Cruising Events
Callisto`s Late Summer Cruise 2023
We slipped our lines (20/ 8/23) early to beat the flood gates and at last we were off. Having delayed our start because of strong winds, it was good to be heading out of the Humber on a late summerholiday. We took advantage of good tidal heights to cut across the Binksand headed north. A steady SW wind saw the spinnaker deployed until the wind failed and we motored into Filey Bay where we anchored for the night. Despite a rolly night we slept until the alarm woke us for an eight o’clock start which saw us manoeuvring through the local fishing fleet and heading around Filey Brigg tThe early light winds steadily increased. 10 miles south of Hartlepool they were hitting 30+ knots. Spotting the open lock gates on our approach was a welcome sight.We were safely moored up by 1700hrs. My eagerness to find a hostelry resulted in a careless descent from the boat and me sprawled on the pontoon. North Tees A&E confirmed a fractured wrist!! (There’s no fool like an old fool!). Undaunted, we decided to continue our holiday, after all we still had three good hands between us. We visited the Historic Quay with HMS Trincomalee but alas the PS Wingfield Castle (former Humber Ferry) was closed to the public, and looked to be in a sorry state.
We stayed in Hartlepool for four nights. After topping up with fuel, we exited (25/ 8/23) the lock at 1130hrs in light winds and headed towards The River Tyne. After part sailing, part motoring, we entered the Tyne at 1700hrs and made our way the 2 miles upriver to the Royal Quays marina and celebrated our arrival with a drink and meal at the Marina’s Lock Bar/Restaurant. The Metro is only a 20 minute walk from the marina so the next day we took it into Newcastle, exiting at the iconic St James’ Park. A short walk took us to the High Level Bridge which gave us an elevated view down the Tyne before we crossed it to the Gateshead side arriving at the riverside bar and food outlets area along the river bank adjacent to Hillgate, where we ate, and watched rowers and zipwire adrenalin seekers. With rain forecast, our second day on Tyneside saw us visit the Jasmond Dene Park which was created by William Armstrong (later Lord Armstrong of Cragside, Northumberland). After a damp walk along the valley we arrived at the visitor centre which, apart from offering coffees, etc had nothing of interest to offer.
The next day (28/ 8/23) we slipped our mooring at 0845hrs and exited the Tyne turning north for Amble where after a slow sail we arrived at 1400hrs.Entering Amble requires a careful look at the tides but is otherwise straight forward. Its quite a few years since I was last in Amble, and I was pleasantly surprised at the riverside developments of bars, food and craft outlets. A short walk north brings you to Warkworth and its 12th century castle. Feeling more energetic on our second day we took the coastal path south and after 3 miles found the Hauxley Nature Reserve. We walked the reserve and mingled with the local “twitchers” who proved very knowledgeable. The modern visitors centre provided sustenance for our walk back to the boat.
With sleep in our eyes we left Amble on the morning tide,(31/ 8/23) leaving at 0500hrs. We were greeted by a “super moon” lighting our way out and a spectacular sun rise an hour later. Still travelling north, we plotted a course for Berwick-upon-Tweed. Sailing in a light NE wind we reached the Farne Islands at 0945hrs and decided to anchor in the Kettle for an hours sleep before continuing to Berwick. Entry near high water is advisable at Berwick and close attention to the buoyage should be made as it can change. The harbour is commercial with a single pontoon on your port side as you enter which can take 3 boats or more, if rafted. We were there on springs, and the harbour dried to very soft mud. There was talk of a new facilities block, but there is no sign of this. The current arrangement is to share facilities with the transient lorry drivers which didn’t prove a problem for us but I know of one lady crew who entered the block, and was confronted by a naked driver exiting one of the showers!
From the river, Berwick can appear a grey and dour townbut afterwalking its ancient walls, and the banks of the Tweed, we warmed to it. The discovery of the Curfew Micropub may have helped. The north bank of the river Tweed is a delight to walk,passing the castle ruins and the many bridges all on a tarmac path. A short walk east along the south bank will bring you to Spittal Beach with its wide expanse of sandy beach.
Berwick was as far north that we ventured. We slipped our mooring ( 4/ 9/23) an hour after high water at 0700hrs and found plenty of depth in the river,before turning south for the 55mile sail to the Tyne. We managed to sail in light winds for 2 hours, but it then faded,
As this was our second visit we decided to walk the 2.5miles to Tynemouth. Even if Tynemouth is not your cup of tea the Old Fish Quay which is about half way is worth a visit. We were there on a hot sunny day and the community of bars, cafes and restaurants were buzzing with al fresco drinking, and dining, were the order of the day. It all looked very inviting so of course we stopped for lunch.
