Hartlepool Marina to Shotley Marina

[Paulfireblade]

I have finally managed to buy a boat it seems, what a mission that was! Managed to find a Marina berth thankfully (that was the next challenge.) Having read the Weymouth to Hull post with interest, yes I am only Day Skipper level but I am doing my theory and practical for Coastal and I will be the least experienced crew member on board (looks like I will be sleeping on the settee in saloon out of deference.)

The owner and a friend of his that has done the same passage many times have offered to come on the passage and Skipper the boat for me which I think is pretty awesome (unless they plan to heave me overboard of course.)

We are going to wait for a suitable weather window (hopefully summer will be here soon but obviously the weather can suddenly break and we might have to head for a port of refuge and they both work so will be time constrained so I may need to do the rest of the passage with a friend who has forty years experience but he never went as far East as Dover preferring warmer climates so any tips would be appreciated, obviously we will get charts and cruising guides to back up the old Almanac.

I know there are a few areas requiring extra care nearer Hartlepool e.g Humber but does it get any easier as you get further south where local knowledge might not be so beneficial.

So my Question: Is there a marina past which coming South with plenty of research and a detailed passage plan and pilotage notes we should be okay and any other tips and advice appreciated.

Jokers out there "Suffolk Yacht Harbour" is not helpful

There would not be any rush as we are both retired and I prefer a good meal and a nights kip in a marina and if need be we would just wait out any bad weather should it pop up (once again, when will summer arrive?)

Paul P.S I do love Sailing in the Winter as well but not such a long unknown passage.

 

[Malish]

tbh, having read your post several times I am still not clear what you are asking...

 

[LittleSister]

Coming south, once you're past the Humber you have a long stretch with no easy harbours - all the entrances are very tidally restricted and/or well out of your way (e.g. into the Wash) and/or not to be approached in strong onshore winds. I also can't call to mind anything much like a marina (without going a good distance up rivers), though Kings Lynn and Wells both have pontoons for visitors.

The first more or less all weather not tidally restricted harbour is Great Yarmouth - a place few yacht people go to. You have to go a mile or two up the river and tie up to the Town Quay on the right just before the bridge. Very tidal, strong tidal streams, probably won't get charged, no electricity/water/showers/toilets (toilets across the road in town hall during office hours Mon-Fri); town centre close by.

More popular is a few miles further to Lowestoft. Club marina on left just inside outer harbour accepts visitors. Further marinas and more sheltered water beyond the lifting bridges - see pilot book or w.h.y. to check bridge opening times, but note a lot of works going on at present so bridge lifts might be more limited.

Further on is Southwold - scenic and a bit rural, nice pub etc.. Ring or radio harbourmaster for latest advice on entrance depth/direction of approach, which can change but in recent times has been little problem. Strong tidal streams, especially on the ebb, in the river - beware being swept into the footbridge beyond the harbour if manoeuvring on a rising tide, or into nearby boats more generally. Visitor pontoon with electricity and water on right near the pub. Can get crowded in summer, but probably not this year (normally quite a few visitors from Netherlands, etc.). Harbour-master will find you somewhere to squeeze you in whatever.

Beyond that you have the River Ore and River Deben. Both very attractive, but slightly tricky and tidally restricted entrances. Better for visits when you are berthed locally than as a pit stop on passage.

Then you're at the River Orwell (Felixstowe, Harwich & Ipswich, Shotley Marina, Suffolk Yacht Harbour (aka Levington) etc. etc.) which is an easy all weather, all tide entrance - just watch out for shipping, pilot boats etc., entering and leaving. Note recommended route (on charts) for small craft to cross the deep water approach channel, and continuing just south of the main channel into the river. Watch out for shoal on the left in front of Harwich, and for shipping turning into or out of the River Stour.

Hope you have a good delivery trip, and look forward to seeing you around the Orwell, perhaps.

p.s. Passage Humber to Orwell is fairly easy, in sense of few restrictions, if long and arduous. Provided you watch the chart carefully for depths, overfalls, wind farms (some under construction) and gas rigs, and keep an eye out for fishing, wind farm workboats and other shipping and, especially, the many poorly marked pot markers, you should be ok.

 

[Jokani]

Sounds like you would prefer day hops rather that longer/overnight passages & fighting the tide for long periods. If that's the case, you could consider Hartlepool to Grimsby and then on to Wells-next-the-Sea, spend a day or two their it's a nice place, then Wells to Lowestoft, and finally on to Shotley.

