Bradwell to Walton Backwaters

[andyo]

Hi, I wondered if I may collect some thoughts of local experts on a trip we are considering.

We are planning our first visit to Walton Backwaters for Thurs 16th June - Sun 19th June. We have a twin keel Westerly Konsort, draft 1m.

Initial passage plan is to leave Bradwell just on or before HW (1030), ride the ebb tide out to Eagle then up to somewhere near Medusa then the Medusa Channel to Pye End and in from there. I estimate we will take about 5-6 hours, so will arrive at LW.

We'd like to spend one night in the W&FYC basin, as it seems close to town, etc. but I can't see us coming in at LW and spending Thursday night there (well, not according to the pilot). So, we could push on to Titchmarsh for the night, or borrow a mooring or anchor somewhere in the Walton Channel; then move to the basin on Friday morning (HW Walton 1030.)

The return on (potentially) Sunday looks like catching the last of the ebb out to Pye End then the flood tide back down to the Blackwater. LW Walton on Sunday is 0550, so an early start. It seems to me that we would need to stay close to the exit, so maybe moor or anchor top end of Walton Channel or in Hamford Water.

Have I got this about right? Appreciate anyone's thoughts. Also, any ideas on what and where to go in Walton? Any good eateries?

Cheers,

Andy

 

[Bru]

If the weather is OK, anchor overnight down the far end of Hamford Water then run up into Walton the following morning

That's what we did. Might be a bit more tricky to do again now we've added 2'6" to our draft and lost a keel though!

 

[Bru]

Oh and you'll only get in and out of the basin for an hour or two (depending on the tide) before HW - the whole channel up to Walton dries.

 

[MoodySabre]

I draw morethan you so would leave 2-3 hours before HW (it's neapish) and get to Pye End near to half tide. Easy then to get into Titchmarsh. Plenty of free buoys in Walton Channel if you prefer that.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Don't bother to go out to Eagle, Bench, Colne Bar, North Eagle... as has been said around these parts before watch out for pots south of Walton Pier and across Pennyhole Bay. You don't need to go out as far as the Medusa, we are usually 2 cables inshore of Stone Banks. Anchoring in Hamford is lovely, our usual spot is on the southern side past the Exchem cardinal mark

 

[Ianqv]

Hi,

We often do this passage.
I bit like Roger with MoodySabre we leave well before high tide.
For us, its great to get out 5 ish hours before HW (We draw 1.5m), We rarely go out to North Eagle (but, we do have a path mapped over the bar on our plotter which we tweak each year as it moves slightly). If you are unsure, go out to the Eagle – it won’t break the bank with the extra time.
However, we then cut the corner rounding Walton (just come in as much as your echo sounder and conditions allow).
We then head North over Penny Hole Bay (it’s quite flat there)! However, I would suggest that the first time you do this is on a rising tide (so slip out of Bradwell as soon as you have enough water to do so).
We then re-join the channel around Crab Knoll no 3 buoy. It’s then a case of following the channel up to Titchmarsh.
As for the return journey, we tend to go into Shotley first before making the jump back to Bradwell.

Best Regards

Ian

 

[Lucky Duck]

Leaving that early on the tide must pretty much guarantee that it's against you the entire way. Also with a prevailing SWly you'd have wind against tide in the Wallet which isn't my idea of fun.

The OPs plan is a sound one although I'd probably give Walton Basin a miss and accept that it's a bit of a pain getting to Walton from Titchmarsh

 

[nigelm]

The OPs plan is a sound one although I'd probably give Walton Basin a miss and accept that it's a bit of a pain getting to Walton from Titchmarsh

Unless there's kids who want to go play on the beach i'd pretty much give Walton a miss and stay in the Harbour lights bar , otherwise it's a hr walk to and a £5 taxi ride back from Walton .

 

[PeterWright]

Hi andyo,

I'll just add to your confusion. As you've probably learned, sailing on th East Coast it always pays to work the tides. For a passage Bradwell -Harwich, that means timing your departure to get to Stone Banks a around low water. That gives you ebb out of the Blackwater and all the way down the Wallet and the first of the flood up into Harwich and onwards if you want to go up either of the rivers. In principle, the same applies to Bradwell - Walton, except that taking the first of the flood to enter at Walton will put all but the shallowest draft yachts aground. The choice then is to anchor in Pennyhole bay to await sufficient water into Walton or leave 2 to 3 hours later so you arrive at Pye End just before half flood which will give boats up to around 2m draft enough water to enter Walton Channel.

The real answer is to take the low water at Stone Banks option, sail into Harwich and bring up at Halfpenny Pier for a pint ashore, but only one, then set off for Walton Channel which will get you there around the top of the tide. When you can even access the Basin if you want.

Peter.