Moving to the East Coast

Tut Tut Tut.... the lot of you.... manners....

Artic,
Welcome to the best kept sailing secret in the Uk. We all look forward to seeing you down these parts next year.
 
You will enjoy the East Coast so much, we certainly have!
Stayed 2 years at Tollesbury (loved the place!) , but fell out with the Marina Management over boat measurements (probably my fault for fitting a lifting bowsprit!)
1 Season and a half at Walton pond, loved that too, and Richard and his team at Bedwells boatyard just superb!
Been at Brightlingea on fore and aft for 3 years now, love it, just love it! Easy access, yes the place maybe tatty but all the people I have met have been so friendly and lovely place to sail from. The icing on the cake Gary at the boat yard is a star, and join the university sailing club enjoy cheap beer and great company!
PS. tell everyone secretly Brightlingea is dump as we don't want it getting overcrowded. It will spoil the place :)
BTW visited Bradwell many many times its great there too! Just awkard to get to by road for us.
 
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Just a quick update!

Mrs AntarcticPilot and I visited Titchmarsh yesterday, and liked what we saw. We haven't made a final decision yet, but that is certainly on the cards. Advantages are modern facilities, pleasant staff, quick access to a variety of potential cruising areas, no waiting list and Arthur Ransome! Disadvantages are restricted tidal access, price and further by road than some other possibilities. But restricted tidal access is likely to be a feature of most places we're interested in.

Oh, one other down-side; the pontoons have loops rather than cleats (at least, as far as we went!)
 
Yes, the infamous Titchmarsh loops allow us to sit in our cockpits on Saturday evenings watching visitors struggling with them. Very entertaining. I contribute by putting my dock lines out of use by removing them or coiling with cable ties when I am not there (no more anti-social than the people who leave my lines in the water to get green and slimy).
 
Another less attractive feature of Titchmarsh is the expanded metal pontoons, somewhat noisy and very harsh on the knees. Kneeling down to try and persuade the electric card into the slot requires kee pads!!

Loops are a feature of a number of marinas and one gets used to them, but proper cleats are so much easier and more seamanlike in my view.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Just a quick update!

Mrs AntarcticPilot and I visited Titchmarsh yesterday, and liked what we saw. We haven't made a final decision yet, but that is certainly on the cards. Advantages are modern facilities, pleasant staff, quick access to a variety of potential cruising areas, no waiting list and Arthur Ransome! Disadvantages are restricted tidal access, price and further by road than some other possibilities. But restricted tidal access is likely to be a feature of most places we're interested in.

Oh, one other down-side; the pontoons have loops rather than cleats (at least, as far as we went!)
Click to expand...
Did you go into the eatery
 
sailorman said:
Did you go into the eatery
Click to expand...

Gladys said:
Wouldn't have got in on a Sunday with all the locals going in for a roast...:D
Click to expand...

We did think about it, but decided not to. However, while a decent restaurant would be a bonus it wouldn't affect our decision. We usually eat aboard, and the availability of chippies in Walton is more likely to interest us! The non-nautical aspect of the marina we liked was the Gallery - there were some nice exhibits.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Too expensive, and/or waiting lists. Also, we've looked there and simply didn't fancy it! Levington is the only real possibility for us, and it didn't appeal.
Click to expand...

Fair enough.

As time available is a major factor for us, we could not possibly live with tidal restrictions.
We keep cost down by spending summer on a swinging mooring.
 
Leighb said:
Another less attractive feature of Titchmarsh is the expanded metal pontoons, somewhat noisy and very harsh on the knees. Kneeling down to try and persuade the electric card into the slot requires kee pads!!

Loops are a feature of a number of marinas and one gets used to them, but proper cleats are so much easier and more seamanlike in my view.
Click to expand...

The expanded metal is no worse than the recycled GRP at our present marina for kneeling on. At least it isn't as slippery as wood!
 
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