Voyage is reminder of times gone by

ARBROATH seemed a distant dream as the bleary-eyed crew of the Spider T passed through the lock of the Stainforth to Keadby Canal into the River Trent at 7am on Saturday, on the first leg of her voyage.

In reality, there had been a couple of legs before the first, with endless hours spent checking the engine, generator, sails, tackle, fittings, ensuring all was shipshape for the month ahead aboard the 1926 supersloop built at Warren's Shipyard, New Holland, to carry bricks up and down the coast.

At 6am there had been little pomp and ceremony on the canalside, with a send-off by a clutch of early- rising friends, the sounding of a passing car's horn and a group shot for the first crew complement, as individuals are rotated en route.

As Spider T sailed by Alkborough Flatts, close to the confluence of the River Trent and Ouse, the main sail was raised, an arduous task for those cranking up the red ochre sheets between a gaffe and boom both as thick as tree trunks.

Beyond Whitton, the jib and fore, or stay sails, were raised into place and for a while there was enough wind to switch off the engine and experience the eery quiet of a silent river, redolent of times gone by.

Sail enthusiast Chris Horan, of Ashby, said: "Sadly the wind deserted us and the engine was turned on to help Spider T pick up to nine knots riding on the outgoing tide, as opposed to three knots coming out of Keadby with the tide still heading inland.

"As we approached the 30-year-old Humber Bridge, the Humber Keel And Sloop Preservation Society sloop Amy Howson came into view and was passed as she tacked from one side of the river to the other."

Mr Horan said skipper Mal Nicholson guided novice wheelman John Barwell across the river over the subterranean Bull Middle sands where the clearance dropped to below 6ft, into the North Channel.

Chris said: "Before long we passed the P&O superferry Pride Of Rotterdam and moved downriver towards the chemical installations of Saltend, Killingholme and Immingham."

The Spider T headed further down river, doing sail pasts of Grimsby and Cleethorpes, before entering the fish dock about 3pm, which was a tight squeeze with the fishing boat Samarian and the pleasure cruiser Seks Cruiser.

After mooring and being welcomed by the Humber Cruising Association, tying up at the entrance to their moorings, the Spider T had an unexpected visitor in Auf Wiedersehen Pet and Harry Potter actor Timothy Spall, who was in harbour with his vessel Princess Matilda.

The actor was impressed by the plushness of the Edwardian interior of the Spider T and posed for a photo with owner Mal Nicholson and John Barwell of Moorends, Thorne.