Crossing the Thames Estuary

[Gunfleet]

Re: Best for small bilge-keelers

I've learned a lot from reading these posts. Thanks. Re arriving on the Blackwater/Colne at low tide. There are waiting bouys at Tollesbury. Bradwell has several anchorages where you can wait for your tide going in. At Brightlingsea you can anchor in Pyfleet for an hour a night or a week while you await your tide. There is nowhere better sheltered on the East Coast.

 

[peterb]

Re: Going north is so easy!

I agree with you, Andrew.

Whenever I'm running a Coastal Skipper course on the East Coast at some point we will find ourselves in the Blackwater. Then the next objective is Ramsgate, so we have an interesting evening comparing passage plans (usually in the Cruising Club or the Green Man).

Not that we often reach Ramsgate. At some point there's likely to be a MOB exercise or two. At least one candidate will pick the man up going too quickly. "Right, you've just dislocated his shoulder. Now how will you go about getting him to medical aid as quickly as possible?.

Of course, anyone who calls "Mayday" gets his just deserts!

 

[Mirelle]

Oh ,yes there is!

Harwich Harbour!

(had to get that in - over the years my sailing had migrated from West Mersea to Walton to Woodbridge, so my local bias is apparent!)

Andrew B is right - my route is the small boat route and what I do now is what he describes, though you do seem to be in the Swin for ever. B on C I take to be Burnham on Crouch hence my reference to the Whittaker (another place not to fight the tide in!)