LV 14 - SULA Light Vessel 14
Humber Lightvessel No 14 served all her 26 working years on the River Humber. She helped guide vessels around Spurn Head and the sandbanks in the River Humber.
The lightvessel was built in 1959 by Cook Gemmel and Welton of Beverley, East Yorkshire. Her lantern housed a fifth-order prismatic optic manufactured by Stone-Chance of Crawley. Its character exhibited 3 group flashes every 15 seconds, visible for 17 miles. In case of power failure, a standby paraffin lamp was also installed.
A diaphone fog signal using compressed air was built into the roof of the lookout shelter, acting as an amplifier. A clockwork air valve made by James Ritchie of Edinburgh produced the fog signal character. This sounded once every 20 seconds, the blast lasting 2 seconds, followed by 18 seconds of silence. Four diesel engines were used; air pumps or compressors, one a generator and one as a main winch drive.
The crew consisted of the Master and six men comprising engineers, radio operators and deckhands. Five cabins could accommodate eight men, and a crew change would take place every two weeks.
Launched on 2nd June 1959, LV14’s first commission was on the Spurn station on 28th June.
On 11th December 1985, LV14 was finally retired from service and laid up in Hull docks. In December 1986, she was sold to Pounds Shipyard, Southampton and on 17th December, towed to her new base in Southampton.
In August 1987, LV14 was bought by Beaucette Marina in Guernsey. The plan was to restore her to full-service condition in Beaucette Harbour as the Yacht Club headquarters and as a tourist attraction. Shortly after, on 12th September 1988, she was transferred to Conwy in North Wales, where she resided as a tourist attraction for a couple of years. She was purchased again on 12th October 1990 by Milford Haven Port Authority. On 20th October, she was moved to Milford Haven, located in the new marina.
On 14th March 1991, the lightvessel was dedicated and renamed Haven, the new name painted in large letters on her hull’s side. She was relocated the following year, on 18th July, to a new purpose-built berth within the dock. Haven served as a working museum and maritime historical research and publishing base, and self-catering accommodation was available. She was also the headquarters for the Pembroke Unit of the Maritime Volunteer Service.
Following her retirement from Milford Haven, LV14 was transferred briefly to Ireland. She was then moved to Sharpness Shipyard. Following three years of restoration and refurbishment, her new owners renamed her Sula, which means peace.
She was towed along the canal to Llanthony Quay in Gloucester, arriving on 2nd October 2010.
In February 2020, LV14 Sula Lightship was sold to new owners. They have restored the lightvessel and converted her into luxury Bed and Breakfast accommodation.
The Reverse Wherigo
This Wherigo converts your phone (or some Garmin GPSrs) into a virtual version of the ‘Reverse Cache Box’ which tells you the distance to the cache, but not the bearing.
The cartridge is available to download HERE on the Whereigo.com website. Search for a Whereigo app on the App Store for your phone ('WhereYouGo' is one that works).
Starting at the posted co-ordinates, your task is to find the cache by periodically querying your Reverse Cache Box for the distance to the final location. Try to use your Reverse Cache Box as few times as possible. All instructions and necessary information needed to complete the cartridge are contained within it. The cartridge is multi-lingual.
Many thanks to -Waldmeister- for creating such a flexible wherigo
To activate the cartridge enter these three 6-digit numbers; to obtain the missing letters visit the published coordinates where you will see Sula and the nearby noticeboard about Llanthony Secunda Priory.
From the notice board about SULA
The fog horn: The fog horn blast lasts A seconds and repeats BC seconds later.
From the notice board about Llanthony Sceunda Priory
The buildings and Grounds originally covered DE acres
There are F green trees on the Priory Arms
BEDFEF
6C6ABE
E7C69A
