Advice for a first timer...

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tigglestiger

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I have just upgraded by 18ft day boat to a 22ft Itchen Ferry. I am now looking to take the family away on overnight trips, however we have never done this before.

Please can someone recommend a nice passage from Brightlingsea to somewhere we can overnight then come back the next morning.
 
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tigglestiger said:
I have just upgraded by 18ft day boat to a 22ft Itchen Ferry. I am now looking to take the family away on overnight trips, however we have never done this before.

Please can someone recommend a nice passage from Brightlingsea to somewhere we can overnight then come back the next morning.
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Welcome to the ECF. Here be dragons but they are quite friendly (for the most part) :)

The obvious answer is going to be Bradwell

To make more of an adventure of it, you could tootle up towards Osea Island and then back down again (otherwise it won't be much of a passage, more of a hop!)

I'd suggest before venturing out into the big wild world of the Wallet, Spitway and Whitaker etc. with the family on board, you get some experience of the conditions yourself. Then pick a really nice weather window to take the family further afield for the first time

It is unlikely to ever get dangerous out there in any conditions you'd consider setting out in but the Wallet and outer Blackwater can get very uncomfortable (somebody will, sooner or later, mention that the Wallet is also known colloquially as "the Vomit" so I'll get it out of the way right now!)

Ease the family into it gently is what I'm saying!
 
You could come up river to Maldon. Aim to arrive at just before High Water, otherwise there isn't much. You can moor to the visitor's pontoon, or more likely raft up to someone on the visitor pontoon. Or see if you can get a berth at one of the boatyards (phone numbers in the pilot books). If HW is in the middle of the day, then it's a nice day trip with an hour or two to explore Maldon. Another one os Heybridge Basin - again near HW, and you can moor up inside the lock overnight if you arrange it in advance. Anchorages off Osea Island, Goldhanger (excellent pub food at the Chequers) off Northey Island and lots of other places if you like anchoring.
 
Night sailing is magical and enjoyable, so long as you don't get overtired. The coastline around here is pretty safe and GPS will take most of the worry off your shoulders. In the past, there were unlit obstructions such as the Bench Head buoy, but the only problem most of us have today is pot markers. It would be a good idea to stick to passages that you know from daytime and have noted the markers. The chief ones in my area are those off the Naze and just inside the Harwich breakwater, but if you give these areas a slightly wider berth than in daylight you should be OK. I did my first night trip with the family up the Wallet but the Blackwater would do as well.

If you choose to go further offshore later, being comfortable sailing at night should be part of your repertoire. In my experience, it is something that some people are good at and other never feel at home doing. A yachtmaster instructor crewing for me had to keep asking me about ships' lights for example. Like driving at night, it isn't essentially different to travelling in the daylight, and in some ways easier.
 
Start small. Keep the troops happy ( including you). Bradwell is a couple of hours away. The family can use proper loos and showers. Food and drink available. Go for a walk. Chill out. Easy back home again.

Next time maybe Heybridge.

Free overnight on the Marconi moorings as well as places already mentioned. At this stage I imagine that a berth attached to the land is more sensible.

Enjoy it!
 
As stated previously, start small. Tollesbury is also a very pleasant stay, with the advantage of a sea water and fresh water pools at the marina.

Cruising club is welcoming, as is Tollesbury Sailing Club, near the sail lofts, where the drinks are a lot cheaper.

We draw 1.4 metres and have between 1.5 and 2.5 hours either side of high, depending on springs or neaps etc. But we are on a mud berth, access to the marina is over a sill, and there are 2 tide guages in the creek on approach.

Welcome to the ECF, you will always be made welcome.

Ian & Jo
 
MoodySabre said:
Start small. Keep the troops happy ( including you). Bradwell is a couple of hours away. The family can use proper loos and showers. Food and drink available. Go for a walk. Chill out. Easy back home again.

Next time maybe Heybridge.

Free overnight on the Marconi moorings as well as places already mentioned. At this stage I imagine that a berth attached to the land is more sensible.

Enjoy it!
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+1 That first trip is SO important, as it is what sets the tone for the family... pick your weather, and as MoodySabre says, a short trip is the best bet.
 
I think I'm on the verge of claiming my first Lakesailor here! Either that or everybody has got me on ignore! (now that wouldn't surprise me!)
 
tigglestiger said:
Thank you all every so much for the welcoming comments.

I think a trip to Bradwell looks good, as suggested start small and work our way up. I need to keep it enjoyable for everyone on board.
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Whatever you do, don't try to leave Tollesbury in complete darkness. You are likely to be going round in circles until dawn. Some of us have tried it.
 
To be clear,
You are talking about a sail somewhere in daylight then stopping overnight and comingnback the next day in daylight?

I would be very worried about someone starting their first sail as an overnight passage.


Thqt apart, welcom to the mud. There are all sorts of lovely people here and most are also very helpful. If yu need any services for eht boat, engine, rigging, just post a question on here and someone will nkow a good local supplier.
 
Tomahawk said:
To be clear,
You are talking about a sail somewhere in daylight then stopping overnight and comingnback the next day in daylight?

I would be very worried about someone starting their first sail as an overnight passage.


Thqt apart, welcom to the mud. There are all sorts of lovely people here and most are also very helpful. If yu need any services for eht boat, engine, rigging, just post a question on here and someone will nkow a good local supplier.
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Ah, yes. I understand now.

This is also a great forum to learn typing on too.
 
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