Brightlingsea advice please

NUTMEG

NUTMEG

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www.theblindsailor.co.uk
Been thinking about an overnight trip to B/Sea. Moor up to the floating pontoon, get water taxi ashore or use blow up tender, have chip supper, several pints and motor back to pontoon. Pass out for evening then sail back to Blackwater Marina where Alexandros lives.

Sounds like fun, but I have never slept aboard, have never gone anywhere new with out other boats in company, and even then only West Mersea piles for a lunch stop and have never planned a trip of this type. Most of our sailing is on single or double tides around Osea and so on.

I have East Coast Rivers and the pilot book but wondered if anyone here has any hints or tips, do's and don'ts.

Not avoinding WM 'cos of the charges, just fancy somewhere new to visit.

W21 with middle son skippering.

Cheers chaps,

Steve
 
Sophie19 said:
Been thinking about an overnight trip to B/Sea. Moor up to the floating pontoon, get water taxi ashore or use blow up tender, have chip supper, several pints and motor back to pontoon. Pass out for evening then sail back to Blackwater Marina where Alexandros lives.

Sounds like fun, but I have never slept aboard, have never gone anywhere new with out other boats in company, and even then only West Mersea piles for a lunch stop and have never planned a trip of this type. Most of our sailing is on single or double tides around Osea and so on.

I have East Coast Rivers and the pilot book but wondered if anyone here has any hints or tips, do's and don'ts.

Not avoinding WM 'cos of the charges, just fancy somewhere new to visit.

W21 with middle son skippering.

Cheers chaps,

Steve
Click to expand...

Just do it.
you have all the info & charts, go 4 it

Fox`s Marina Yacht Club have a cruise there this w/e too
 
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Hmm,

...at my age I am open to offers! Any port in a storm, as my old grandad used to say!

Nah, Sophie was the name of my first boat, seemed too much of a fuff to change it when we bought Alexandros.

Nothing to catch out the unwary/inexperienced or just plain stupid then? Sounds like a plan.

Cheers chaps.
 
Sophie19 said:
...at my age I am open to offers! Any port in a storm, as my old grandad used to say!

Nah, Sophie was the name of my first boat, seemed too much of a fuff to change it when we bought Alexandros.

Nothing to catch out the unwary/inexperienced or just plain stupid then? Sounds like a plan.

Cheers chaps.
Click to expand...

the HM is very helpful & will help you moor up
 
sailorman said:
the HM is very helpful & will help you moor up
Click to expand...

Give the HM a call on #68 as you approach the first pontoon and he will advise a berth and more likely take you there, particularly if you tell him its your first time there. If you need any help just ask him. Showers are available in YC - ask HM for a key if it is closed.

I sail singlehanded most of the time and when it is blowing a bit I give them a call and someone meets me on the pontoon just in case!

Water taxi is #37 / M depending on your radio but only runs Fri evening, Sat and Sun.

Good curry at Kovalam - eat in or take away. Chinese take away (never tried it) and fish & chips there too. Pub close by too.

Diesel on pontoon just upstream of YC pontoon - talk to HM - water there too.
 
No problem at all.

I suggest you time your departure to be at say Bench Head at low water so that you can take the flood up the Colne.

Alternativelly you could head towards the Colne before you get to Bench Head, just keep a note of your depth and cross the shallows between the Blackwater and the Colne on a rising tide.

People at Brightlingsea are always very friendly and the taxi to and from the shore is no problem at all.

Entrance to the harbour is well marked and very easy to find. Navigation up the Colne is very easy also.

Go for it!


I would avoid the return up the Blackwater in strong wind against tide (say a good force 5 and above) as the seas can get quite short and choppy due to the narrow deeper water channel.

If you do find yourself in strong wind against tide on the Blackwater, then head towards the west bank (the side with St. Peter's Chapel on it). The water is shallower there, and the seas will be a lot smoother and you can tack up the river towards Bradwell. The decrease in depth is pretty gradual in that area, so just mind your depth and tack when it gets to shallow and you will be OK.



Gitane
 
Have spent a lot of time in B'sea already this season. The Harbour Masters will help you berth, so it's dead easy.

I assume you have VHF. Call on Ch 68 (Call sign = Brightlingsea Harbour). If you call in advance they usually ask you to call again when you reach the first pontoon. They will then lead you to a berth in their boat, and, if necessary, shunt you into place, take lines etc. I've never found it difficult.

Water taxi - call on Ch 37 or phone 07535 508537. The current water taxi geezer lacks some of the enthusiasm of previous operators - you may be asked to wait a while, normally less than ten mins, but once "half an hour I'm having my lunch". When you go out tell him roughly when you expect to need ferrying back out, and confirm it's OK. No problem to be anticipated, but check. Water taxi pickup at the outward end of the pontoons.

When going ashore the taxi can go to the Town Pier or the Yacht Club (maybe my nomenclature is is inconsistent with local parlance). If arranging to be picked up after tanking up at a local hostelry, it's worth specifying the pickup point.
 
