Advice for an East Coast sailor please

Master_under_Dog

Master_under_Dog

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I hope you will be willing to indulge my ignorance and give me the benefit of your advice.

As a recent retiree I have been enjoying sailing the Essex rivers in my Trapper TS240. But my wife and I are having difficulty in identifying somewhere in Essex that we might like to live. Our gaze has turned westward, towards where many of our friends are located, and we are attracted by north Somerset / Wiltshire. I know nothing about sailing in the Bristol Channel other than that there are enormous tides. I am considering swapping Burnham on Crouch for Burnham on Sea. Is the area suitable for a relatively inexperienced singlehanded sailor?

Michael

ps To any members of the East Coast Forum that might be lurking - this is no reflection on the charms of the Essex rivers. Merely an effort to compromise with SWMBO.
 
Hi Michael

There is a motor boat and sailing club at Burnham on sea, and I think there may be a forumite who posts here periodically who hopefully can advise. I can recommend the 'Bristol Channel and Severn Crusing Guide' by Peter Cumberlidge. We were new to the area last year and have found it very helpful.

Yep the tides certainly can be an eye opener, but with a little preparation as with anywhere tidal it is fine. I'm sure someone from the sailing club would be able to help. Not too far from Burham are other places to keep boats. You have Watchet to the west which has a tide gate and access 2 hours either side of HW. To the east there are a couple of rivers, Weston bay YC and Portishead marina where we are. Portishead has access 3-4 hours either side of HW.
 
Burnham on Sea

Ditto agree with everything White Mischief said. The Channel does have big tides but by using them to your advantage they can be an assett .Time your passage right and you can go a long way in 6 or 7 hours.

I have visited Burnham on Sea Yacht Club several times and found them a helpfull and pleasant bunch of people.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/burnhamsailingclub/
 
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We've actually learned to sail from scratch in Cardiff in the last couple of years. If we managed the tides, I'm sure you can. I agree with Graham. Once you get your head around it, you can use the tides to your great advantage.

There is some beautiful scenery either side of the channel, and with the West Wales coast, the Scillies, Lundy and Ireland within shouting distance, there's plenty to do.
 
I was a great deal more frightened trundling across the Thames estuary, 5 miles offshore in 10 ft or water, than I have ever been in the Bristol channel. That said, there are more pleasant places to visit on the east coast but best form your own view of that by visiting.

As an incomer, I love the area we are in - Monmouthshire. Handy for the M4, for Cardiff ( definitely the best sailing base in the channel - proper marina berth for a 36 footer £1400pa) and with beautiful countryside. Sensibly priced housing. Dont be put off by preconceived notions of South Wales - the grubby bits start to the west of Cardiff and end at Swansea. The east bits are like Devon and Somerset but with good access.
 
Another vote for the Bristol channel.

I once read a quote from the comodore of the Burnham on sea yacht club. When asked the best way to navigate into Burnham, he said, "down the M5 and turn right!"
As I have said on here before, I love the Bristol channel and think it matches all other UK sailing areas plus you have the benefit of tides that help you make serious miles on one tide.
Allan
 
Thanks for advice

Many thanks for these encouraging replies. I have not yet been into the Alde or the Deben. But long before any decisions are taken about Burnham on Sea there will be a thorough reconnaisance and more advice sought from the local sailors. Perhaps I will see if I can find a crewing position to gain experience.

Thanks again

Michael
 
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