Fisrt trip destination

mcalan

mcalan

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Tollesbury Essex/ Brittany
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We own a 35 foot cruising yacht which is currently berthed in Tollesbury Essex. The marina at Tollesbury is very nice but we need enough water to enter and exit as there is a sill. Im looking for an ideal venue for our first trip.I envisage our first trip to be something like leaving Tollesbury at high water and then a few hours sailing to an overnight stop and then return to tollesbury to arrive at high water. I would rather not have to worry about depth of water at my destination so an all states of the tide marina would be favourable. any ideas and recomendations would be useful. we have a draght of 2.00 M

Thanks
 
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mcalan said:
We own a 35 foot cruising yacht which is currently berthed in Tollesbury Essex. The marina at Tollesbury is very nice but we need enough water to enter and exit as there is a sill. Im looking for an ideal venue for our first trip. I would rather not have to worry about depth of water so an all states of the tide marina would be favourable. any ideas and recomendations would be useful. we have a draght of 2.00 M

Thanks
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What sort of trip - How far, how long?
 
Next weekend the tides are late afternoon so come out on the tide, potter about for a couple of hours and go into Bradwell or Brighlingsea (both half tide access). Leave pretty early on Sunday and sail up the Blackwater as far as you dare, anchor of Osea for lunch or pick up a buoy at Marconi. Back to Tollesbury on the tide in time for tea. That's all you need for a first trip in new waters.
 
Whilst agreeing with Moody Sabre. it is a very short hop from Tollesbury to Brightlingsea / Bradwell.. you will have a lot of time on your hands once you get there..

If the weather is favourable.. it is an easy potter to Harwich where you can tie up on Half Penny pier.. the tide is with you all the way .. then take the tide back on the net day..

HOWEVER

DO NO repeat DO NOT ......try this one as a first sail if there is a stiff SW or NE blowing.. The Wallet (between the end of the Blackwater and Walton) can be especially nasty and choppy wind against tide.. Indeed it could put one off sailing for life.. (been there, and thrown up)

Keep an eye on the forecasts and ask for further advice closer to the time.. We will all be cheering for you..
 
Crickey, is it really that bad? Stiff NE forecast for today and we're using it to go to Tollesbury. Only used it once before and it was a very nice sail.
 
Tomahawk said:
DO NO repeat DO NOT ......try this one as a first sail if there is a stiff SW or NE blowing.. The Wallet (between the end of the Blackwater and Walton) can be especially nasty and choppy wind against tide.. Indeed it could put one off sailing for life.. (been there, and thrown up)
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The Lazy Kipper said:
Crickey, is it really that bad? Stiff NE forecast for today and we're using it to go to Tollesbury. Only used it once before and it was a very nice sail.
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botheras said:
Yes it is... Wind over tide in the Wallet is as unpleasant as anything you may experience...
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yup! Known around here as "vomit alley"

:D
- think we've all been there done it and there are some other halves (mine for one) who refuse to go at all if it's wind over tide. WIMPS!
 
ChattingLil said:
yup! Known around here as "vomit alley"

:D
- think we've all been there done it and there are some other halves (mine for one) who refuse to go at all if it's wind over tide. WIMPS!
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WIMP... nay wise..

We don't bother with the Wallet of it will be wind against tide.. yes you can do it,, but it is very unpleasant... imagine a really bad hangover.... but without the fun of getting drunk the night before
 
As has been said the Wallet wind against tide creates a short and steep sea. One of my daughters after her first trip down the Wallet (in an Evolution 25) from harwich to the Blackwater referred to to the Wallet and the Black Vomit Hole. Partly because her mother was v ill but also due to a link to the Blackwater. Since then we have had lovely trips but last year (Sadler 32) on a must get home trip I spend a great deal of time air borne at the helm as we came off short and steep standing waves most of the way up the Wallet NE and ebb tide.
However given fair wind and tide and if you are up for a nice day sail: a trip up to Harwich is very pleasant. Take account of the tidal set up and around the Colne Bar Bouy as you exit as the tide can run hard at the entrance to the Blackwater and the shallows can creep up on you quickly if you get taken by the moment.
We haven't had much success at Hal'penny Pier partly due to the swell that can generate from passing commercial traffic. But again weather dependant an anchor at Erwarton Ness just further up the Stour or why not frequent a vacant bouy in the Orwell, a berth at SYH, The Royal Harwich if you contact Geoff Prentice Berth Master or other marinas further up.

This all totally depends upon (weather of course) experience, crew expectations and your zest for an experience first trip out! Not sure how long you have had your boat and whether this would be a familiarisation trip re your vessel.

I might be more inclined to explore the Blackwater (which I have not a great deal to offer other than W Mersea and Bradwell) with an exit from Tollesbury at HW taking a leisurely explore of W Mersea and up stream, or a venture down river to explore the buoyage at the mouth of the Blackwater timed for a sail back up on flood exploring Brightlingsea/W Mersea/Bradwell for an overnighter leaving you local for a return at HW Tollesbury.

I of course bow to local formites knowledge of your river but a trip up to the Orwell offers lots of options once you get there and a sense of a passage having been made.
 
We sailed the wallet in 5/6 wind over spring ebb and it was a sweetie - benefit of a heavy long keeler maybe? Most of the time we were reaching, sometimes broad reaching. The Deben bar was 'fun' though. We hit the standing wave at about 6 knots and it's the only time I've seen water get over the bow of the Kipper. We got to the Blackwater and soon were the only vessel in sight, the evening breeze died around 8pm and we motored up to the Leavings on the stillest water, pewter and orange coloured. About 9pm the sun set at the same time as the moon rose, a beautiful sight.

Going to try out one of the forum recommendations for an anchorage - Lawling creek then back to the Deben. Shame about the weather forecast.
 
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