Britelsea

B'sea my favourite overnight EC harbour - still a real working place. You will need a dinghy if you want to get ashore / back when taxi not running & HM not on duty. HM's exceptionally helpful.

Channel is well marked, but unforgiving at LW, with a tight turn onto a leading line - look ashore for 2 R/W boards.
 
We always really enjoy Brightlingsea. As has already been said, the HM is really helpful. We always take our dinghy to avoid not having to rely on the water taxi. There's no water or electric on the pontoons, but you can fill up with water from the yacht club jetty. Be careful though, because the jetty goes aground at low water.

The fish and chips in Brightlingsea are very good. The one on the other side of Brightlingsea has won an award, but the one close to the harbour is excellent.

There's a fisherman now selling fresh fish on the front. I definitely recommend buying some from him. Enjoy.
 
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I imagine you only draw about 3', so you can probably sail round the Moliette beacon and into Brightlingsea almost any time you like except perhaps dead LWS. When we were at Maylandsea we would set off around HW and sail round the beacon and then make a gentle curve round towards the north staying in about 2 1/2 metres, taking care not to turn straight away as that takes you over a shallow spit. You need to stay well out of the channel, otherwise the Colne will be ebbing aginst you. This takes you close to the Mersea Stone, which is the sandy spit to your port, from where you can cross over to Brightlingsea.

There is a 4kn speed limit in the creek which it is as well to observe, though they won't be on the look-out for a small sailor. It is based on your ground speed. Get the dinghy out and row - it will be good for you.

If you want a strange experience try the Railway Tavern for its home brew.
 
The sad thing about being based in Brightlingsea is that the visitors who describe it as being such a brilliant place really makes me wish that I was based elsewhere...:)

Seriously as others have already said, the jolly out of the Blackwater should be fairly straightforward pass to seaward of the Molliette...unless it is dead low water you should have ample underneath you, and if you do touch, well, it is only mud making it's escape from Mersea Quarters, and you will lift off as the tide starts to make! Follow the yellow marks (sailing club racing marks) up the Mersea shore, there is plenty of water there and you are out of the main channel...unless of course the tide is making as you get into the Colne in which case head for the middle and enjoy the ride!

Entering Brightlingsea Creek, look out for the 'cricket stumps' on the Brightlingsea Shore (Red and White vertical stripes on boards about 20' off the ground). If you look towards the Sailing Club you will see them to Port. Get them lined up and follow them in until you can see a clear line between the pontoons of moored boats in the South Channel.

If you call the HM on ch68 as you enter the creek one of the lads will be out to show you to a suitable berth. They are all VERY helpful, and will make sure you are safely moored up before they leave you! (Also gives you time to get your money out!!!)

The Water Taxi despite some comments is run by a chap called Ian Hunter. He is a decent chap who will always respond to calls. The longest I have ever had to wait has been about 10 minutes which in all honesty is not much of an issue. He runs till quite late at night and often into the early hours during the summer months, but it is always worth checking when he intends on finishing. As an alternative get the dinghy out and row ashore, it doesn't take long!

Showers at the Yacht Club as well as a VERY well stocked bar. As has already been mentioned, the Kovalam is the Indian restaurant on the waterside that everyone here raves about, BUT the one that the locals all go to is the Raj in Tower Street. Better quality food, better service, better prices...still you pays your money!

Fish and Chips...well, the one on the hard is OK, BUT the best chippy is Scooby Snax on Church Road a 15 minute walk from the waterside, BUT award winning Fish and Chips and again check out where the locals all go! As an added incentive on your way back to the boat after visiting Scooby Snax you can pop into the Railway and enjoy a pint or two of their own brew...again an award winning Micro Brewery.

So that is Brightlingsea for you...NOW I remember why I sail and live here!!!
 
Wow, who needs pilot books and guides with you chaps about! Superb, B/sea it is then, will let you know how we get on, thank you all very much indeed. Roll on half term!
 
We went in a couple of weeks ago . Called the HM and he asked if we had been in before . Yes I replied . We are rather busy at the moment came the reply so if you want to find yourself a berth :eek:

SC was closed as usual :p ( I'm sure Cobra will be along shortly to correct me ... )


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exfinnsailor said:
We went in a couple of weeks ago . Called the HM and he asked if we had been in before . Yes I replied . We are rather busy at the moment came the reply so if you want to find yourself a berth :eek:

SC was closed as usual :p ( I'm sure Cobra will be along shortly to correct me ... )


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Click to expand...

Yes, it's tough having to find your own berth.
 
chinita said:
Yes, it's tough having to find your own berth.
Click to expand...

It is when you have to consider the state of the tide , Where the sun will be for G&T's on deck ( SWMBO ) , Will the wind be blowing in the cockpit, What sort of view you will have, Will there be noise from other boaters and how can you get the dog ashore for No.2's

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:D :D :D

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If only life was as simple as finding a berth for the night

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