Lucy Lavers on Leg 1 to Lowestoft

07/05/2015

Lucy Lavers leaving Wells, 07.05.2015, by Anna Dugdale Photograph by Anna Dugdale

At 5.30am Lucy Lavers leaves Wells-next-the-Sea on this morning's beautifully sunny morning tide, with the wind in her favour. 

Allen Frary helms Lucy Lavers Photograph by Anna Dugdale

Allen Frary, current Coxswain of the Wells lifeboat, with Nicky King, 2nd Coxswain are helming this leg from Wells to Lowestoft. 

Malcolm Smith takes the helm Photograph by Anna Dugdale

By 07.39 Lucy Lavers has passed Blakeney's Fairway Buoy, and Malcolm Smith is taking a turn at the helm.  Malcolm's great-uncle Tom was Aldeburgh's second Coxswain in 1940 - it was he who took Lucy Lavers down to Ramsgate just after she was delivered to Aldeburgh. 

Photograph by Anna Dugdale

The mood on board is jubilant and upbeat.  All the crew are immersed in the experience, which so far does seem to be plain sailing.

Photograph by Anna Dugdale

At around 13.00pm Lucy Lavers and her crew are just offshore near Great Yarmouth, waiting for Lowestoft's Shannon lifeboat to come and meet them.  Allen Frary is so relaxed that he's taking time out to eat cake.

Photograph by Anna Dugdale

The Shannon greets Lucy Lavers and guides her safely into Lowestoft harbour.  She is berthed in The Heritage Quay alongside another heritage craft, Mincarlo.  Come and meet her this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, when she's open to the public.

Photograph by Anna Dugdale

 

Keep posted on Lucy Lavers progress with live updates on our Twitter profile - https://twitter.com/RescueWoodBoats -

and Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/rescuewoodenboats/ -

and check our map to see where she is on her journey - follow Lucy Lavers' journey back to Dunkirk