Walking on towards Tynemouth, you find a wide promenade style path along the Tyne. Taking this, we arrived at the headland and found the Benedictine Priory and Castle which boasts a history stretching back 2000 years. WW1 saw a 6 inch heavy field gun added to the site to defend the entrance to Tyne.
The following day we went to the Discovery Museum in Newcastle where the boat Turbinia was on display. This was an experimental boat and was the first craft to use a steam turbine to power it, giving it a design speed of 34.5knots. It has an impressive 9 propellers on 3 shafts! There was plenty to keep our interest including the industrial history of the Tyne.
We locked out of the marina at 1100hrs, topped up with fuel, and headed out (08/09/23) towards Sunderland. There was no wind and visibilitywaspoor. We motored all the way,arriving at the marina at 1330hrs.Looking for something to do in the evening we joined the cycling enthusiasts and went to “An audience with Bradley Wiggins”.
There is a good paved walkway from the estuary (Sunderland marina) to the city centre,and approximately half way, you will come across the National Glass Centre,
At 0945hrs (11/09/23) we slipped our mooring and enjoyed a gentle sail to Hartlepool where we moored in the marina at 1400hrs.We assisted an incoming yacht to moor and the owner told us that it had taken part in the notorious 1979 Fastnet Race, being de-masted and abandoned by its crew. The current owner wasn’t part of the Fastnet crew but it looked as though they had just endured a rough passage as one of his crew was as white as a sheet after being sea sick for most of the journey! The boat was called “Polar Bear”.
The next day we walked to the Headland (old Hartlepool) where we met Andy Capp. (Statue). Its really not a pleasant walk along the main road now the short cut though the dock area has been fenced off. The Headland itself is fine.
We locked out (13/09/23) of Hartlepool at 0700hrs with the sun providing some heat to an otherwise chilly morning. We took advantage of the gentle wind to sail and managed to complete the 20 miles to Runswick Bay, before having to resort to motor sailing. We had no problem finding a berth on the visitors pontoon in Scarborough, arriving at 1540hrs. Although, as the photo shows, we were moored facing inwards (its recommended to reverse onto Scarborough visitor pontoon to make leaving easier) there proved to be plenty of room to man handle the boat round to face outwards.
We spent two days relaxing in the autumn sunshine walking the South and the North Bays.At the Aquarian, North Bay, we took the tourist train to Peasholm Park. With the summer gone, the model ship battles had stopped, the ships no doubt having been mothballed or scuttled!
It was a 0630hrs start from Scarborough (16/09/23) as we set off on our final leg back to Grimsby. As we left the harbour, the sun was just poking its rays over the eastern horizon. Once again we had to motor sail in a rolly sea. We were a little late at Flamborough, and had to push a big head tide, but once nearing the Westermost Rough wind farm, the tide slowly gave ground, and soon began to run in our favour. The wind began to increase and at last we were able to sail. We entered the Humber adjacent to Chequer N3 buoy with the wind now at 15 knots from the NE. Making our way across to the south at 3A buoy we were hitting 7 to 9 knots of SOG, helped by the incoming tide. The best way to round off a great “late summer cruise”.
We were safely back on our mooring at HCA at 1830hrs.
ARAWAK August Cruise 2023
03/08 Left Grimsby for Hull. Took out a one month CRT river licence.
04/08 Locked out of Hull Marina at 0630 heading for the river Trent at Trent Falls.. Carried the flood tide all the way. Averaging around 10 knots over the ground.
04/08 Arrived at Torksey Lock 1230 hrs. Moored at floating jetties below the lock. Had the last meal served at The White Swan pub (the pub closed for good the next day),
now no facilities at Torksey although talk of a small cafe opening soon at the lock keepers office.
05/08 Rained all day - as forecast, stayed put. 06/08 Took the last of the flood tide up to Cromwell sea lock, 2 hour trip. Moored just above the lock. Many boats moored there as a flood warning was issued and no locking anyone down that day.
07/08 Cromwell Lock to Newark Lock took one and a half hours cruising at 6 knots. Found mooring space on CRT jetty just in front of a wide beam canal boat with a hydraulic cockpit which lowered to clear bridges.
