east coast

[baggypipes]

Hi guys n gals, sorry if this has been done before but i cant find it:
we are planning our trip down the coast back to good old Essex from Hull, expect to leave here beg of April, we are never in a hurry so will be looking for places to stop off for poss a couple of nights on route. Looking at wells, yarmouth, etc. Does anyone have experience of either or other suggestions. We are 35' bilge keel but dont want to ground unless we have to. We left Essex three years ago & have been cruising round the UK, clockwise, now making our way back to brightlingsea , not been this side past the Deben.
look foreward to any answeres. cheers.

 

[Athene V30]

From what I have read do not bother with Gt Yarmouth - not at all boat friendly I understand.

Go on the additional 10 miles to Lowestoft. Always seems to be bumpy in the approaches from my experience! There you have choices of easy or timining it and going a little upstream past the lifting bridge. I have only used the RN&SYC marina (easy - go between moles and turn left) which I found a bit rolly overnight but welcoming.

Cant help with Wells.

Where are you berthing in B'sea? I am on the HMs south pontoon, say hello!

 

[MoodySabre]

Yarmouth is a no no by all accounts. Yachts not welcome and £80 a night. Lowestoft is ok but not interesting. Southwold is brilliant.

 

[Leighb]

+1 for Southwold, but it can be very "interesting" coming and going.

 

[EdWingfield]

Wells is nice but not all-tide. Forget it in onshore swell. Amazing pilotage service from the harbourmaster.

Blakeney lovely but restricted to around HWs depending on draft.

Sea Palling offers an anchorage to skip a tide. No protection from swell though.

Yarmouth is an essential bolt-hole although not yot desirable. I went alongside the 'Lydia Eva' historic trawler for a night. Cost me nought. Maybe because I did not ask HM permission???

 

[Spuddy]

Wells would work well from the Humber but only with enough water and not with a blow with any north in it. Harbourmasters are brilliant and will happily take their launch out to pilot you in. Scott Patch buoy is a useful interim waypoint. Phone harbour office to see how many hours either side of HW.
Lowestoft, definitely - Yarmouth is to avoid.

 

[baggypipes]

hi many thanks for all the input, will investigate them n let you know, cheers