Norfolk / Wells next the sea

Colin K

Colin K

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Hello, One of the trips later in the month is from Ipswich to Wells. Daughter would like to stop at Southwold on the way up which is great but it leaves us quite a haul the next day to Wells. However too keep her happy we are going to give it a go you never know good conditions we will make the late tide. However we may have to stop at the top end of Norfolk and anchour for a tide and go in the next day. I think it will be somewhere just past Cromer/Sherringham. Here is the question Does anyone know what the ground is like there ? any little crannies to tuck into (realise there are no Lulworths lol) Looking at the chart it looks like a lot of sandy beaches ?

Thanks Colin.
 
Thanks

Hello, Thanks for that your right im hoping to get a bit further around the hump of Norfolk but always nice to have as many options as poss ta. We are just checking our route with the latest chart on the conservatory wall (well Harriet's maths teacher said she needs practise with angles) !!! and we are debating whether to take the passage outside the sandbanks of Lowestoft/Gt Yarmouth or the inner passage. Naturally thinking the inner one but we have just noted that the tides (that we will be using) are stronger outside. Will be doing a paper work out but does anyone have any thoughts.

Thanks for all the help. Colin
 
I have sailed from Southwold to Wells and anchored at Sea Palling overnight. As has been said go between the cardinal marks and anchor, not too close to the beach or the rocks have a look on google earth. I anchored fore and aft and had a peaceful night. SETTLED WEATHER only. The next place with shelter is Blakeney which dries like Wells so keep your tide times in mind.
 
Thanks

Hello, Thanks for all the advise, Well just did a route plan on the chart and you get a 3nm kick by going the offshore route but its 2nm further. Odd isnt it I know its faster to go out but we have opted for the inshore route. Google earthed Sea Palling and it looks really interesting in the right conditionas as u say so a good stop over if it fits in thanks. Are the breakwaters rocks or old car tyres which seems to be a craze ?
All the best and thanks Colin.
 
Just done Lowestoft/Wells. Planned for 2 hours foul tide at the start, went inside at Yarmouth and had an hour against me on the last stretch. Took 10 hours to the bar in a 27' boat with 9hp engine. My main concern was getting over the Wells bar, HW + or - 2. When I contacted harbourmaster he came out to guide me in; I expect I'd have managed but it is very wiggly.
I'd heard of Sea Palling but didn't investigate.
 
Hello, Wow thanks for that its nice when someone in a simular sized boat gives you their experiences and time taken to cover a distance Thanks, We are coming up from Ipswich to Southwold (nice and relaxed) Then up to Wells however my 12 yr old daughter wants to stop at anchour overnight so I think we should Leave Southwold jus before high, Bash the tide for an hour or so up to Lowestoft/GtYarmouth and then get as far as we can until the tide turns, Should just get past Cromer I think and that goes in with your distance I think ?? Looked on Google earth as well and jus off Weybourne looks good ? Dinghy ashore, Barbecue and a bit of kip till 4am ish to catch the tide into Wells on the rise. All ready for carnival week !!! All depending on the weather of course !! We have a 30' Kingfisher with 30hp and we cruise at 5 kts quite reliably. Once again thanks for the help. Colin.
 
Did Ipswich to Wells 2 years ago in a 29' bilge keeler. Personaly, I would miss Southwold On the way up (do Southwold on the way back) and overnight in Lowestoft (**** place I know) but gives a better chance of making tides. Beware Wells in a northerly 4 plus and radio the harbourmaster for a guide into the serpentine channel. I left Wells in the company of Jomo on a dark night and "sphincter tightening" was my description :D
 
Habebty said:
Did Ipswich to Wells 2 years ago in a 29' bilge keeler. Personaly, I would miss Southwold On the way up (do Southwold on the way back) and overnight in Lowestoft (**** place I know) but gives a better chance of making tides. Beware Wells in a northerly 4 plus and radio the harbourmaster for a guide into the serpentine channel. I left Wells in the company of Jomo on a dark night and "sphincter tightening" was my description :D
Click to expand...

Exactly what i'd do. Much easier to slip out of Wells as soon as there is enough water and have the tide behind for more of the journey back.

I certainly wouldn't want to spend the night anywhere near Cromer on the hook. Horribly exposed if it turns nasty. I'd want to be passing Cromer 4-5 miles offshore to avoid the pot buoys too. Also, note that the area is getting a lot of extra traffic with all the wind farm construction going on. We did Shotley to Wisbech in January and there was quite a few cats and such like around. Last two trips out of Wisbech we've been followed back in by 3 or 4 cats doing 20 knots. AIS is nice :)
 
Geez, you lot are glutens for punishment. We felt badly done to at 2.5 hours from Wells to Lowestoft!!

If you dont know the channel into Wells getting the pilot out is very worth while. We have just come back from Wells for the second time this year (see post in Thames Forum for all the details) and love the place but the channel isnt obvious to to those unfamiliar with its course.

The bar can be a little lumpy but shouldnt cause you any concern.
 
Hello again, Thanks for the info and your pointer to the Thames forum, The pics are always a help. Just 10 days to the off now and I think we have decided to drop down from Ipswich to Shotley to warm us up and make sure the fridge is holding the beer to 5 deg ! Then as soon as the puddle goes North in the morning we go for Lowestoft. Just be an over nighter there so prob just go to starboard into Hamilton for the night. Always quiet. Then leave like Spuddy a couple of hours before it turns and I think we should just about do it weather permitting. Now 2.5 hrs would be nice but hey we get to wave as you guys go past and if the wind dies I still only use 1/4 gall of diesel an hour at 6 kts!! If we go into Blakeney I will report back. Wells looks great but I think being carnival week its going to be busy ?
All the best Colin.
 
Wells

The trip from Lowestoft to Wells can be a long haul. It took me 12 hours in March 2009 in a force 6, and I have to say the Wells Harbour masters launch was a most welcome sight. Well worth while but from Cromer onwards you do need to be aware of the plethora of pot markers which can vary in their distance from the shore. Have a good trip.
 
Colin K said:
Hello again, Thanks for the info and your pointer to the Thames forum, The pics are always a help. Just 10 days to the off now and I think we have decided to drop down from Ipswich to Shotley to warm us up and make sure the fridge is holding the beer to 5 deg ! Then as soon as the puddle goes North in the morning we go for Lowestoft. Just be an over nighter there so prob just go to starboard into Hamilton for the night. Always quiet. Then leave like Spuddy a couple of hours before it turns and I think we should just about do it weather permitting. Now 2.5 hrs would be nice but hey we get to wave as you guys go past and if the wind dies I still only use 1/4 gall of diesel an hour at 6 kts!! If we go into Blakeney I will report back. Wells looks great but I think being carnival week its going to be busy ?
All the best Colin.
Click to expand...

If you are there for carnival week give our friends on Gemini a hello from us. We couldnt get that week off so they are having to go alone. Sounds like a great weekend of entertainment.
 
Instead of Shotley you could moor at Halfpenny Pier at Harwich. Saves having to do the lock. I spent a week there weatherbound and was very comfy on the inside. The pier-masters are a bunch of helpful eccentrics.
 
What's Wells like for a long keeler? We could dry out next to somethng but The Kipper doesn't have legs :)
Happy to sit on a buoy or anchor.
 
Mines long (ahem) and just touched when rafted up on the pontoon. The bigger fellers were alongside the Albatros and seemed fine.
 
Wellls

I went to Wells a month or so ago with a long keel boat, we sat on the pontoon and were fine, as already stated the deeper draft boats can go alongside the Albatross no problems.
 
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