General East Coast Info

[roborali]

As the season for frolics is finally open, I'd thought I would post some basic info for people wanting to cruise around the river orwell or the deben. I'm hoping forumites will feel willing to add to this post:

The lock at Ipswich port is 24 hours, can take vessels upto 2m draught at all states of the tide. Deeper draught are advised to contact the lock control on VHF 68.

Virtually all the marinas use channel 80 rather than 35 as used to be the case. Of course it is polite to call them up before just taking a berth...!

I don't think fox's marina or suffolk yacht harbour have any staff on duty after dusk so take a berth and sort things out in the am.

The marina at Woolverstone may be a little confusing, downstream of a diesel berth is the Royal Harwich Yacht Club which welcomes visitors. Upstream is the MDL marina. They welcome visitors but do not now have designated visitor berths (a sign of the times?) as virtually everthing is sold on an annual contract so its best to call on the VHF and hope they have space.

The bar/spit across the river deben is in constant flux but there is a helpful website for this www.debenentrance.co.uk. I think there may also be a link for the Alde/Ore as well?

There is a great little pontoon called Ha'penny pier for a stop off at Harwich ( nice cafe on the pier also), but it does get v.busy on fine weather w/ends.

I hope people find this useful.Good Sailing and of course motoring /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[roborali]

oops! I forgot: Shotley lock is also staffed 24hrs but I don't know the draught/tide limitations.

P S if anyone was wondering, don't tell SWMBO but yes my avatar is her ass...!

 

[sailorman]

welcome "New User" with no name /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
[There is a great little pontoon called Ha'penny pier for a stop off at Harwich ( nice café on the pier also), but it does get v.busy on fine weather w/ends. ]

it would be ok if the B******s who drive the commercials ie local survey vessel
would consider other users of the Pier & not cause a very large & totally un-necessary wash that causes damage to top-sides /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
oh think u mean Ch 37 not 35

 

[roborali]

oops! yes 37 not 35 silly me. I think I need to check my profile re the no name thing, still learning... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif of course bertie would do just no daft remarks about wooster please!

 

[Gunfleet]

Marina marina marina. You can pick up a Wards mooring at Pin Mill for 7 sovs or anchor for free nearby . Also if you wait till dark it's pretty obvious which of the moorings outside Suffolk YH is free, or you can anchor outside Shotley (well inshore and lit so as not to be a target for ships) or you can go up the Stour where there are anchorages all over the place but most noticably in front of the Royal Hospital School... in fact I've hardly begun to cover the places you can stick your boat for very little on the Stour and Orwell. Also you can call MDF at Woolverstone on ch 80 and give them loads of dosh. Happy sailing.

 

[sailorman]

last time in Woolverstone cost me almost 20 squids /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gifover 6 yrs ago & not been back since. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
walked to Pin Mill B & O food crap, walked back RHYC stopped food 4 the night went to the Schooner BBQ on + expensive. resorted to "emergency supplies" supper o/b

 

[Lakesailor]

Nice arse Bertie.

 

[JKay]

His wife's rear is quite nice as well /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

cheers Joe

 

[Mudhook]

Some good stuff here. A few details to add...

Halfpenny Pier is pretty rough day and night but good for provisioning and trips to Harwich Lifeboat Museum and Harwich Maritime Museum. Beware though the Council functionary who will take money off you if you are there a minute after 4pm.

Butt & Oyster @ Pin Mill is superb for beer and food (in my opinion) on a weekday, to be avoided like the plague on weekends and bank holidays.

Woolverstone almost always seems to be able to find room for visitors; I don't know how overnight prices compare to SYH (Levington) just down the river.

Great short trip is up to Mistley quay on the Stour where you can tie up for free and pub (name escapes me) just across road is quite brilliant for food and drink. You can stay at Mistley for a good two hours over HW.

Manningtree (head of navigation on the Stour unless you are Charles Stock) looks difficult but is straightforward if you follow the buoys and boats. Can't get alongside there but visitors buoy will accommodate you over HW for run ashore to good pubs and very welcoming yacht club. Best to go on springs where HW is more or less luchtime.

Shotley's 24-hour lock is good but at times you can wait for up to half an hour to get in or out; plan ahead if you have a tide to catch on Sunday morning. Two minutes' walk away is museum dedicated to HMS Ganges naval cadet school.

Background reading: Charles Stock, Maurice Griffiths, Hervey Benham, John Lewis, various sailing barge memoirs, Arthur Ransome, Clare Francis (Deben).

Regards, Mudhook.