Take care to make sure you maximise fair tides.

I'll be doing the second half of this passage myself, from Wells this weekend, unfortunately it looks like more motoring than sailing at the moment :-(

Shotley is a friendly place, you will get a warm welcome.

 

[Paulfireblade]

tbh, having read your post several times I am still not clear what you are asking...

Apologies I tend to ramble a bit, sorry getting a bit old

 

[Megs20Burt!]

tbh, having read your post several times I am still not clear what you are asking...

Thank you, I thought it was me...?

 

[WoodyP]

I think I know what you asked so we are both probably waffling old ferts ?. After Hartlepool you have the choice of Whitby, Scarborough and Bridlington, but they are all tidal, so timing may be a problem.
One thing you didn't mention is the boat, and what anchor you carry. Assuming that the weather is kind you can anchor in several spots on the way. I have anchored behind Spurn point at the mouth of the Humber. It saves quite a lot of time rather than going up to Hull or Grimsby. If the wind is more Southerly you nan nip in to Tetney.
Further south past Skegness you can go through the gap at Dogs Head sand and park behind Gibraltar point. If you have too much draft to get into Wells Harbour you can anchor off Hologram bay or Cromer. There are possibilities to duck in behind the fishtail stone groins between Happisborough and Winterton if you're feeling brave.
If the weather is poor either delay the trip or keep well off shore, away from the crab pots.

 

[Paulfireblade]

Coming south, once you're past the Humber you have a long stretch with no easy harbours - all the entrances are very tidally restricted and/or well out of your way (e.g. into the Wash) and/or not to be approached in strong onshore winds. I also can't call to mind anything much like a marina (without going a good distance up rivers), though Kings Lynn and Wells both have pontoons for visitors.

The first more or less all weather not tidally restricted harbour is Great Yarmouth - a place few yacht people go to. You have to go a mile or two up the river and tie up to the Town Quay on the right just before the bridge. Very tidal, strong tidal streams, probably won't get charged, no electricity/water/showers/toilets (toilets across the road in town hall during office hours Mon-Fri); town centre close by.

More popular is a few miles further to Lowestoft. Club marina on left just inside outer harbour accepts visitors. Further marinas and more sheltered water beyond the lifting bridges - see pilot book or w.h.y. to check bridge opening times, but note a lot of works going on at present so bridge lifts might be more limited.

Further on is Southwold - scenic and a bit rural, nice pub etc.. Ring or radio harbourmaster for latest advice on entrance depth/direction of approach, which can change but in recent times has been little problem. Strong tidal streams, especially on the ebb, in the river - beware being swept into the footbridge beyond the harbour if manoeuvring on a rising tide, or into nearby boats more generally. Visitor pontoon with electricity and water on right near the pub. Can get crowded in summer, but probably not this year (normally quite a few visitors from Netherlands, etc.). Harbour-master will find you somewhere to squeeze you in whatever.

Beyond that you have the River Ore and River Deben. Both very attractive, but slightly tricky and tidally restricted entrances. Better for visits when you are berthed locally than as a pit stop on passage.

Then you're at the River Orwell (Felixstowe, Harwich & Ipswich, Shotley Marina, Suffolk Yacht Harbour (aka Levington) etc. etc.) which is an easy all weather, all tide entrance - just watch out for shipping, pilot boats etc., entering and leaving. Note recommended route (on charts) for small craft to cross the deep water approach channel, and continuing just south of the main channel into the river. Watch out for shoal on the left in front of Harwich, and for shipping turning into or out of the River Stour.

Hope you have a good delivery trip, and look forward to seeing you around the Orwell, perhaps.

p.s. Passage Humber to Orwell is fairly easy, in sense of few restrictions, if long and arduous. Provided you watch the chart carefully for depths, overfalls, wind farms (some under construction) and gas rigs, and keep an eye out for fishing, wind farm workboats and other shipping and, especially, the many poorly marked pot markers, you should be ok.

Thank you, for all the info and as I suspected I managed to find a boat located on one of the trickier stretches of UK coast for convenient stops but at least I have some ideas where to start.

We will be spending a lot of time in the Orwell and local rivers as my wife is a novice so I want to introduce her slowly to the joys of sailing,.

