Easy arrival destinations on the crouch/blackwater/medway/swale in the dark, pontoon or anchorage.

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steve yates

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Its getting close to when my bradwell 18 will be readyto go sailing again. Given that its winter and I am limited to when I can leave benfleet creek ( i have 2 hrs either side of hw to navigate the creek and getout to the leigh bouy and the estuary), If have an afternoon high tide then to get anywhere I will be going up either river in the dark.
Can you guide me to places thatare straightforward to arrive at in the dark for someone who doesnt know the area? Im thinking of things like the pontoon at rice and colenear burnham which would be pretty easy. So similar pontoons, town quays or easy anchor drops.
I’ve done quite a bit of night sailing, so don’t mind it being dark, but would be getting tired by then, so a stress free stop and sleep will be preferred :)
 
To reach the Crouch will be a long sail for your Bradwell 18, so I would advise some shorter trips like these. This guide will help. Navigation

Queenborough is your closest destination. Access is very easy. Plenty of mooring buoys and all tide landing for mooring.

Second choice would be Stangate Creek, very near to Queenborough. Lit buoy at the entrance and fairly wide approach. Travel ¼ to ½ mile and anchor on the western side in a few metres of water. Very sheltered with good holding. Nothing to pay.

Travel further up the Medway there are plenty of mooring buoys starting in Gillingham Reach and extending to above Upnor or the Medway Yacht Club pontoon. The Medway is a commercial river, so very well buoyed and are all lit.
 
Queenborough ATL.
No tidal depth of water worries and sheltered from most wind directions, tide either going in or out so easy to get alongside.
Easy straight night approach and usually space alongside ATL pontoon. Shorepower :) with sufficient lighting on pontoon to identify any space and safely locate bollards etc.
3 or 4 decent watering holes the other side of a secure gate.
Recommend the Admirals ARM (dress code whatever you sail in, or your best overalls) and that little cafe tucked away in the alley next door.


and no waking up at 01.00 as the tide turns the anchor chain rattles away and you wonder if the anchor has pulled out and was the shore really that close when you turned in ?
 
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It's not clear if you are hoping to step ashore for the night life or looking for cosy secluded anchorages. Either way, the tidal constraints of your starting point make complications. The Medway makes sense, Queenborough or Stansgate are favourites of mine. From there you could use Havengore at high water to access the Roach hidey holes like Yokesfleet or head to Burnham. Rice and Coles may let you stay if they like the look of you, but preference is given to their own customers. The yacht and sailing clubs don't often welcome visitors on the pontoons but plenty of spare moorings if you have a dinghy. Town steps may be OK but likely to be shooed off by locals. The Yacht Harbour is usually available, bring lots of cash.
If Burnham doesn't appeal, Brightlingsea or Pyefleet are good.
Have fun
 
Concerto said:
To reach the Crouch will be a long sail for your Bradwell 18, so I would advise some shorter trips like these. This guide will help. Navigation
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Aye, but 35-45 mile days were quite normal for me in Scotland with this boat, so its no problem.
Besides, while I work on a cruising speedof 3 knots, going with thetides cuts the overall time usually by a quarter. I can take the whole ebb from leigh down then take the flood up the crouch. With any kind of wind she will be doing 5-6 knots.
Thats a useful looking link to your neck of the woods, thank you, Im looking forward to exploring kent, especially as its closer than most of essex :)
 
DanTribe said:
It's not clear if you are hoping to step ashore for the night life or looking for cosy secluded anchorages. Either way, the tidal constraints of your starting point make complications. The Medway makes sense, Queenborough or Stansgate are favourites of mine. From there you could use Havengore at high water to access the Roach hidey holes like Yokesfleet or head to Burnham. Rice and Coles may let you stay if they like the look of you, but preference is given to their own customers. The yacht and sailing clubs don't often welcome visitors on the pontoons but plenty of spare moorings if you have a dinghy. Town steps may be OK but likely to be shooed off by locals. The Yacht Harbour is usually available, bring lots of cash.
If Burnham doesn't appeal, Brightlingsea or Pyefleet are good.
Have fun
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Both to be honest Dan, :) I like pubs and I like the chance to charge the battery with shore power. But I also like the peace and quiet of secluded anchorages, I normally mix it up and do each on alternate nights :) And yes, I do have a dinghy for getting ashore.
 
