Newbies and The Wash

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ryanroberts

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First post, so hello.

I have been a live aboard cruising narrowboater for the last 8 years, and am rusty day skipper with mostly flotilla experience. Reaching a point in life where I need a change (and my girlfriend wants plumbing again), so moving back onto land in the East Midlands / Linconshire area. I can't face life without boats, so would like to learn to handle myself in the tidal swamp that seems to be the Wash / North Norfolk.

I assume an RYA coastal would be a good move, but does anyone have any advice on sailing clubs or otherwise getting experience in the region? I have the resources for a modest yacht, but would rather not spend my early days on it begging to be hauled off sandbanks or terrified in fog and putting my girlfriend off sailing forever.
 
I used to sail the Wash. My advice would be to go somewhere else. It'll take you 2 or 3 hours to reach the Wash, then another 2 or 3 to get out to sea proper and the only place within a days sail is Well Next the Sea. Gets pretty boring, pretty quick. From most places, you'll be tidally restricted to some degree for access to the "marinas", the weather can change really quickly and then you're stuck out there.

I'd look at somewhere on the Orwell. You can sail the Orwell or Stour, one is almost always sailable, whatever the weather, and there are lots of places you can sail to in a day. I'm based at Shotley, but there are a selection of marinas or some swinging moorings on the river. I would not go back to the Wash for any money.
 
Thanks, this is sort of the impression I got reading Tidal Havens of The Wash, but not quite so direct. I'll start having a look around Ipswitch.
 
ryanroberts said:
Thanks, this is sort of the impression I got reading Tidal Havens of The Wash, but not quite so direct. I'll start having a look around Ipswitch.
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Ipswich itself is a bit of a schlep to the Stour or the sea, it can be a bit pricey too if we’re talking about the marinas in the wet dock. Otherwise there’s Debbage Yachting in the New Cut or go further downriver which I quite like
 
What Paul Rainbow said..

Start with a modest boat somewhere that you can sail without putting out to sea proper for a season.
After you get the hang of handling sailing boat, tacking, gybing, sail trim, casting off and mooring etc, time to venture into the great big beyond.

As an unashamed plug.. CYC at Brightlingsea have three club Sonatas. They are great boats for learning how to sail and are available for use and learning how to sail.
 
ryanroberts said:
First post, so hello.

I have been a live aboard cruising narrowboater for the last 8 years, and am rusty day skipper with mostly flotilla experience.
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Hi Ryan,

A warm welcome to the forum.

Rusty day skipper; probably more qualified than many on the East Coast - and honest with it, Ryan, you should do well in this game.

Given your location, I would suggest Shotley would meet most of your needs.

Best wishes & safe sailing.
 
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I think I would be quite happy messing about on the (rather large by my standards, though I was dumb enough to take the narrowboat to Limehouse and Keadby) river for a season, as for the ..usual reasons I will need to learn to single hand. No clue about maintaining GRP, rigging or water cooled engines either.

Currently have my heart set on a <30' Westerly, Konsort or similar. Are there drying moorings available around there? A short schlep from the station might be useful at first though, if I'm mostly pottering about figuring out how to park it without drama.
 
My wife and I live near Sleaford. We're based at Shotley but other places are good too. Based on time saved over pre-A14 works, we reckon, when they're complete, it will be 2 hours to Shotley. Previously it was 2hrs 20-30. Now its about 2hrs 45-50. Would not dream of sailing the Wash. The coast and estuaries from Southwold down to Thames are beautiful.
 
I have had loads of fun in the Wash but tidal constraints are a problem if you have limited time. Currently at Humber Cruising Association at Grimsby. Go and have a look. Reasonably priced as a long term visitor and even better if you join. Locked entry with free flow a couple of hours either side highwater. Racing if that's your thing and a good cruising section. Nice people as well.
 
Thanks for the advice all, I'd reply quicker but I'm still under probation moderation. I'll start having a look around, probably once I'm a landcuck again. I'd be a dead man with 2 boats.
 
ryanroberts said:
I think I would be quite happy messing about on the (rather large by my standards, though I was dumb enough to take the narrowboat to Limehouse and Keadby) river for a season, as for the ..usual reasons I will need to learn to single hand. No clue about maintaining GRP, rigging or water cooled engines either.

Currently have my heart set on a <30' Westerly, Konsort or similar. Are there drying moorings available around there? A short schlep from the station might be useful at first though, if I'm mostly pottering about figuring out how to park it without drama.
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Seeing your wish list a Merlin 28 could well fit your bill and cheaper on marina bills.

