After a month of snow, gales and generally wintery weather, a rare weather window opened up for today, and we seized our chance to make the return leg of our journey back to Norfolk. We would have a following tide down the Thames and although by the time we reached the open sea we would be punching the tide, this would be mainly with the northerly force 3 or 4 winds, making for a safe and relatively comfortable passage. We waved farewell to Limehouse at 7.00am and made our way downstream, the river still quiet before the morning rush began.

As we left the estuary we heard firing practice from the Shoeburyness range but we were well offshore, and that was the only notable feature in an otherwise textbook passage. The seas proved to be smooth, with only poor visibility marring the view. There were few other vessels to be seen, as proved by this flight of herring gulls who followed us for miles hoping for a tasty morsel!

Once safely into Yarmouth harbour we stopped near the lifeboat station for fuel. The bowser is not manned full time but the attendant always responds to a telephoned request to the number in the Almanac.

We needed low water to continue our journey under the Bure bridges and up to Horning, so we opted to tie up at the Town Hall Quay overnight and wait for the morning tide.

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 122 nm

Total to date: 251 nm

Avg Speed: 13 knots

Duration: 9:30 hours

Diesel: 618 litres

Mooring: Free

Electricity: N/A

Charts

SC5606

SC5607

AC2052

AC1543

AC1536