Ipswich Yacht Haven or Neptune Marina

[Bristolfashion]

OK, time to take sides. Which one for a first visit to Ipswich?

Our preference for marinas is "interesting" rather than luxury,although cost is not an issue.

P.s. although, as we all know, at some point "interesting" turns into "annoying"

P.p.s. SWMBO having taken a tumble in the showers has FINALLY been persuaded to get rid of those lethal, smooth as the baby's proverbial crocs and buy some new shoes. Ipswich is the place! Does anyone else have difficulties get their better half to buy shoes?

 

[johnalison]

Both perfectly doable but I believe that most of us find the Haven handier. There isn’t much space to manoeuvre where the Haven usually puts you but it is well sheltered and you can take your time about it. You can be exposed to noise at either venue on Saturday nights. According to circumstances, it may be worth planning your arrival for free flow at the lock, but the jetty there makes it easy enough. Give them a call when you get to about Fox’s.

 

[Bristolfashion]

Both perfectly doable but I believe that most of us find the Haven handier. There isn’t much space to manoeuvre where the Haven usually puts you but it is well sheltered and you can take your time about it. You can be exposed to noise at either venue on Saturday nights. According to circumstances, it may be worth planning your arrival for free flow at the lock, but the jetty there makes it easy enough. Give them a call when you get to about Fox’s.

Thanks, I'm really looking forward to it.

Although, to maintain the peace and serenity of the East and pacify my East coast forumites, I would confirm that it is a dangerous, muddy place with no attractions!

 

[Daydream believer]

Neptune- Less distance to walk to shops & bars. But be warned I had to pay £78-00 for 2 nights for a 31 ft boat. When i asked why it had gone up so much from last year the reply was that there were so many visitors they could charge more -- Nice
I do not know if Haven is cheaper.

 

[Bristolfashion]

Neptune- Less distance to walk to shops & bars. But be warned I had to pay £78-00 for 2 nights for a 31 ft boat. When i asked why it had gone up so much from last year the reply was that there were so many visitors they could charge more -- Nice
I do not know if Haven is cheaper.

Blimey, has Ipswich moved to the Solent? We were only on £51 a night (on the 7 for 5 deal) in St Kat's. Still, waft the card and don't look at the numbers!

 

[Daydream believer]

P.p.s. SWMBO having taken a tumble in the showers has FINALLY been persuaded to get rid of those lethal, smooth as the baby's proverbial crocs and buy some new shoes. Ipswich is the place! Does anyone else have difficulties get their better half to buy shoes?

Crikey - You should take my daughter. On a bank holiday sailing weekend to Ostend she takes enough gear for 3. Plus why she needs 5 pairs of shoes when if she walks more than 31 ft she would fall in the sea confuses me. To make matters worse on the first day we arrive the first thing she does is go SHOE shopping. Can anyone explain the reasoning please

 

[Daydream believer]

The large MOBO parked at the end of Neptune belongs to Nigel Grogan - owner of Hyde sails. I have tried being polite to his wife & patting her dog, but it has not earned me a discount on any sails yet.

 

[Bristolfashion]

The large MOBO parked at the end of Neptune belongs to Nigel Grogan - owner of Hyde sails. I have tried being polite to his wife & patting her dog, but it has not earned me a discount on any sails yet.

Have you tried being polite to the dog & patting the wife?

 

[Concerto]

When I was in Ipswich recently, I went to Haven as I find it better.

A small word of warning. There is a lot of very fine weed at the top of the Orwell, in the lock and the basin. I ended up having my water inlet block at the filter. The first photo shows what was in the filter. The second includes what was still in the pipe.