Living in Huntingdon we had one in Shotley and cruised the UK coast to Falmouth and Belgium and France on the other side. Closer to home, Harwich Bay, the associated rivers and the Walton Backwaters provided many weekends of fabulous sailing.

The Stour is an excellent stretch of water on which to hone one's skills.

Also sailed the Wash out of Boston and Kings Lynn but a tides were very limiting.

Low bridges precluded access to the lower reaches of the Great Ouze and River Witham, which must be 2 of the most boring stretches of water in the UK.

I will not return to base us in The Wash.
 
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The Wash always seems to get a bad reputation and a lot of negativity. I kept my boat at the Gibraltar Point Sailing Club (was Skegness Yacht Club) for 10 years. I used to sail most spring tides and never got board or fed up of the Wash. Its a peaceful and interesting area to sail in.

Within a days sail of Skegness you have the following ports:

Sutton Bridge
Wisbeach
Fossdyke
Kings Lynn

Thornham
Brancaster
Burnham Overy
Wells
Blankeny
Clay Next to Sea

Saltby
Humber Mouth Yacht Club
Grimbsy
Hull
Barrow Haven
South Ferriby

Due to having a deeper draft yacht, I now keep my boat at Grimsby & Cleethorpes Yacht Club. If sailing out of the Humber my most common destination is the Wash or North Norfolk coast.
 
alexrunic said:
The Wash always seems to get a bad reputation and a lot of negativity. I kept my boat at the Gibraltar Point Sailing Club (was Skegness Yacht Club) for 10 years. I used to sail most spring tides and never got board or fed up of the Wash. Its a peaceful and interesting area to sail in.

Within a days sail of Skegness you have the following ports:

Sutton Bridge
Wisbeach
Fossdyke
Kings Lynn

Thornham
Brancaster
Burnham Overy
Wells
Blankeny
Clay Next to Sea

Saltby
Humber Mouth Yacht Club
Grimbsy
Hull
Barrow Haven
South Ferriby

Due to having a deeper draft yacht, I now keep my boat at Grimsby & Cleethorpes Yacht Club. If sailing out of the Humber my most common destination is the Wash or North Norfolk coast.
Click to expand...
Hi
alexrunic said:
The Wash always seems to get a bad reputation and a lot of negativity. I kept my boat at the Gibraltar Point Sailing Club (was Skegness Yacht Club) for 10 years. I used to sail most spring tides and never got board or fed up of the Wash. Its a peaceful and interesting area to sail in.

Within a days sail of Skegness you have the following ports:

Sutton Bridge
Wisbeach
Fossdyke
Kings Lynn

Thornham
Brancaster
Burnham Overy
Wells
Blankeny
Clay Next to Sea

Saltby
Humber Mouth Yacht Club
Grimbsy
Hull
Barrow Haven
South Ferriby

Due to having a deeper draft yacht, I now keep my boat at Grimsby & Cleethorpes Yacht Club. If sailing out of the Humber my most common destination is the Wash or North Norfolk coast.
Click to expand...
Hi alexrunic. On a scale of 1 to 10 what would sailing from Ipswich to Wisbech be like? I’ve heard things like adventurous. So 1 being an adventure and 10 being really adventurous. Or maybe an answer in your own words? All the best!!
 
paulbaker1914 said:
Hi

Hi alexrunic. On a scale of 1 to 10 what would sailing from Ipswich to Wisbech be like? I’ve heard things like adventurous. So 1 being an adventure and 10 being really adventurous. Or maybe an answer in your own words? All the best!!
Click to expand...
Pick your weather and get the tides right and it's simple enough. It is the best part of 120 miles though, so you might want a break at Lowestoft or Wells (or both).
 
PaulRainbow said:
Pick your weather and get the tides right and it's simple enough. It is the best part of 120 miles though, so you might want a break at Lowestoft or Wells (or both).
Click to expand...
Thank you, all the best.
PaulRainbow said:
Pick your weather and get the tides right and it's simple enough. It is the best part of 120 miles though, so you might want a break at Lowestoft or Wells (or both).
Click to expand...
Thank you, all the best.
 
I did Fosdyke to Ipswich in one a couple of times and when you arrive absolutely bushed you have the shipping to avoid. Lowestoft to Fosdyke in one usually means you have to anchor up to get the tide up the River. It's all about the timing.
It can seem a long time stuck out on the anchor in bad weather. I once ended up motoring against the current and staying stationary to hold station.
 
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