The Seafarers' Rest

No, that's not the name of yet another pub! Skipper and First Mate, the eponymous seafarers, have indeed returned home, arriving yesterday afternoon from Hull. Our final week afloat was a good one, incorporating some excellent sailing, walks on the north Norfolk coast, revisiting the lovely port of Wells-next-the-Sea, berthing in the slightly daunting port of Grimsby and a final sail up the Humber from Grimsby to Hull in the very early and very dark morning.

Before leaving Southwold last Sunday, we walked round to the south side of the river where the village of Walberswick is situated. This provided a good view of FF at her berth beside the Harbour Inn. Another swim in the sea followed by refreshment in the pub and some more fish and chips ensured we were ready for the afternoon exit from the River Blyth.

Returning to the north shore by the rowing ferry was an experience not to be missed.

From Southwold, it was a pleasant sail of about 10 miles up to Lowestoft, the most easterly point on the UK mainland ... so this was the second time we had passed this fourth extremity! A very early start was required on Monday morning in order to make best use of the tidal stream up the east coast and (of course) to catch the tidal gate at our next port of call, Wells-next-the-Sea. Shall we say it was a 'lively' sail? The picture below, taken in the galley on passage demonstrates this fairly well I think. Yes, that is water coming out of the tap!

We arrived a little late but had no choice but to go up the channel since a storm was brewing and there was nowhere else to go. We made it but only just ... touching bottom a few times on the way in, and saved by the lifting keel yet again. Wells was as attractive as we remembered from our earlier visit, whether looking up river,

down river at low tide,

and at high tide.

We decided to spend a couple of days in Wells, walking sections of the north Norfolk coast path and utilising the excellent coast hopper bus service in between. It was also necessary to test Norfolk pubs and beer just to make sure they were as good as we remembered, and indeed it was the case. Last chance to partake of dressed crab and locally sourced fresh fish (since personal success on this front has been woefully lacking in recent weeks) from the well positioned stall on the quayside.

A window in the weather on Thursday allowed us to exit the channel from Wells and carry a fair tide almost all the way up to the Humber and Grimsby. Follyfin berthed in the marina located inside the old Grimsby Fish Dock, which is run by the Humber Cruising Association. Not the most attractive port, and slightly smelly to boot, it nevertheless felt safe and the locals were extremely helpful and friendly. We were advised not to attempt the trip further up the river to Hull in the high winds on Friday, as originally intended, but to wait for calmer weather on Saturday morning. So at 4:30 yesterday morning, in darkness, we set off in convoy with two other yachts also bound for Hull Marina and whose skippers knew the waters well. Just as well because the multitude of lights on both sides of the river and in the middle, not to mention the odd Dutch warship and container ship, would have been just a little daunting without a local guide! After well earned bacon butties for breakfast, it was time to lower the weather-weary courtesy flags,

and to remove the now-dead heather from the pulpit, the traditional trophy to be sported after passing Ardnamurchan Point - the most westerly point on the UK mainland - which we did way back in June. Hey ho, that seems a long time ago!

The sea boots have now been hung up for the winter and Follyfin will shortly be put to bed in Hull until next Spring. In some ways it's sad that our watery adventure is all over, for this year at least. Something about being master of one's destiny, free to go when and where one wants governed only by the wind and the tide. Marvellous! On the other hand it is extremely good to enjoy some home comforts after three and a half months at sea. It only remains for this blogger to collate and analyse all the data. So there will be one final post after this one, providing a few statistics, e.g. distance logged, engine hours, days at sea, nights at anchor, ports visited, men overboard etc. etc. May take a couple (or 12!) weeks but we will get there eventually!