New info re Southwold

[MoodySabre]

I spoke to the HM yesterday about my visit to Southwold next Tuesday. He said that they had had some shoaling recently. The new approach waypoint is 52.18.310N 001.40.900E - from there make a track of 330deg True for the centre of the entrance. At the Knuckle turn to starboard so as to be 2 - 3 metres of the wall about half way between the Knuckle and the RNLI building. Hold that distance off until the yellow bollard and then resume centre of the river.

For the tide on 11/08/09 he said that the window for entrance for my 1.7m fin feel was HW + or - 2 hours and that the earliest I could leave at LW + 2.

 

[Independence]

Thanks for your post. I've been thinking about paying Southwold a visit.

What's the score with berths. I'm assuming the river dries out and you settle on the mud?

 

[exfinnsailor]

Southwold

Far from it .. Southwold Harbour does not dry .. There is a sand bar on the way in and the middle of the river past the lifeboat station is shallow at low water .. You have to do your sums .. Once in the town key is the only place to berth although the Harbour Master has permission from a number of stage holders to let visitors use them .. You can be rafted out as far as six deep so you need long shore lines .. During the day there is usually someone to take a line .. The town quay is piles so you have to use a board .. These are provided so you don't need your own .. Facilities are power on the town quay and water .. None of the other stages has power or water .. Sailing club is open in the evening ( 7 .. 9 ) opposite the town Quay and has showers for a small fee .. Entrance not recommended on the ebb with an onshore blow .. You get a standing wave in the entrance and you finish up surfing in .. Not pleasant as you finish up with no steerage in a very confined space .. The river can flow at 3 knots on the ebb at springs .. You have to radio the Harbour Master before entry on channel 12 for clearance to enter as it is an active fishing port .. Watch out for Coastal Voyager .. Very fast rib does sea trips .. Great local fish .. Pub on the quay can be expensive to eat .. Plenty of food places in the town .. Try the Red Lion ..