First things first, we need fuel - again! just 300ltrs today.  Marina fees paid and fuelled up we departed Lowestoft Harbour at just before 1100hrs for a 140NM passage to Hull.  Out into the usual swell in the harbour channel so we bounced and rolled until we could turn North and with wind and tide we were away.  We had timed this passage to utilise the east coast tidal stream all the way to Hull.

Wiley desktop weather had predicted that wave heights would be 0.5m to 1.5m initially then would reduce to 0.5m as we crossed the Wash and headed for Spurn Head and it was spot on!  This is truly a first for me, I have actually experienced an almost smooth North Sea - unbelievable :-)  The Coastguard Maritime Safety Information service actually said the sea state would be smooth or slight - did I hear that correctly ;-)

We pushed on and took a little tidal push just before we entered the Humber but then the full force of a flooding tide pushed us all the way up to Hull.  Visibility reduced for a short period but as we now have full confidence in our AIS receiver there was no need to reduce speed.

We cruised into Hull lock at 1900hrs and after a short wait (due to lock keeper shift handover) we were alongside at 1930hrs.  Now in my book that is a record, Lowestoft to Hull in 8 hours.  You may think that's not a great achievement but with our current gearbox oil leak issue we were sitting well below optimum cruising revs and with no trim tabs averaging 16 knots is a good effort - and very fuel efficient. It is just typical that we experience a perfect sea state on our last but one leg of this epic journey. 

We'll be up early tomorrow to depart Hull at 0600hrs so we can run with the tide all the way to Cromwell Lock and then enjoy the last couple of hours non tidal back to Farndon.