Classic Sailing Club and a first east coast cruise

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TimBob1989

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Hi all,

I spend of my time on the West Coast these days, but am hoping to take in a bit of the East Coast via a charter from Classic Sailing Club.

Two questions really - does anyone have any experience of this company (and if so, what are they like) and where should we consider heading for? Prefer quiter places than big marinas, but then again, most places round that way seem fairly quiet!

Hoping to rack up a couple of yachtmaster qualifying passages while we are there, weather permitting.

Robin
 
Classic Sailing Club

I've sailed with them twice. Once as crew on Caressa which is a well equipped classic and once chartering Night Wind which is much more basic. She had a paraffin cooker and a dodgy gear box. I'd happily sail on Caressa again and I'd like to sail on Marcita. The yachts are on moorings off the SYC. You get there using the club tender.

I've been from SYC to Brightlingsea and back in a weekend with Eastcoastbernie. There's the Blackwater, the Crouch and the Swale in reach. Levington to Dover and beyond should get you your 60m passages. That ought to be possible in a week if the weather cooperates. Others know the area much better than me. Hopefully some of them will chip in.

Good luck with the Yachtmaster
 
Lots of 60nm passages... best ones are international ones.... from SYH, then Oostende, Vlissingen, Nieuwpoort, Boulogne, Dunkerque are all possibles... sticking to UK waters, then Dover, or heading north, you need to go as far as Wells to get the 60nm distance...

Personally, if it was me, i'd head straight for Oostende, do it overnight, and get a double whammy on the YM pre-reqs!
 
A trip across the channel would be rather exciting, but I think it would be wise that I do that one with someone who has done it before. This will be the first time me and trusty crew have 'gone it alone' except out in the med, so I think a cross-channel trip might be a bit ambitious!

Looks like I'm heading down South in Dover direction, or North to Norfolk ... I spend quite a lot of time dinghy racing at Brancaster, and round there, so would be interesting to approach by sea. Also less ferries to watch out for!

I'm thinking of taking Hampshire Maid - she looks to be a little more exciting than Night Wind, and less of a bus to berth!

Thanks for your thoughts - I'm dead excited!

Robin
 
Can understand that.... however, if you look at the nav, you'll see that Oostende is easier nav-wise than a crossing of the Thames Estuary unless you cheat and go round the outside... which is rather counter to a YM passage to start with!

I'm really glad that you are looking forward to it so much... its a great feeling isn't it!!!!
 
TimBob1989 said:
A trip across the channel would be rather exciting, but I think it would be wise that I do that one with someone who has done it before. This will be the first time me and trusty crew have 'gone it alone' except out in the med, so I think a cross-channel trip might be a bit ambitious!

Looks like I'm heading down South in Dover direction, or North to Norfolk ... I spend quite a lot of time dinghy racing at Brancaster, and round there, so would be interesting to approach by sea. Also less ferries to watch out for!

I'm thinking of taking Hampshire Maid - she looks to be a little more exciting than Night Wind, and less of a bus to berth!

Thanks for your thoughts - I'm dead excited!

Robin
Click to expand...

Hi Robin. It must be a couple of years since you sailed with me. I would have thought you were quite capable of a crossing to Ostend then, so if you've done some more miles in the meantime, and gained more experience, you should be ready now.

Be sure to pick a good weather window, navigate till you've cleared cork sands, then settle down on a course of 130 degrees. Assuming you have a gps or a chartplotter on board, you won't have any trouble finding Ostend. Once you spot the coast just head for the huge hotel that can be seen from miles away. The main problem, however, might be boredom.

If you choose to go to Dover, you will also be out of sight of land for hours, but arguably the passage is more challenging as it is more important to get the tides right. On a passage to Ostend you just have cross tides, but going to Dover you will have the tide with you for some of the time and against you for the rest.

Have fun!
 
TimBob1989 said:
A trip across the channel would be rather exciting, but I think it would be wise that I do that one with someone who has done it before. This will be the first time me and trusty crew have 'gone it alone' except out in the med, so I think a cross-channel trip might be a bit ambitious!

Looks like I'm heading down South in Dover direction, or North to Norfolk ... I spend quite a lot of time dinghy racing at Brancaster, and round there, so would be interesting to approach by sea. Also less ferries to watch out for!

I'm thinking of taking Hampshire Maid - she looks to be a little more exciting than Night Wind, and less of a bus to berth!

Thanks for your thoughts - I'm dead excited!

Robin
Click to expand...

We did the Norfolk trip, but from the opposite way. We were formally based at Wisbech and moved to Shotley. Heading North, you could overnight at Lowestoft (around 45nm) Wells is then a further 55nm. Should you wish to continue further, there are marinas at Wisbech and Boston which would be roughly 45nm further on from Wells. A slight drawback with Wisbech and Boston might be the fact that the last part of the journey would be up river and would almost certainly require the use of the engine. If you do travel as far as The Wash, be careful of the tides and don't try to enter either of the rivers at anything like LW.

It's worth noting that just offshore of Cromer and Wells (Cromer especially) is a minefield of crab pot marker buoys. Wells harbour is also a little tricky through the channel, several twists and turn and lots of buoys means you need to keep a sharp watch, or you get confused with the buoys. The harbour master is very helpful though and will cheerfully come out and escort you in from the outer marker buoy. Wells is a reasonably quiet location and very pleasant, about £16 a night to stay, including electricity, water and showers. The Ark Royal pub and restaurant is 50 yards from the harbour and does a decent meal without requiring the sale of any vital organs. The Dutch sailing ship Albatross is moored at the quay and serves as a pub/cafe.

Bit more info on Wells here :

http://www.tournorfolk.co.uk/wells.html

and the harbour office :

http://www.wellsharbour.co.uk/
 
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I'll just add some support to Paul's post... if you do go north, then Wells is one of those little hidden gems of a harbour... and is all too often missde as people rush by trying to get to the Humber.... its got great atmosphere, and its a lovely little town too...
 
You folks are a spot-on bunch! Advice much appreciated!!

Bernie - you might have sold me on Oostende. It all depends on the weather I guess, but I reckon a good plan would be to leave in the dark and try and time it so we hit Oostende when there's some light. Thanks for the vote of confidence by the way!

Paul/Morgana - I'm very familiar with Wells, having spent a lot of my childhood summer's down there. Should be able to find a nice pint of Woodeforde's too! I shouldn't think we'll get as far as the wash if we do go North... Too many damn sand banks and ridiculous tides - I did a regatta at Snettisham SC last year. Rigged the boat and there wasn't any water, so went to the bar to get a drink. By the time I'd bought it the land had disappeared!

We'll be doing the trip some time in July/August I guess, so if I've got a free weekend some time, and one of you folks are going sailing... ;-)

Thanks for the comments everyone!
 
Hello Robin
I noted your post with interest and hate to tell you this but there is also life North of the Humber!
I am based at the quiet Royal Quays Marina on the Tyne which is accessible anytime tidal wise as is Sunderland Marina.
Hartlepool Marina is tidal entry with a large marina.
There is a new marina opening 'I think' at the end June at Seaham 5 mile south of Sunderland plus you have the harbours of Whitby and Scarborough.
To the North of the Tyne there are small marinas at Blyth & Amble then you have the Holy Island, Craster,Farne Islands and Berwick and some nice small old Scottish fishing ports like Eyemouth further North.
Have a good trip.
Regards
Mike
Archivist for the Colvic Watson Owners Group
 
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