East coast spots that are awkward but worth it

[Daverw]

We did manage to pull of the next day, unfortunately when we came in there was quite a swell coming over the sand flats that just bounced us over when we first grounded. We were with 4 other boats visiting, they all made it fine. Very friendly club though. These were the holes we dug trying to motor out

 

[sailorman]

Moorings and anchorage in the Swale, an excellent pub there, the Shipwrights Arms, at the confluence of Oare and Faversham Creeks. That’s a dinghy ride.
You can get up to Faversham with that draught maybe but you will need a big tide, a good pilot, and a carefully chosen spot to sink the keel in to soft mud. I’m not sure I’d recommend it tbh. I can ask around for a berth if you’d like, and there may be somewhere. I no longer have my boat, she drew 1.75 and I had my own spot…even so it was sometimes a bit nervy. I spent summers on the S Coast and it always felt liberating, all that deep water. Also, when you flush the loo on The S Coast it always seems cleaner with no mud in the water.

But drive the dinghy up, Faversham is a fine town. Or go ashore in the Swale at Harty Ferry and get a taxi.

Suffolk and Norfolk have far superior ales than kent

 

[DoubleEnder]

Suffolk and Norfolk have far superior ales than kent

Sadly that is true. But there are some lovely Sussex breweries whose beer is sold in Kent

 

[Momac]

For adventurous souls without the OP's 1.4m fin keel, there's also Gibraltar Point.

I've never been, but it looks an appealingly challenging prospect - I doubt they get many visitors! - for those not averse to a bit of creek crawling and improvisation.

I would say its better approached from the land by car . There is aice visitor centre / cafe.

 

[Momac]

Unless I missed it,
Is the Humber estuary considered out of bounds ?
I have a motor boat but there are destinations for yachts .
Very tidal of course - which is very much part of the challenge.
https://www.humberyawlclub.com/

 

[DanTribe]

Some time in the ‘80s we walked across the fields from the Brick Dock to The Bell on a very wet evening. We had spent the past couple of days in the Butley River waiting for a gale to blow itself out and had pretty much run out of supplies. They didn’t serve food but when we stood bedraggled and dripping at the door they kindly rustled up some toasted cheese sandwiches for us. They also served excellent home-made sloe gin, which made walking back to the boat in the dark even more difficult…

Possibly worth mentioning that, as of last year, Boyton Dock has had the ladder removed so getting ashore is very difficult. The only option is upriver at the ferry landing.

 

[mrming]

Suffolk and Norfolk have far superior ales than kent

Agree in general, but there’s one particular exception in Kent - Old Dairy’s ales are absolutely top notch. Home - Old Dairy Brewery

 

[stu9000]

I found Faversham ok. Draw 1.5m and 35 foot long. Fin keel. Lovely pootle up in the last hr and half of the high tide. Ideally spring ish. Dried out alongside a barge at the yard rather than going the extra few 100 yards to the sea wall. Youngs were v happy to accommodate me.

Conyer or Harty nice but fairly remote, which it the point isn't it. I take a folding bike now, especially if I have restless kids on board.

Sharfleet creek, off stangate near Queenborough is a family favourite.

I've also done the obvious stuff between ramsgate and the Deben so I'm interested to see how you get on with Sandwich.