 

[Paulfireblade]

Sounds like you would prefer day hops rather that longer/overnight passages & fighting the tide for long periods. If that's the case, you could consider Hartlepool to Grimsby and then on to Wells-next-the-Sea, spend a day or two their it's a nice place, then Wells to Lowestoft, and finally on to Shotley.

Take care to make sure you maximise fair tides.

I'll be doing the second half of this passage myself, from Wells this weekend, unfortunately it looks like more motoring than sailing at the moment :-(

Shotley is a friendly place, you will get a warm welcome.

I should have mentioned draft which is 1.88 metres so looks like Wells-Next-Sea is out as listed as 1.55 metres, might have to be one stop at Grimsby possibly unless we have an issue.

Shotley looks like a lovely spot with great views and I won't have to worry about wash from ships unlike Wolverston but I imagined fairly exposed when it get Windy.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I should have mentioned draft which is 1.88 metres so looks like Wells-Next-Sea is out as listed as 1.55 metres. Shotley looks like a lovely spot with great views and I won't have to worry about wash from ships unlike Wolverston but I imagined fairly exposed when it get Windy.

I like Shotley too. Loos were 'interesting' last time I went. It has the unusual feature of an Inogon moire light to help you line up inbound for the lock. Levington (SYH) would also be handy if Shotley full.

 

[Paulfireblade]

I think I know what you asked so we are both probably waffling old ferts ?. After Hartlepool you have the choice of Whitby, Scarborough and Bridlington, but they are all tidal, so timing may be a problem.
One thing you didn't mention is the boat, and what anchor you carry. Assuming that the weather is kind you can anchor in several spots on the way. I have anchored behind Spurn point at the mouth of the Humber. It saves quite a lot of time rather than going up to Hull or Grimsby. If the wind is more Southerly you nan nip in to Tetney.
Further south past Skegness you can go through the gap at Dogs Head sand and park behind Gibraltar point. If you have too much draft to get into Wells Harbour you can anchor off Hologram bay or Cromer. There are possibilities to duck in behind the fishtail stone groins between Happisborough and Winterton if you're feeling brave.
If the weather is poor either delay the trip or keep well off shore, away from the crab pots.

Thank you, I hadn't thought of anchorages although it would be good to go ashore and be able to buy the crew a good meal and beverage but you suggest a few useful options if want to just have a break.

The boat has a 15 kilo CQR plus 40 M of chain as well as a kedge if required.

 

[Paulfireblade]

I like Shotley too. Loos were 'interesting' last time I went. It has the unusual feature of an Inogon moire light to help you line up inbound for the lock. Levington (SYH) would also be handy if Shotley full.

Yes I have read up about the lock and the Moire light, only used sector lights so will be novel. SYH were full and not very helpful, Wolverstone was full but Shotley was able to squeeze us in thankfully otherwise I might have ended up at Chatham as my draft is 1.88 M

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Yes I have read up about the lock and the Moire light, only used sector lights so will be novel. SYH were full and not very helpful, Wolverstone was full but Shotley was able to squeeze us in thankfully otherwise I might have ended up at Chatham as my draft is 1.88 M

Grand. You also have Fox's, Neptune and Ipswich right at the top of the Orwell, bit of a trek but worth bearing in mind.

 

[Stork_III]

Arrange your arrival near high water and you might get in on Free Flow, saves the lock bit and cross current in the approach channel will be minimal. Moire Light is good, on track vertical lines, off track steer in direction of arrows.

 

[michael_w]

Lots of space at ABP Ipswich Haven

 

[LittleSister]

We will be spending a lot of time in the Orwell and local rivers as my wife is a novice so I want to introduce her slowly to the joys of sailing,.

It's a good place to do that.

Sheltered from the prevailing winds, modest tide heights and flows, and only a soft mud bottom to hit when you get it wrong! Enough shipping, boats and activity to add interest without the crowds of the Solent. Two long attractive, wide rivers, in different orientations to the wind, each with a variety of different types of places to stop. Shoreside facilities - pubs, chandlers and various other boat related services. Walton Backwaters just around the corner.

Those alone provide a wealth of of options: when you come out of Shotley you have a variety of different directions to go in for local jaunts, depending on wind, tide and fancy. Staff at Shotley (and even some of the berth-holders ) are friendly and helpful.

Once your wife feels ready to go further, there's varied options at different distances and levels of challenge - the other Essex and Suffolk rivers a short hop away; and Belgium, northern France, and even that strange land known as the English South Coast just a long day's sail away.

