24. Lowestoft to Ipswich, 14th June
Shipping forecast: W or NW backing SE 3 or 4 occasionally 5; mainly fair; good
Ipswich, at the head of the River Orwell was chosen, as was Arbroath earlier, as a convenient base for some planned reunion evenings with friends and relatives living in the area.
The south going tide dictated an early departure from Lowestoft, 04.30 from the School Road marina to catch the 05.00 bridge opening downstream.
Orford Ness provides a principal waypoint on this passage. Approaching from the north Aldeburgh Ridge port hand buoy is visible to the right of the lighthouse. In the hazy distance, beyond the buoy, can be seen the tops of the cranes at the Felixstowe container port in the entrance to the River Orwell, a major landmark visible from seaward in clear weather for many miles.
NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION
Once at sea it was a day of light winds and most of the passage was completed under engine power in fine sunny weather though with a spell of sailing, beam reaching in a westerly breeze for a while past Southwold and the prominent Sizewell nuclear power station.
We arrived and secured at the Ipswich Haven Marina, situated in the wet dock in the heart of the port, at 13.10 hours following an uneventful passage of 41 miles logged (48 miles on the chart).
Ipswich is an interesting and historic place with an attractive area of medieval streets and buildings in the oldest part of town close to the port.
The weather turned foul and so we once again ended up waiting there for a window of better conditions for onward passage.