Ipswich to Lowestoft - Day 100

Ipswich to Lowestoft - Friday 19th August 2011 - Day 100

Centaur

We left Woolverston marina at 10.15 and within ten minutes had the full genoa unfurled as we took advantage of the stern wind to help against the incoming tide.  With a lot of others boats going out we all passed this fine Thames barge Centaur doing her regular day trips out from Ipswich.
The heavy rain from yesterday had gone and it was a wonderful sunny day as we all enjoyed the sights of the river.  At the end of the river there is HMS Ganges where the young sailors are trained. In there is a squared mast which some are encouraged to climb without harnesses.  The button boy stands on the top and it is very high.

Felixstowe Container Port

This the busiest container port in the UK and from the picture, you can see why.  When I first came to this port many years ago. There was not a container ship to be seen but this is progress and the port authorities have to be congatulated on how they became number one.
We passed the main fairway at 12.45 and were heading on a northerly course along the beaches of the Suffolk coast.

Orford Ness Lighthouse

A prominent landfall on the east coast is this corner at Orford Ness and we passed 1/4 mile from the beach.  To the south, this may still be a restricted area, as on the beaches there was no one to be seen. There are still a lot of buildings which look to be part of the defences from the last world war. To the north of the lighthouse is the imposing buildings of the Sizewell nuclear power station.
At 19.45 we called Lowestoft Harbour Control for clearance and negiotated a strong cross tide at the entrance.  We were alongside the pontoon in Hamilton Dock at 20.15.
Off ashore found us in the Harbour Inn, here once again they had just stopped taking orders for meals.  The usual beer and crisps safe arrival party until we got back on board and raided the provisions store.  Happy days.