If you do visit Queenborough, and the tides work, you could continue through the Swale to Conyer Creek the next day. Access is around 1 1/2 hours either side of high tide (depending on height of tide / your draft). Swale Marina will have a visitor’s berth. It’s picturesque with a nice clubhouse and pub. The mud is very soft so your keel(s) sink right in. Power and water on the pontoons, decent shower etc.
 
steve yates said:
Aye, but 35-45 mile days were quite normal for me in Scotland with this boat, so its no problem.
Besides, while I work on a cruising speedof 3 knots, going with thetides cuts the overall time usually by a quarter. I can take the whole ebb from leigh down then take the flood up the crouch. With any kind of wind she will be doing 5-6 knots.
Thats a useful looking link to your neck of the woods, thank you, Im looking forward to exploring kent, especially as its closer than most of essex :)
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Everything is possible with time. Anyway the Medway is nicer in my opinion than the Crouch. Certainly better to sail and find quite places to moor.

Another place you should be able to reach is Ramsgate. If you leave as soon as you float, you should have the tide almost all the way there. Easy access and a reasonable town with marina berths.
 
Concerto said:
Everything is possible with time. Anyway the Medway is nicer in my opinion than the Crouch. Certainly better to sail and find quite places to moor.

Another place you should be able to reach is Ramsgate. If you leave as soon as you float, you should have the tide almost all the way there. Easy access and a reasonable town with marina berths.
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Yes ive been to ramsgate, and its on the list again so I can then go up the stour next day to sandwich, which I’ve always fancied.
Speaking of the Medway, my airdraught is 8.5m, how far up the river can I get?
 
steve yates said:
Yes ive been to ramsgate, and its on the list again so I can then go up the stour next day to sandwich, which I’ve always fancied.
Speaking of the Medway, my airdraught is 8.5m, how far up the river can I get?
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You can get as far as Rochester Bridge. Practically speaking though, Upnor or Chatham are the last places to stop for a night.
 
steve yates said:
Yes ive been to ramsgate, and its on the list again so I can then go up the stour next day to sandwich, which I’ve always fancied.
Speaking of the Medway, my airdraught is 8.5m, how far up the river can I get?
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At high water springs there is 5.4m, so you should be able to pass under at low water, especially if you can heal slightly. More information here.
Medway 3, Rochester Bridge to Allington Lock [Expanded View] - North Kent, inc Swale and Medway: pilotage, charts, photos and marine business listings
 
Keith 66 said:
With that little boat you can get right up Stangate to Lower Halstow, often forgotten by many cos it dries out, great pub there!
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I’ve never been brave enough to do that although I’ve visited by land several times. My last boat was a shallow draft swing keeler but the mud looks hard where the boats dry out and I didn’t have any beaching legs. Looks like the Bradwell 18 has a keel stub but it’s relatively short so perhaps the lean wouldn’t be too bad.
 
mrming said:
I’ve never been brave enough to do that although I’ve visited by land several times. My last boat was a shallow draft swing keeler but the mud looks hard where the boats dry out and I didn’t have any beaching legs. Looks like the Bradwell 18 has a keel stub but it’s relatively short so perhaps the lean wouldn’t be too bad.
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We can normally accommodate visiting boats on our jetty, as long as there is enough tide to get in and out. I normally work on the water reaching the jetty/slip at about 4.2m (Sheerness) to get the depth at HW. Email us to check if there is space. We also get quite a few visitors leaving there boat in deep water and landing at our slip. There’s a web cam looking out across the jetty and creek on our weather station weather.lhyc.org.uk The Three Tuns in the village has great beer and great food.
 
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