4 day itinerary ideas out from Harwich

prologica

prologica

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Hi all,
Please excuse this basic question from an East Coast virgin but I'd really appreciate your ideas for a 4-day itinerary out of Harwich over Easter. We are a 5 strong crew of modest strength.
Ideally each day I'd like to combine some good sailing with a bit of river/creek exploration and a good mix of scenic anchorages and pub accessible moorings.
I'd like to head south rather than north and have already pencilled in the Walton backwaters for the Friday as I will have limited fair tide that day.

Any help much appreciated!
thanks
P <span style="color:blue"> </span>
 
A good tide on the Saturday for coming down to the Blackwater. If you want to anchor then head up to Osea Island - anchorage is east of the jetty on the island. Although privately owned you are allowed on the beach below the HW mark if you fancy a BBQ. Explore upriver on Sunday morning then chase the tide down to Brighlingsea. A lazy start or a toodle up the Colne on Monday then back to Harwich with the tide on Monday pm. Sounds like a plan - as long as your depth sounder is working!
 
While you are in the area plan a lunch at the Fish Cafe at West Mersea. Best seafood on the East Coast but you will need to bring your own bread and drinks and they close at 1600 so no dinner. West Mersea has some pleasant walks and this time of year you should be able to pick up a buoy with some water under it that would allow you to stay overnight if you wanted. Or go around to Pyefleet which is a lovely anchorage and you can walk to a pub that used to do a decent dinner a few years ago. Personally at Pyefleet I prefer to eat on board and watch the sunset.
 
If you are planning to explore the Walton Backwaters on Good Friday, you will need to make a fairly early start on Sat if you are going to take the tide south. LW Harwich is about 0718. Depending on the wind (which looks like it is staying in the South / South West the wallet may be a bit bumpy.

If you arrive before HW can be interesting to take the tide up to Wivenhoe (think can land at Wivenhoe SC pontoon) / Rowhedge (not sure if you can still lie againt the pub wall?) for a lunchtime pint before dropping back down to Brightlingsea. As others have said Brightlingsea is great - the water taxi should be running over Easter weekend. If you are curry fans go to Kovalam (01206 305555) eat in or take away.

On Sunday you could cross to Burnham on Crouch by way of the Raysand channel just before HW, maybe go to Pagglesham on the Roach for the night. Then so long as wind hasn't turned round have a reach / run back on Monday!

Hopefully I'm sailing north from Brightlingsea towards Lowestoft and back. Wave if you see me!
 
Wivenhoe SC pontoon is ok @ HW and the club is open Sun midday for drinks. The outside of the pontoon is currently being used by fishing-boats while the dock is being dredged, though you can lie alongside. The mud on the fingers is soft enough for most boats to lie in.

Rowhedge pub is possible, as well as a new floating jetty just upstream.
 
Hi All,

I didn’t get around to thanking you again post-charter for your help in my itinerary planning for Easter. We had a superb long weekend in great sunshine, if light winds and managed to explore the Backwaters, West Mersea, Brightlingsea, the Stour and the Orwell. Great fish and chips in Brightlingsea and a lovely trip ashore on Mersea courtesy of the marvellous Boatman there (sadly we were just a little late for the Fish Cafe...next time perhaps). We even spotted a Dolphin in the mouth of the Orwell just shy of Felixstowe docks….and managed dinner in the cockpit on Easter Saturday…marvellous.

As I said to the charter manager, the only thing that would make it even better would be a decent stop-off between the Backwaters and Brightlingsea and ditto to the North (with the Alde being a little tricky I understand).

I have already booked a repeat if shorter weekend charter for July 17-19. I understand this coincides with the Pin Mill barges race so should be fun!

Many thanks to all.
David
 
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