Hull

We left Lowestoft in the afternoon, to catch the tide, and set off North.  The sun was out and it was blowing 18 to 20kts in the right direction - we couldn't exactly relax as there was significant surf breaking on the many offshore sandbanks that line the Suffolk coast.  We were following the channel markers, but thought this one was a bit too close to the windfarm for comfort!



The sailing continued to be very good, but there was no relaxing on this trip as we were soon puzzled by the sight of something that looked like Waterworld sticking out of the sea - nothing could be found on the charts, electronic or paper, and even the ipad gave no clues.  We knew there were Gas Wells in the area, but this was in the wrong area!

We sailed on, and have now learnt that the obstruction in question is a new windfarm, which will eventually have 800 wind turbines.  There is a reason to update charts afterall!

The rest of the sailing was uneventful, it was a clear night with millions of stars - quite hard to stay awake, but at least if you helm standing up you can't really fall asleep. 

Our arrival at the mouth of the River Humber was like a nautical 'Operation Stack' on the M20 - ships everywhere, all being kept under control by the VTS Port Control while they waited for the tide to get into Immingham.  We motor sailed up the Humber - felt safer that way as yet again there are sandbanks all over the place not to mention ships. 

The River Humber is the colour of drinking chocolate, and lots of the channel markers were boat shaped so appeared to be motoring along with us.

I though we were old hands at locks by now, but Hull caught us out - we were there at high water, and not only was there no floating pontoon of any kind, there was also no wall to tie onto in the middle of the lock! 

Swing Bridge over the lock, occupying the space where you otherwise have walls!

Hull Marina Lock - the Waiting Pontoon, don'tsettle in the mud!



Harbour Entrance, view over the Humber

We spent the next day walking around the town - spoilt for choice for shopping centres, all equally splendid, with my personal favourite being the one built in part of the old harbour.

There is still some old town left, most was lost in WWII, and Hull is very proud of its Aquarium, called The Deep.  The fish must all operate sonar round here, because they certainly could not rely on vision in this water.







The Deep and the Surge Barrier at the mouth of the River Hull

The Arctic Corsair, a sidewinder trawler built in the 1960's and rammed by an Islandic Gunboat in the Cod Wars of the 1970's.  Now very well settled in that mud.

So - tomorrow its off to Spurn Head for a few hours, then on to Scarborough.  Another 10 hour day - bad luck Zilla!



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