East rivers criise

[john williams]

Hi
I'm planning a cruise on the east coast rivers , roach,crouch,blackwater Colne etc and wonder if anyone has any recommendations for marinas. I plan if possible to get a visitors swinging mooring ideally and cone ashore in the dinghy. I'm singlehanded and a little weary of entering a crowded marina.
Any tips from old hands would be great.
Thanks

 

[john williams]

I should mention by boat is a 10m gaff cutter long keel drawing a little less than 1m - Morecambe bay prawner

 

[CCJ]

A copy of https://www.whitstablemarine.co.uk/...-coast-rivers-cruising-companion-20th-edition would be well worth having

 

[ex-Gladys]

And East Coast Pilot would be even better value...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/East-Coast...d=1529942399&sr=8-1&keywords=east+coast+pilot

Written by members of this august forum... A bit more practical than Jan Harber's book IMHO, but both have their place

 

[johnalison]

I'll put in a word for one or two local spots. In the Colne there are Pyefleet for mooring or anchoring and a quiet night. Brightlingsea harbour, where you can shop or eat ashore, and should be able to get assistance tying up. Wivenhoe SC, where you can take the mud on the pontoons for free but have to pay for drinks at the bar. W Mersea buoys, also with options to go ashore. Osea Island for a traditional anchorage, but nowadays to be avoided at weekends. Tollesbury creek or marina, where they have a swimming pool, and shops not too far away. There are many places where you can anchor, and it is often possible to crreate your own anchorage, for example, the most comfortable anchorage in the Blackwater in strong SW winds is just off Northey Island west of Osea.

 

[nortada]

Does coln etc mean you intend to come beyond Brightingsea up the Wallet?

 

[WFA]

Walton Backwater - see for yourself!
http://www.walton-on-the-naze.com/walton-backwaters-guide/

 

[nortada]

Walton Backwater - see for yourself!
http://www.walton-on-the-naze.com/walton-backwaters-guide/

A lot about the town but from a sailing perspective, not much about the Backwaters.

Still don’t know if the OP intends to come this far north?

 

[WFA]

A lot about the town but from a sailing perspective, not much about the Backwaters.
There is if you open the guide pdf.

 

[Triassic]

Burnham has various options for moorings and pontoons to avoid a crowded marina, so has North Fambridge further up the Crouch.
What about the Medway? Queenborough is an easy stop for supplies and eating out with various options for quite anchorages not to far away.

 

[nortada]

A lot about the town but from a sailing perspective, not much about the Backwaters.
There is if you open the guide pdf.

Sorry, missed that bit - agree a comprehensive guide.

 

[nortada]

Hi
I'm planning a cruise on the east coast rivers , roach,crouch,blackwater Colne etc and wonder if anyone has any recommendations for marinas. I plan if possible to get a visitors swinging mooring ideally and cone ashore in the dinghy. I'm singlehanded and a little weary of entering a crowded marina.
Any tips from old hands would be great.
Thanks

Back to your original request.

Single handed I regularly enter Titchmarsh Marina and the Walton Yacht Haven (The Pond) - no problem.

With high rails, The Titchmarsh fuel/arrival pontoon is particularly easy.

 

[john williams]

This is a great help - thanks everybody

 

[johnalison]

Back to your original request.

Single handed I regularly enter Titchmarsh Marina and the Walton Yacht Haven (The Pond) - no problem.

With high rails, The Titchmarsh fuel/arrival pontoon is particularly easy.

It's a good fuel pontoon, though the hoses and their return springs are of an industrial nature. The marina fingers have hoops instead of cleats and mooring can be a challenge for visitors, though entertaining for those of us residents watching.

 

[Kukri]

In general, you don't need to use marinas on the East Coast. Anchor and dinghy will do fine. Indeed, on the Ore and Alde there is no marina, and the only one on the Deben is at Woodbridge. 28 years of singlehanding a 38ft x 5ft draft gaff cutter (very much a "hammerhead berth please!" boat!) and I think I went into everywhere and did everything except the Wade in Walton Backwaters and the Havengore in the Roach. In general if you tell any of our local marinas that you are singlehanding a gaff cutter they will put you on the hammerhead.

There is the question of getting stores, as quite a few of our marinas (eg Fambridge, Bradwell, Titchmarsh, Suffolk YH, Woolverstone, etc) whilst excellent are in remote locations from the land point of view. The easiest places to call for stores are either of the Ipswich wet dock marinas and the Tide Mill YH at Woodbridge all of which are actually in the town.

Not technically a marina, but Heybridge Basin is nice, and is the only place to stay afloat near Maldon.

Pick up a buoy in Mersea Quarters and the Club launch will take you ashore.

 

[Marmalade]

Marconi SC has a visitor's buoy and you're welcome to pick up a vacant mooring subject to the usual courtesies if the owner returns. The bar's often open at weekends in the summer... Showers and loos aplenty...

 

[PetiteFleur]

The Deben is good, you can anchor clear of the moorings at Felixstowe Ferry or pick up a mooring. John is the harbour master and very helpful. Good pub. Also Ramsholt and Waldringfield is good. Don't be put off by the horror stories about the Deben Bar - its not that bad. Check out eastcoastpilots.com for pilotage details.