Maldon to Southwold, any tips?

NUTMEG

NUTMEG

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www.theblindsailor.co.uk
So chaps, the season is upon us! Middle son (Hurley22) and I (CW28) fancy turning left out of the Blackwater for the first ever time. Middle son fancies a trip to Southwold, either stopping at Harwich or doing part of it at night, maybe catch a late ebb from Maldon.

The plan is to do this over the Easter Hols.

'CTTE' and 'East Coast Rivers' etc are down on the boat, so I am not sure if doing this in one go would be possible. Or sensible:)

I appeal to the collective wisdom of all here and would appreciate thoughts, rough plans and any advice.

Thanks in advance

Steve
 
Maldon to Half Penny Pier Harwich. (See if they still offer discount for grub at the Alma Pub)

Leave Harwich at HW or maybe an hour before and carry the tide all the way to Southwold.
When I sailed a pandora I could easily do Harwich / Southwold on a tide.
Ch12 when you get to Southwold and Peter or Jerry (HM's) will point you to a visitor berth.
You can get in at any state of tide but not in a Easterly F6 or more.
(have done it in more but not fun - however far less scary than Brighton Marina in the same conditions)
Coming from the south just head for the entrance, keeping 1/4 mile off, until you can see up the river and then head in.
Don't get sucked up North of the entrance as it shoals.
If low water keep to the North bank all the way until you reach the first pontoons on the right. (Coastal Voyager)
 
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Javelin, thanks for the info. I don't have the pilot books here and have looked on Navionics on my iPhone but could not see Half Penny Pier. Couldn't describe where it is could you, or better still the lat/long?

No worries if it's awkward, I will get to the boat on Sunday hopefully and get the books.

Cheers again.

Oops. Forget all that, just found it! :)
 
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When I first went to Southwold it seemed to be the wisdom that you arrived at the top of the tide to avoid the not inconsiderable current. This was a pain in the proverbial pushing the tide and involved a stop over in Harwich/Shotley. It now seems that arriving near LW is quite doable (I draw 1.7m) and this is good news. So from where you are Steve it's 30 miles (ish) to Harwich and the same again to Southwold. so you can't have the tide all the way. Halfpenny Pier is OK if it is calm otherwise dive into Shotley.

It's worth the effort - Southwold is sublime.
 
Thank you For the replies thus far:)

mr Sabre I think overnight at HPP, a night is Southwold and another nigh in Harwich or Shotley.

I feel a plan coming on.

I would certainly speak to the Southwold HM before entering, I wonder how busy it will be over Easter, not a weekend but midweek?
 
MoodySabre said:
When I first went to Southwold it seemed to be the wisdom that you arrived at the top of the tide to avoid the not inconsiderable current. This was a pain in the proverbial pushing the tide and involved a stop over in Harwich/Shotley. It now seems that arriving near LW is quite doable (I draw 1.7m) and this is good news. So from where you are Steve it's 30 miles (ish) to Harwich and the same again to Southwold. so you can't have the tide all the way. Halfpenny Pier is OK if it is calm otherwise dive into Shotley.

It's worth the effort - Southwold is sublime.
Click to expand...

or anchor up the Stour.
the inside of Ha`penny pr is better as less wash, good showers there too
 
Take the Little Brackstead road till just before Tiptree, then turn left towards Rivenhall and onto the A12. After that it is pretty much straignt on until you see the signpost on the RHS... just after the pig farms and in lnd lagoon at Blythborough.

Parking is a nightmare and the Council boast they enforce parking restrictions on a Sunday.
 
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Tomahawk said:
Take the Little Brackstead road till just before Tiptree, then turn left towards Rivenhall and onto the A12. After that it is pretty much straignt on until you see the signpost on the RHS... just after the pig farms and in lnd lagoon at Blythborough.

Parking is a nightmare and the Council boast they enforce parking restrictions on a Sunday.
Click to expand...

I prefer to get onto the A12 via Witham, I went a similar route to yours out of curiosity when the cars's sat nav was suggesting it and it seemed to take for ever.
 
Stick to near slack water entry till you have seen the tide, fairly sluices in or out at other times and the standing wave at springs full flow In the entrance needs to be seen still can be done if you can motor against it
. Don't get swept on to the bridge at the top
 
On springs the full ebb runs at just over 3knts and might touch 4 at the knuckle.
Otherwise 2.5knts is the usual on the river.
Standing wave only usually starts with an onshore f4 or above.
It's usually square to the entrance so can appear worse than it actually is.

My old Pandora with a 7hp outboard managed it albeit slowly on numerous spring ebbs.
My current 34' with 30hp finds it far easier than the Deben entrance.
 
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Well that's that for now. Had a phone call from Moorfields Eye Hospital telling me they have moved an eye operation forward by nearly two months. So, I am under the knife tomorrow (25th)!

Bang goes sailing trips this Easter, plus bound to be follow up appointments.

Thanks for the info, middle son still going I think but Rhoda Rose will languish in her muddy hole a bit longer.
 
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