New to sailing and East coast

[Chally2]

Hello,

New to the forum and new to sailing (well not yet). I am interested in buying a motor sailor. Probably based out of SYH. I have some experiene, and will be having lessons, courses etc. anyway,

I was just wondering if you had favorite day cruise with an anchorage or stop off either 1 or 2 days. Maybe with a pub, somewhere nice we could possible do some paddle boarding, a nice walk ashore, that sort of thing.

Just thinking of things to do with the family.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Egret]

Lots of places - get ‘East Coast Pilot’ - Stour and Orwell in one day - beaches at Wrabness and Harkstead - pubs and coffee shops Harwich, Manningtree, Pin Mill - Colne and Blackwater or Deben for weekend. For boating as you describe, consider a bilge keeler that will sit upright on mud or sand - gives flexibility and opportunity for places not so accessible for fin keeler and sits upright if you get depths wrong, as you will.

Consider a reasonably good sailing bilge keeler with a good engine rather than a ‘motor sailer’. It's a long way to the Blackwater under motor.

You will need a dinghy to get you ashore, maybe a sailing dinghy for the children.

Involve the children - they steer, they look out, they do the navigation, watch for buoys, they watch the echo sounder, you oversee. Have a boat that is sufficiently sensitive that they can feel when they are not doing it right. Don't take them out in rough weather.

Take children to a club that is active with children's sailing activities - Waldringfield or Royal Harwich , Deben YC possibly- Brightlingsea has a very big childrens evening (50+) on Tuesdays if you can get there, focussing on fun,

Go to beach on rising tide. Study the tides. Watch Harwich tides live particularly for surges up and down..

Electric chart on mobile phone give a spot where you are which is helpful, but don’t rely on depths shown as changes quickly, allow a metre to spare if you can. Good Luck

 

[fredrussell]

Ramsholt or Waldringfield on the Deben both have nice pubs, Ha’penny pier at Harwich good for pubs and a much historic stuff there to take in, though obviously not the longest of cruises from SYH. Orford and Aldeburgh good for pubs etc. Both Deben and Alde have entrances that demand respect - see east coast pilot website for details.

 

[johnalison]

Consider a reasonably good sailing bilge keeler with a good engine rather than a ‘motor sailer’. It's a long way to the Blackwater under motor.

I think I would agree. Back in the '70s when motor-sailors were common the average sailing boat got by with a basic 'auxiliary' engine but nowadays all major production boats are able to motor just as well as motor-sailors if not better, and even the older boats have mostly been re-engined.. I do know one or two couples where the wife was nervous or unsuited to sailing and the larger and bulkier motor-sailors gave them more confidence, which is understandable. Other things being equal, a motor-sailor will be heavier and possibly have an easier motion, while being designed to sail with less heel, but from what I have seen they are deadly slow under sail without a gale of wind and invariably end up motoring or motor-sailing everywhere.

 

[Chally2]

Thanks for all the answers. The boat I have my eye on is a Nauticat 33. It has the sort of layout I would prefer. I get the advantage of a bilge keel, especially for the east coast. It is something to consider.

​

 

[jezjez]

I’d say that part of the fun of staying on the boat and camping out is finding your own special places. I wouldn’t worry where we suggest. Get a pilot guide and start planning and making some journeys to see where you might like to go and the type of sailing trips you enjoy. Start small, though, is my advice. Go somewhere that looks incredibly easy the first time so that you feel like you’ve done everything well rather than starting by trying something adventurous and realising there’s a lot to learn that you didn’t know you didn’t know.
Hopefully, everyone will have a great time and look forward to doing more.
Best of luck

 

[potentillaCO32]

Thanks for all the answers. The boat I have my eye on is a Nauticat 33. It has the sort of layout I would prefer. I get the advantage of a bilge keel, especially for the east coast. It is something to consider.

​

I would caution on having fixed views on what layout you would prefer. The moment you get a boat and start using it your views on the sort of boat that you want/need will change.

You may even find why motor sailers are not hugely popular on the east coast rivers any more.

 

[johnalison]

I would caution on having fixed views on what layout you would prefer. The moment you get a boat and start using it your views on the sort of boat that you want/need will change.

You may even find why motor sailers are not hugely popular on the east coast rivers any more.

The trouble is that you have to start somewhere, and a Nauticat, while not my choice, is a perfectly reasonable option. I have sailed in company with a 33, as well as Fisher 30s and 37s, and the Nauticat is closer to being a decent sailing boat. I was jealous of their indoor comforts at times and if nothing else, the poop deck is a great place for drinks.

 

[jezjez]

Maybe start with some opinions and gently throw them overboard one week at a time.