getting supplies without paying to moor

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Firefly

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Sounds a bit mean, but how about listing places on the East Coast where it is possible not only to anchor/moor for nothing but possible to pick up basic supplies ie Bread, Milk, tinned food, Water (in cans if necessary), Fuel (ditto) either walking ashore or (more likely) by tender.

I can start off with my club, Gravesend Sailing Club, where all this is possible, except around an hour or two at low water. If we say to qualify all should be less than 15 minutes walk, I wonder how many spots can be identified? Mind you, a surprising number of expensive marinas would not qualify on all the above.

And if not for free, where are charges for short stays reasonable?
 
Some basic supplies now available at the recently opened shop/chandlers in Bradwell. Very close to the fuel pontoon. OPening hours a bit uncertain at the moment as it reliant on volunteers and is only just getting going. Chandlery included some secondhand stuff (incl lots of Tufnol) which I thought was a great idea.
 
sailorman said:
Orford
Harwich
Brightlingsea
Heybridge Basin ( tesco)
West Mersea ?
Tollesbury
Woodbridge ( anchor + dinghy)
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Exactly how do you manage a short stop in Heybridge basin? Ask them to keep the lock gates open while you nip up the canal to Tesco?
...

The chandlery at Suffolk Yacht Harbour has a basic food section, easy enough to pick up a mooring or anchor outside and take a dinghy in. If you go inside to the fuel berth and it's not too busy they usually don't mind if you nip in to the chandlery while you're there.
...

If you don't mind a slightly longer dinghy ride, you can anchor in Pyefleet and (conditions permitting) go across to Brightlingsea
...
 
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The main reason for asking was that it is genuinely difficult in many places - the Medway/Swale for instance - Victory moorings and Chatham Maritime charge for any time on their pontoons, Meday yacht Club are very nice about using their moorings but there ain't no shops, Sun Pier is closed, prob for good, Queenborough only allow 20 minutes on the ATL before at least threatening £20 charge, which isnt long enough to get to a shop or a petrol station. Intereted in more detail for the places people have quoted (Heybridge Basin? Harwich?). So many villages everywhere no longer have shops, petrol stations etc.
 
Lodesman77 said:
Exactly how do you manage a short stop in Heybridge basin? Ask them to keep the lock gates open while you nip up the canal to Tesco?
...

The chandlery at Suffolk Yacht Harbour has a basic food section, easy enough to pick up a mooring or anchor outside and take a dinghy in. If you go inside to the fuel berth and it's not too busy they usually don't mind if you nip in to the chandlery while you're there.
...

If you don't mind a slightly longer dinghy ride, you can anchor in Pyefleet and (conditions permitting) go across to Brightlingsea
...
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forgot about the "not paying bit" :o
 
Firefly said:
The main reason for asking was that it is genuinely difficult in many places - the Medway/Swale for instance - Victory moorings and Chatham Maritime charge for any time on their pontoons, Meday yacht Club are very nice about using their moorings but there ain't no shops, Sun Pier is closed, prob for good, Queenborough only allow 20 minutes on the ATL before at least threatening £20 charge, which isnt long enough to get to a shop or a petrol station. Intereted in more detail for the places people have quoted (Heybridge Basin? Harwich?). So many villages everywhere no longer have shops, petrol stations etc.
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Ha`peny Pr Harwich only charge for overnight.
showers there to if you need them
 
Short stops at the ferry pontoon at Shotley are OK, they keep some very basic provisions. Not 100%, but i'd have thought you should be able to lock in for fuel without paying a visitors fee ?

If you can get a space, the outer hammerheads at RNSYC on the Orwell, next to Wolverstone marina.

Have also stopped at Wolverstone for fuel and been allowed to nip into an empty berth to fill up with water and pop ashore briefly.

Further up the Orwell, Foxs.
 
Broadstairs, Margate, Minnis Bay, Herne Bay, Whitstable, all at anchor. At Herne Bay at HW you could lay alongside the harbour slipway. At Margate alongside the harbour wall again near HW.
Harty Ferry - bit of a walk though to the shop at Davington.
I think at Queenborough you'd get away for free with a short stop on a mooring, or anchor for nothing round the corner in Loden Hope.
On the Medway, Lower Halstow at HW. Maybe short stop in Hoo Marina allowed? Shop close by (near HW only).
Above the bridge (if you're able to use the upper Medway) Medway Bridge Marina, Port Medway Marina, Cuxton Marina, Elmhaven Marina all have provisions nearby and may let you do a short stop. Further upstream, freebie against the wall at Halling, nip up the steps and over the railings.
Further up the Thames from Gravesend - Thurrock, Greenhithe, Erith (town causeway upstream from the club).
A rare burst of info from me...more in a good pilot book!
 
PaulGooch said:
Short stops at the ferry pontoon at Shotley are OK, they keep some very basic provisions. Not 100%, but i'd have thought you should be able to lock in for fuel without paying a visitors fee ?

If you can get a space, the outer hammerheads at RNSYC on the Orwell, next to Wolverstone marina.

Have also stopped at Wolverstone for fuel and been allowed to nip into an empty berth to fill up with water and pop ashore briefly.

Further up the Orwell, Foxs.
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I have to correct this, it is the Royal Harwich Yacht Club (RHYC) not RNSYC, however there is no shop very close, nearest is at Chelmondiston a good 30 mins walk. The Woolverstone chandlery do have a few provisions, but pretty limited I think.
 
If its quiet you can stop at the Tidemill/Woodbridge - they dont encourage it but normally charge £5 for an hour or so - Budgen's a short walk or the Co-op in town.
 
botheras said:
Don't you have to pay for town centre car parking if you go to shops?
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Most Councils seem to think you should be forced to pay to get to the shops to spend your money.. which is why most high streets are loosing shops ..

Even when Mary Portas says don't do that.. the Council jobsworth still demands payment.. After all he is a public sector employee with a gold plated pension whilst the shop assistant looses job, pension and all...

Sorry Fred Rift getting into the discussion
 
Leighb said:
I have to correct this, it is the Royal Harwich Yacht Club (RHYC) not RNSYC, however there is no shop very close, nearest is at Chelmondiston a good 30 mins walk. The Woolverstone chandlery do have a few provisions, but pretty limited I think.
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Yes of course, wrong initials, i did mean the Royal Harwich Yacht Club. Used to stop there to fill up with water when we had a mooring at Pin Mill. Or Wolverstone for water if we were refuelling.
 
Great thread! Is there anywhere on the Deben where you can go alongside? We intend to visit in Aug and intend to anchor somewhere overnight but would prefer to avoid a dinghy trip (wet bum) to get milk and showers...

Jon
 
The marina is tide mill yacht harbour. Very close to all amenities of Woodbridge. Access HW +- hour or two depending on draft.

There's also the town quay - its free but I'm not sure if its max 24hrs or 3 days as I've never used it! You'd then have to go down to the swimming pool - a few hundred yards - for showers. You may want to phone the tourist office and check!

Here's someone I found on the interweb who did it...

http://trip-around-britain.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/day-67-sunday-24th-july-woodbridge-and.html
 
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