East Coast where to go first

[thesaintlyone]

With the Longbow 31 now well and truly wet I am looking for some sail ideas that can be reached on an average day trip out from Gillingham we have done Stangate Creek and are aware of Queenborough and ventured into the Thames estuary off Southend but where are some nice easy places to reach beyond Southend for confidence building trips including overnight stop ideas etc

Regards

 

[pvb]

Best to stay well away, it's all mud and chavs.

 

[simonfraser]

Burnham / Maldon river / Pyfleet
If you can cope with the muddy shallow bits.

 

[pvb]

Burnham / Maldon river / Pyfleet
If you can cope with the muddy shallow bits.

Oh, yes, I remember now, go to Brightlingsea, that's the destination of choice.

 

[Spuddy]

Further up the Swale praps. Interesting bit of pilotage (but not difficult) to go up from Queenboro on the flood, negotiate Queensferry bridge, say howdedo to the seal couple that lounge on a buoy then down the other side, preferably after ebb has started and anchor or pick up bouy at Harty Ferry. Best to do some simple maths to see when enough water at thinnest part of Swale then work timings backwards to see when you can set off. Or could go round the outside and maybe even take in the Red Sands Forts on the way.
Or go north east, buoy hopping up to the Whittaker. Various choices from there; Pyefleet for one has already been mentioned. I've got a soft spot for Paglesham on the Roach; dinghy to the boatyard slip then stroll to the Plough and Sail.
Or nearer at hand could go up river and have a look at the Russian sub before mooring at Sun pier; good cake at a coffee shop a couple of floors up a block nearby. And then there's the other creeks maybe using Middle Creek to parallel the main channel and even getting through to Stangate via the back entrance when you're confident about doing the sums on rise of tide over the drying flats. Loads of wildlife. hope you have fun