Minsmere Anchorage

dualin

dualin

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I am considering going up to Yarmouth (from Tollesbury) in 2 hops and taking a break at Minsmere anchorage which is marked on a chart, thus not having to negotiate the Alde or Southwold as a respite, as I would like to do these on the way back.
Has anybody had experience or knowledge of Minsmere?

Also, has anyone experience of overnight berthing facilities at Yarmouth?

Thanks.
Andy
 
I spent a couple of nights there, facilities are a steel pile and concrete wall with vertical ladders, strong currents and lots of commercial traffic (one slightly damaged the boat I was on).
On the upside, the Mariner's Tavern is a very short walk away. :D
 
You only ever want to go into Gt Yarmouth if the lifeboat is towing you!!

Pleasure boats are not wanted at all and Lowestoft is so close and such a good place that there is no point in considering Yarmouth.
 
Used to work in Gt Yarmouth Telephone excahange that overlooks the Bridge and quay near town hall. Lost count of the number of pleasure boats crashing into the bridge due to the strong currents. Oh and Roayl Navy minesweepers always gave us great entertainment as they crashed into all and sundry as they tried to berth.

I for one would avoid Yarmouth like the plague with a small boat, as other posters have said best to head for Lowestoft
 
simon14b said:
If pleasure boats and commerical interests can co-exist at the Port of Dover then the same should be possible at Gt. Yarmouth.
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Dover is a big port with two entrances, one for the ferries and one for other craft who moor in a couple of massive dock areas, with good facilities for private craft, no problem.

Gt Yarmouth is a narrow river with a blind right angle bend at the entrance that commercial craft have to be very carefull going round. The river is very narrow, the current flows very quickly, and the commercial craft moor either side along the river. The river walls are very high and are designed to accomodate large commercial craft. The commercial craft are mainly large tug-like vessels serving the North sea platforms etc. There are no facilities of any kind for pleasure craft and the harbour authority would be negligent in their duty of safety to all vessels if they encouraged private boats.

I would not want to do anything to hinder the operation of the commercial port in an area of the country that relies upon the port to provide much needed employment.

I don't think any knowledgeable East Coast sailor would recomend any non-commercial craft overnighting at Gt Yarmouth.
 
Oh, got the message thanks i just fancied going to Yarmouth just as i dont have time to go further North that week and work back down the coast back to base. I will go to Lowestoft as per usual and catch the bus to go to Yarmouth !!!!!

anyway what thoughts on minsmere anchorage???

thanks Andy
 
MrCramp said:
Dover is a big port with two entrances, one for the ferries and one for other craft who moor in a couple of massive dock areas, with good facilities for private craft, no problem.

I don't think any knowledgeable East Coast sailor would recomend any non-commercial craft overnighting at Gt Yarmouth.
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Calais manages perfectly well with just one entrance and there isn't that much space available once within the harbour walls.

My post was also in response to the thread posted above which suggested that there was potential to provide facilities for leisure craft but the port operator was not interested in the likely benefits. Incidentally for a long time Dover had a similar dis-interest in pleasure craft and was is only relatively recently they made the investment to provide thier excellant facilities.

However for the time being the place has very little to reccomend it to pleasure craft.
 
Although it has just the one entrance, Calais does have the room to separate commercial from pleasure.
Gt Yarmouth, with all the best will in the world, is just a fairly narrow river.
 
I think you are getting your answer - no - no one has used it. I haven't heard of it before. I guess it is between the Dunwich Bank and the shore? I suppose the obvious anwer is that with the wind with enough west in it, it will be fine. But isn't the most of Dunwich supposed to be on the seabed there? Or have I got the place wrong.

Nothing about it in the old pilot books that I have - Irving, Wilson, ECR, ECP. In fairness I haven't checked all editions of ECR.

You could be a pioneer here!
 
Where would we be without Fred? ;)

I'd not heard of Minsmere before either, I see "Minsmere Haven" marked near a "Historic Wreck", so you wouldn't be the first to try it! :eek: :D
 
dualin said:
FRED DRIFT IS ABOUT AGAIN go to the lounge for a punch up .. what about minsmere anchorage has anyone used it at all????????
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You got from me a straightforward answer to part of your question and when another might have given people the wrong impression about Gt Yarmouth I took the time out to expanded on my reply.

I could have said that the idea of going into Gt Yarmouth or overnighting at Minsmere Anchorage are just plain bonkers but I would not be so rude.

Your sugestion that the thread has drifted and a punch up is taking place and refering people to the Lounge is out of order and it is not how people on this East Coast forum normally behave.
 
Never heard of Minsmere anchorage either.

However, Minsmere Haven is marked on the OS Explorer map 212 (Woodbridge to Saxmundham) as being immediately to the N of the nuclear power station site at Sizewell and S of the Minsmere New Cut sluice (which is at the southern boundary of the RSPB Nature Reserve).

It has the Sizewell Bank shoal to seaward in the E and the shoals off Thorpeness to the S, which would give some shelter. So maybe it could have been used as an anchorage in 'the olden days.' As has been mentioned, the wind would have to be in the W.

Being in such close promimity to the power station, an anchorage there doesn't have much to recommend it now. But there is a pub at Sizewell, a cafe and toilets near the beach, and a few fishing boats are still used from the foreshore there.
 
Thanks very much, that was the exact info i was after . I have a reference in a reeds almaniac just listed as a dot for a anchorage but nothing realy charted but if on a long leg up or down the coast it could be used to wait for ether southwold or aldeburgh for the right tide hieghts but only as you said if the wind is in the west . dont think i will bother with Yarmouth as it is the kid in me wanting to recreate my youth, but the bus ride will be fun from Lowestoft as will the train to Calais but definaitly by boat for Dover as i get berthing for 50% off
 
Actually I have tried anchoring there!

Anchored there overnight once after missing tide into Southwold, it was a very quiet weather wise with a good forecast so rather than do the extra few miles to Lowestoft I thought what the hell give it a go - but still very rolly.
Personally I wouldn't bother again - with either anchoring there or getting the bus to Yarmouth.
 
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