 

[Stemar]

Crikey - You should take my daughter. On a bank holiday sailing weekend to Ostend she takes enough gear for 3. Plus why she needs 5 pairs of shoes when if she walks more than 31 ft she would fall in the sea confuses me. To make matters worse on the first day we arrive the first thing she does is go SHOE shopping. Can anyone explain the reasoning please

Daughters don't need a reason to go shopping. I am therefore I shop. Just pity her future husband! I'm reminded of the guy who said his wife had had her credit card stolen. He didn't report the theft because the thief was spending less than she did

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Daughters don't need a reason to go shopping. I am therefore I shop. Just pity her future husband! I'm reminded of the guy who said his wife had had her credit card stolen. He didn't report the theft because the thief was spending less than she did

I think the line with prospective boyfriends/fiances is "Can you keep my daughter in the style to which she wishes to become accustomed?" I am fortunate - my daughter's fiance was sufficiently old-fashioned to ask my permission to marry her! Wedding day in less than three weeks...

 

[Daydream believer]

Have you tried being polite to the dog & patting the wife?

The sails are expensive enough. No way could I afford the wife

 

[Bristolfashion]

Thanks for all the advice. In the end, IYH was full, so it was Neptune's. Absolutely smashing spot, the water front development vis good - we had lunch at the "grazing sheep" and found a great little Italian for dinner - La Tavernetta.

I'd heartily recommend a trip to Ipswich, whichever marina you visit.

 

[johnalison]

I’ve nothing against the Neptune, in spite of the time when an incoming race yacht decided that my pushpit was the wrong shape and that it could be improved by a good hard whack. The need to exit the marina and cross the road for the facilities is a slight nuisance but I don’t find access to the shops a problem. From the Haven I can get my paper from the Co-op a few hundred yards away, and the walk up the creek is quite pleasant, though I was once warned that it attracts the wrong sort. It is a while since I visited Christchurch park but it is worth a trip if you want some culture.

 

[Bristolfashion]

I’ve nothing against the Neptune, in spite of the time when an incoming race yacht decided that my pushpit was the wrong shape and that it could be improved by a good hard whack. The need to exit the marina and cross the road for the facilities is a slight nuisance but I don’t find access to the shops a problem. From the Haven I can get my paper from the Co-op a few hundred yards away, and the walk up the creek is quite pleasant, though I was once warned that it attracts the wrong sort. It is a while since I visited Christchurch park but it is worth a trip if you want some culture.

Thanks. We will certainly stroll to Christchurch park.

 

[Slowboat35]

My brief expericence with Ipswich was one of surprise, very pleasant surprise at the ambiance and attractiveness of the area. Far from the scuzzy post-industrial dilapidation I was expecting (based on previous experience of the town) I was much taken with the smart new developments and dockside ambiance of the area. I can't speak for noise or disturbance but as a decent-looking renovation of a busted dockland landscape on a London Docklands theme I thought it pretty darn good.
The less accessible ABP marina looks rather more "secure" simply as it is harder to get to, the Neptune side looks far closer to the pleasant looking dockside promenade and social areas.

All in all I left thinking Oh why? Oh! Why? can't Great Yarmouth do the same? They have an equally attractive array of historic old dockside buildings and space to turn it into something new and innovative... The influx of new life and affluence well thought out developments like London Docklands produces utterly transforms the areas around them. Ipswich looks as if it is on the way towards this.
I sincerely hope it continues to develop.

 

[Tomahawk]

Thanks for all the advice. In the end, IYH was full, so it was Neptune's. Absolutely smashing spot, the water front development vis good - we had lunch at the "grazing sheep" and found a great little Italian for dinner - La Tavernetta.

I'd heartily recommend a trip to Ipswich, whichever marina you visit.

He is talking BS.. The East Coast is a dump.nothing to see and hidden shaols everywhere. Tides that make pasage hard work and over crowded harbours charging. a fortune.

 

[Bristolfashion]

He is talking BS.. The East Coast is a dump.nothing to see and hidden shaols everywhere. Tides that make pasage hard work and over crowded harbours charging. a fortune.

Sorry, I forgot to add that, of course, the whole east coast is a muddy hellhole

 

[Tomahawk]

Sorry, I forgot to add that, of course, the whole east coast is a muddy hellhole

Thats better. We don't want the S Coast hoi polie turning up en masse. It's crowded enough with the Dutch and Belgians invading us every year.

 

[Bristolfashion]

Thanks. We will certainly stroll to Christchurch park.

We've just been there - lovely.