Stayed for two nights.
09/08 Left Newark for Farndon Marina, again an hour and a half trip. Excellent marina, great service and all facilities also about one third the price we paid at Hull. Stayed two nights. Small shop about ten minutes away.
11/08 Left Farndon Marina, on through Hazelford lock and after two hours arrived at Gunthorpe Lock. Moored on CRT jetty above the lock. Three Restaurants but no shops.
12/08 Two hours again from Gunthorpe and on to Nottingham. Passed through Holme Pierre Lock then through a fleet of sailing dinghies and finally tied up to CRT jetty just before the Trent bridge on the starboard side.
Felt unsafe to sleep there so we went through the bridge and moored on the port river bank in front of Nottingham town hallNo facilities but many boats moored there and some looked permanent!
Walked into town; not impressed except for Weatherspoons which was excellent - service, food and prices.Left Nottingham and started back downstream.Stopped over at Gunthorpe Lock.
16/08 Arrived at Newark Town Lock to be told the next lock beyond Newark (Nether) was closed for maintenance!!
Tied up in Newark to discover that scaffolding was being erected under the Nether Lock which would be too low for us to get under. With our radar mast swung down our air draft is 3.5m (11.5ft).
We walked down to the lock to look at this and were assured by the contractors that by the next day the scaffolding would be finished and the air draft under the railway bridge scaffolding would be 3.8m and a safety boat would see us through. Newark Town bridge is 3.7m and we had got through that.Left Newark after alerting the scaffolding construction team by VHF that we were on our way. As promised they saw us through the railway bridge and into the Nether Lock.
We were pleased to find a CRT volunteer was operating the lock as we had been told the day before that we would have to do it ourselves - we've yet to do that. Arrived back to Cromwell lock and consulted with lock keeper about locking through the next day, travelling back to Torksey, and then trying to get to Lincoln There are no locks on the Fossdyke but halfway along is a bridge reputed to have a 3.5m air draft. I say reputed as the three websites we could find all had different air drafts.
19/08 Arrived at Torksey and locked up to the Fossdyke. Spent that night on a CRT mooring.
20/08 Removed windscreen on fly bridge (saved 10cm) and set off on the 12 miles to Lincoln. 4 knots speed limit and reached low bridge at Saxilby. Drifted slowly under the low bridge, less than two inches clearance, and on to Lincoln Lake.
Stayed in CRT marina, excellent service and facilities. Explored the town and took the bus tour.
22/08 Left Lincoln around 1030 and tied up at Saxilby just before the low bridge.
23/08 Left Saxiliby moved onto Torksey, locked down and tied up on floating moorings.
24/08 0530 hrs left Torksey to catch the ebb tide.
Maintained about 8/9 knots over the ground, and although at Trent Falls the tide was now against us we made it back to Hull Marina for a 12 noon lock in.
25/08 1100 hrs locked out of Hull and managed free flow back into HCA.
May Marion's passage to Bremerhaven 2015
Click Here to read Bill Hudsons log of May Marion's passage to Bremerhaven 2015..
HCA at Hull Marina Easter 2014
A few pics here. HCA Easter Weekend in Hull
May Marion's passage to Holland in 2013
Click Here to read Bill Hudsons log of May Marion's passage to Holland in 2013.. (Requires a PDF Reader installed on you pc.. Get a PDF Reader Here).
Document Download
Download Document Useful documents for members download.
Useful Info & Documents when Cruising
ANWB Wateralmanak 1
Official Dutch waterways regulations. Updated every two years. Vessels navigating the waterways of Holland are legally required to carry this volume. HereNetherlands Schengen Crew List
(which is also a legal requirement) when traveling in Holland and can be downloaded from our Document section above or the RYA Here
HMRC Guidance on Sailing your pleasurecraft to and from the UK Here
Holland Festivales (Middelburg's) Here
Port of London Authority
Available free of charge Tidal Thames Recreational Users Guide. Here
Other Interesting Links
Marine Traffic Website
The current location of any member’s vessel with an active AIS transponder installed can be seen here. (Just enter the vessel name)
Useful Navigation Tracks
A collection of some really Cool Google Earth Navigation Tracks as created by some of our members. These files can be double clicked which then open directly in Google Earth. Once open click on the track to get more passage info (Requires Google Earth on your PC).
See previous passage tracks here (Google Earth Required)
