Rascal 1
New member
Thinking of spending a night at Halfpenny pier around Easter. Any comments?
Halfpenny pier
- Thread starter Rascal 1
- Start date
johnphilip
Well-known member
Weather dependent
Fine in good weather but if the wind is blowing onto the Harwich shore there can be a bit of a slop on the pontoons. Not dangerous but the all steel structure can be noisy. Large fenders required. Last year there were a few large ball fenders avilable to borrow, they are really good. Quieter to lie on the inside of the pontoon but the mooring piles on that face are the most unfriendly you could wish for with a viscious steel grid tying them to the pontoons. Spaces for yachts are sometimes taken by fishing boats.
There are good pubs making it worthwhile, less well known is the New Bell, real ale pub, not "improved" and really friendly. Others swear by the Alma
Fine in good weather but if the wind is blowing onto the Harwich shore there can be a bit of a slop on the pontoons. Not dangerous but the all steel structure can be noisy. Large fenders required. Last year there were a few large ball fenders avilable to borrow, they are really good. Quieter to lie on the inside of the pontoon but the mooring piles on that face are the most unfriendly you could wish for with a viscious steel grid tying them to the pontoons. Spaces for yachts are sometimes taken by fishing boats.
There are good pubs making it worthwhile, less well known is the New Bell, real ale pub, not "improved" and really friendly. Others swear by the Alma
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johnphilip
Well-known member
The best pic I could find via google.
And a quote from Visit My harbour
"Berthing, Mooring & Anchoring
Moorings in this area consist of Halfpenny Pier, and Shotley Point Marina. Full details including prices follow:
In the area covered anchoring is prohibited in the fairway or within 200 feet of the edges from Parkstone Quay in the Stour out to the Rolling Ground Buoy.
It may be possible to find an Anchorage on the northern shore of the Stour off Shotley, tucked in behind the trots of moorings and near to the pier and Shotley Sailing Club. Obviously not a place to leave the boat unattended.
Harwich Town.
If aiming for Halfpenny Pier (see photo gallery), be aware that it is offered on a first-come first-served basis. Rafting up is permissible but the area is subject to swell and wash so good fendering will be needed. Obviously this is no place to take root, but suitable for daytime stops and maybe overnight...
It is run by the harbour authorities, and visitors spots are clearly marked. It comes up on your port side after passing the harbour control tower, the lifeboat station and a rough looking wooden pier. Yachts can use either side of it.
It is free to use during the day and water is obtainable. Modest charges apply after 4 PM, for those wishing to stay overnight. The harbourmaster here is on 01255 243030. A water taxi ferry runs between here, Shotley Marina and Landguard Beach at Felixstowe.
The authorities are to be applauded for providing some facilities for small craft in this busy commercial harbor."
Shows the piles I mentioned
And a quote from Visit My harbour
"Berthing, Mooring & Anchoring
Moorings in this area consist of Halfpenny Pier, and Shotley Point Marina. Full details including prices follow:
In the area covered anchoring is prohibited in the fairway or within 200 feet of the edges from Parkstone Quay in the Stour out to the Rolling Ground Buoy.
It may be possible to find an Anchorage on the northern shore of the Stour off Shotley, tucked in behind the trots of moorings and near to the pier and Shotley Sailing Club. Obviously not a place to leave the boat unattended.
Harwich Town.
If aiming for Halfpenny Pier (see photo gallery), be aware that it is offered on a first-come first-served basis. Rafting up is permissible but the area is subject to swell and wash so good fendering will be needed. Obviously this is no place to take root, but suitable for daytime stops and maybe overnight...
It is run by the harbour authorities, and visitors spots are clearly marked. It comes up on your port side after passing the harbour control tower, the lifeboat station and a rough looking wooden pier. Yachts can use either side of it.
It is free to use during the day and water is obtainable. Modest charges apply after 4 PM, for those wishing to stay overnight. The harbourmaster here is on 01255 243030. A water taxi ferry runs between here, Shotley Marina and Landguard Beach at Felixstowe.
The authorities are to be applauded for providing some facilities for small craft in this busy commercial harbor."
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pensky
New member
Agree with all johnphilip has said.
Attaching a pic of me moored there on my last trip there.
I occasionally hop over to Harwich for lunch at the Alma Inn.
Attaching a pic of me moored there on my last trip there.
I occasionally hop over to Harwich for lunch at the Alma Inn.
born2sail61
New member
if you don't want to stand out as a 'tourist' ,please refer to it as ha'penny pier! Sorry,feeling pedantic today lol
johnalison
Well-known member
The inside berths are a bit quieter and worth going for unless your boat is too big.
Spuddy
Active member
The pier masters are particularly jovial and helpful. Only a limited range at local convenience store but a supermarket (Asda?) a mile ot two walk away
sailorman
Well-known member
The Sam Peyps does good food food
Showers are available on the Pr, water via tap & carrier
jerrytug
N/A
Plus a great trad chippie with the best name ever, Pieseas.
born2sail61
New member
+1 Their spam fritters are addictive!
Oldgeezer
Member
Thinking of staying tomorrow night. How did it go? Is it noisy?
Not much wind forecast so will that help for a peaceful night?
I'll be on my own so hopefully not to tricky to moor up?
Not much wind forecast so will that help for a peaceful night?
I'll be on my own so hopefully not to tricky to moor up?
jerrytug
N/A
It's easy to tie up, go on the inside of the pontoons, don't tie up too tight and use all your fenders. Then go for a long walk round the incredibly historic town centre, and look at the plaques, 'Samuel Pepys had a serving wench here' etc
Bru
Well-known member
I'm sitting here on board alongside the pier at this very moment. Not sure I'd be keen on a wild night (Shotley would get my custom) but it's pleasant enough if only the rain would give over
Rascal 1
New member
We had a pretty wild night,the wind got up from the north,making things slightly uncomfortable. Lucky for us the harbourmaster helped out with two large fenders.The town is worth a look round, full of history.Try and get on the inside if you can.
Athene V30
Active member
Been twice this season - once inside, once outside so I was on leeward side both times. Slept well both times.
If going inside advice from the Pier Master is don't go between the mooring buoys (for Fishing boats) and the wall.
If going inside advice from the Pier Master is don't go between the mooring buoys (for Fishing boats) and the wall.
Tomahawk
Well-known member
To the OP...
Post this in the proper sailing forum.....
East Coast Meeting .........
PS... it is lovely though noisy, choppy, ....
Post this in the proper sailing forum.....
East Coast Meeting .........
PS... it is lovely though noisy, choppy, ....
Oldgeezer
Member
Well, I spent last night there.
Sea calm, moored up on the inside using the harbourmasters fenders. (Not such a brilliant idea as they marked the hull)
but after an hour or two of creaking and groaning (the pier that is) and occasional wash, I got a room in a pub for the night.
Slept perfectly! Excellent breakfast too.
Sea calm, moored up on the inside using the harbourmasters fenders. (Not such a brilliant idea as they marked the hull)
but after an hour or two of creaking and groaning (the pier that is) and occasional wash, I got a room in a pub for the night.
Slept perfectly! Excellent breakfast too.