Kingdom

Grimsby at last

Suffice it to say we're in Grimsby. It was a long haul from Scarborough. Little wind. The coastline to Flamborough Head was spectacular. A horrible fog developed in the Humber, then we had a very long wait for the lock into Royal Docks. The full story will be told in due course. Thank you to Ian for helping get Toucando here from Eyemouth.




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Location:Westgate,Grimsby,United Kingdom

Blyth Spirits

We're in Blyth, enjoying pints of Fair Wind bitter in the old wooden lightship which serves as the clubhouse of the Royal Northern Yacht Club.
The day started with the relaunch of Toucando at Eyemouth. A few formalities had to be completed and then we set off. The new bow thruster was brilliant: not only did it thrust the bow perfectly, it made a beautiful purring noise.
We headed off down the coast, past Berwick. We were back in English waters after ever so long in the Celtic world. Then there was Lindisfarne, the Farne Islands, various castles, a few puffins. It was good to be afloat and moving again going along one of the most spectacular coastlines in Britain. Thanks go to Ian for crewing and bringing his local knowledge of the area.
Tomorrow we head for Scarborough, and then on to Grimsby.















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Location:Blyth,United Kingdom

On the move again

This morning Toucando was craned back into the water. The bow thruster was checked and found to be watertight. We fueled and got ready to leave. It is a bright day with a light south easterly wind: not ideal, but we are making good progress under motor. We're just approaching Lindisfarne now and hope to stop overnight in Blythe. Things are now looking promising for our weekend arrival in Grimsby.


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