To top it all there's the friendly and helpful East Coast Forum.

 

[Paulfireblade]

If the weather is poor either delay the trip or keep well off shore, away from the crab pots.

Just how far out to ensure avoiding crab pots?

I would rather be safe than sorry whatever the conditions, too cold for a swim?

 

[Paulfireblade]

To top it all there's the friendly and helpful East Coast Forum.

We are both really looking forward to getting to Shotley just need to get our boat there.

 

[WoodyP]

Just how far out to ensure avoiding crab pots?

I would rather be safe than sorry whatever the conditions, too cold for a swim?

The majority are within the five mile mark, but you can find them almost anywhere. Not too difficult to spot in daylight but can be a bit scary at night. Don't try to swim if really hooked up. Get the RNLI.

 

[Daydream believer]

When I did it I went Hartlepool to Grimsby then Lowestoft then Bradwell. First time I timed it to get to Grimsby lock on freeflow after a 1 hour wait for windfarm traffic which took precedence. That was annoying. It helps to leave on it as well as the tide carries one out of the Humber.
I found the Humber awkward navigation at night without a plotter & i am a Thames estuary sailor!!
Second time I arrived at 01-00 hours & with 1.800 draft I just made it across the approach. The lock was very difficult to find in the dark & the ropes were really difficult to handle on my own as they drop vertically. The lock keeper was not very sympathetic in the speed he let the water in either. With a crew you will be Ok. I had to pay £10-00 for out of hours use.

I have heard that Grimsby are no longer taking visitors. I am not sure if that is true so you might be advised to check. I believe that the anchorage at Spurn is more exposed these days due to erosion of the point. Others can advise.Hull is too far up to be worthwhile.
Arriving at night the Humber VTS insisted that I took the long way round but they did advise some shipping of my existence when the ships got near which was reassuring. I do have AIS transceiver. On one trip I cut the corner saving quite a few miles.

From Grimsby I had to divert to go round a firing range, just south of the Humber, whilst a helicopter fired a gatling gun. Nothing on my charts had the range marked so I had terse words from the range authorities. You might like to check your chart.
Heading SE on the first run there were hundreds of pots most of the way. I was surprised how far offshore they were. I hit 3 in the night off the Sherringham, Cromer coast, where I went in a bit close due to wind angle, but fortunately unhooked them Ok. The second time there were none due to being banned because of windfarm surveying ,so I was Ok
The windfarm is now well established & i am not sure if one would go to the east or west. I went to the west both times. I assume one would do the same again, but not having a chart I cannot confirm.

There are a couple of banks to slip down between (forget the names- Is one the Dorking bank?- dunno) but not hard if one has a chart plotter ( I did not have one on first trip). As one approaches the run down the coast to Lowestoft there are some banks & the shoaling had changed over the 2 years between my trips. I found it awkward in the dark in quite rough weather without a plotter at night & I had to keep a close watch on the echo sounder. It is worth having an upto date chart for this. It did get very shallow. I wanted to get into the channel along the coast but it is sort of limited at the northern end. This may have changed now.

I am told that Yarmouth is NOT a good place to stop & Lowestoft is not much further on so keep going. I motored the last 10 miles both times in the dark.
At Lowestoft entry is easy. Stop at the RN&SYC I stopped 2 days, because after 106 miles SH I needed the rest. Do not go under the bridge, it is a faff. One can get a decent meal at Lowestoft in the town, or the club.( Covid excepted of course)
Between there & Shotley is an easy sail if one uses the tide, Southwold is not worth stopping at. If one likes dumps one can day sail from Shotley later, when cruising with your wife. The other places are so near Shotley you may as well keep going.They are also tidal so may not suit your itinery
Shotley is very easy to get into Just use the recommended yacht track & look out for any survey vessels
Hope that you have a great trip
One last comment. If you do not get a permanent berth at Shotley try not to end up at Ipswich. The further up the river you go the further you have to sail before you can go anywhere. Shotley has the advantage of being near the entrance to the mouth of the 2 rivers & you can be on your way ASASP. Whilst the river up to Ipswich might seem enchanting at first, it will soon turn into a "ditch" & you will have 1.5 hours sailing or motoring ( with the tide) before you can actually do anything. Every trip will be seriously tide dependant. That will eventually drive you mad.