Can anyone recommend a good East coast book?

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Oscarpop

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We have just returned from a magical week up the East coast.

All of our stops and anchorages were passed on to us by friends.

Our East coast pilot was fairly useless and did not really have much detail about secluded anchorages, quays and marinas.

So, can you please let me know if there are any contemporary books which detail the places to visit, stop, eat and walk on the East Coast?

BTW Rowhedge quay was our favourite stop :)
 
Oscarpop said:
We have just returned from a magical week up the East coast.

All of our stops and anchorages were passed on to us by friends.

Our East coast pilot was fairly useless and did not really have much detail about secluded anchorages, quays and marinas.

So, can you please let me know if there are any contemporary books which detail the places to visit, stop, eat and walk on the East Coast?

BTW Rowhedge quay was our favourite stop :)
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East Coast Rivers
 
I have a well thumbed copy of the ECP on board. Have used it extensively for 5 years.

The problem is that it does not really have enough information for me. I would like something a little more extensive .
 
Oscarpop said:
I have a well thumbed copy of the ECP on board. Have used it extensively for 5 years.
The problem is that it does not really have enough information for me. I would like something a little more extensive .
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I understand what you're saying, but ECP was designed specifically as a pilot book, it deliberately avoided trying to be a tourist or restaurant guide, or a history book. That was its design brief, leaving that stuff for others, and that enables us to keep it right up to date via its website because it's focused on pilotage information, facts not opinions.
 
Cantata said:
I understand what you're saying, but ECP was designed specifically as a pilot book, it deliberately avoided trying to be a tourist or restaurant guide, or a history book. That was its design brief, leaving that stuff for others, and that enables us to keep it right up to date via its website because it's focused on pilotage information, facts not opinions.
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Please don't misunderstand me.

I am not knocking the ECP, it is probably the most extensively used book on the boat.

I am just planning on exploring more and more of the little creeks and quays and as I don't unfortunately have the time to spend week upon week finding them myself, I would like some pointers and suggestion. :)
 
It may not be exactly what you are after, but take a look at 'Ready About on the Blackwater' by Tony Smith (Creeksailor - http://creeksailor.blogspot.co.uk/). If you should find the book you're after, perhaps you could let us all know. Meanwhile, if you are exploring such places, how about offering to write about them for East Coast Sailing, it's the kind of material they and their readers like.
 
(We just need Jan to post and there will be enough anoraks for the whole crew) - What about Essex Coastal Walks by Peter Caton? Not written from the seaward landing point of view but might help what you are after. I have been trying to think which marina is not covered in East Coast Pilot or East Coast Rivers. I may be wrong but I think you will find that there ain't no such place. As for secluded anchorages, that's almost an oxymoron; if it's an 'anchorage', i.e. a known spot for safe 'most of the weather' anchoring, it's unlikely to be that secluded and frankly I think they are all covered in those books already. Tony Smith and of course Charles Stock (http://shoal-waters.moonfruit.com/#) are well worth reading in this respect though - both certainly go for the secluded and of course Shoal Waters, their vessel, is the perfect vessel for doing that. You will certainly find some interesting spots from them. Expect them to be very secluded and relatively weather dependent. Quays? - might be wrong but I think they are all covered in the books.
 
No one seems to have mentioned Keep Turning Left, Dylan Winter - admittedly not a book but great to inspire small boats, the East Coast etc. Download or DVD (they are great on a good sized TV).

I've got a book called Local Boating (East Coast Edition) but it was published in 2007 so already pretty out of date. Does have ideas on shops, eating houses etc and nav notes from "Great Yarmouth to the River Roach". Not seen a later edition for sale.
 
I have both Essex Rivers and the East Coast Pilot. Both are good, but for getting around these days I like the way ECP stays up to date and issues updates on the website. And combined with the Admiralty Leisure Portfolio I can't think of anything that you could really miss. We've had anchorages and creeks recommended to us and that's a great way shortcut but all of the places we got that way have been clearly identifiable on the chart and in ECP.

And isn't exploring new places one of the wonderful things about the East Coast?

Anchor off Osea Island for lunch, Pyefleet Creek overnight and then up to the Backwaters or the Deben or the Orwell........all lovely and different. And all within easy reach.

Still lots more to explore and discover even though I've been around longer than I care to remember.
 
Another contender could be "Swatchway Magic" by Paul Antrobus & Charles Scoones; I say could be, I haven't read it yet after my wife bought it at the Titchmarsh Chandlery. Inspired by Magic of the Swatchways, it is "a collection of contemporary yarns around the EC swatchways of Essex and Suffolk".
 
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