Orwell, Stour and Walton Backwaters - Trailer Sailing

[Little Rascal]

Hi again,

I'm now thinking seriously about bringing my Hunter Europa to the Orwell for a week or two - especially as some good friends have just moved back to Felixstowe so we will have a shore base.

I'd expect to spend at least a few nights on board anyway and we'll probably do some little trips to the Backwaters and maybe Deben/Orford with appropriate weather.

So I'm looking for some tips on:
- A good deep water slip (The boat has a fixed 3' keel like a Squib)
- Possibility of a swinging mooring available for a week or so
- Overnight anchorages in the Stour and Backwaters for a fin keeler drawing 1m

For logistics it would make sense to be based on the N bank of the Orwell but we could put in where ever the slip is best/cheapest.

Or we could just raft up on a Container ship...


Thanks for your help,
Jon

 

[sailorman]

Hi again,

I'm now thinking seriously about bringing my Hunter Europa to the Orwell for a week or two - especially as some good friends have just moved back to Felixstowe so we will have a shore base.

I'd expect to spend at least a few nights on board anyway and we'll probably do some little trips to the Backwaters and maybe Deben/Orford with appropriate weather.

So I'm looking for some tips on:
- A good deep water slip (The boat has a fixed 3' keel like a Squib)
- Possibility of a swinging mooring available for a week or so
- Overnight anchorages in the Stour and Backwaters for a fin keeler drawing 1m

For logistics it would make sense to be based on the N bank of the Orwell but we could put in where ever the slip is best/cheapest.

Or we could just raft up on a Container ship...


Thanks for your help,
Jon

To launch
Suffolk Yacht Hbr
Felixstowe Ferry
Robertsons Woodbridge
Fox`s Ipswich

 

[CliveG]

For a deep water slip, the best I know is at Suffolk Yacht harbour.
If you launch at around High tide you will have at least 3m of water over the bottom of the slip.

For a mooring you should try Pin Mill, the Royal Harwich Yacht Club or Wolverston.

 

[sailorman]

For a deep water slip, the best I know is at Suffolk Yacht harbour.
If you launch at around High tide you will have at least 3m of water over the bottom of the slip.

For a mooring you should try Pin Mill, the Royal Harwich Yacht Club or Wolverston.

SYH have moorings as well as does FF Boatyard

 

[Little Rascal]

Thanks, Suffolk Yacht Harbour looks very handy.

Anyone got recommendations for Pilot books?

 

[sailorman]

Thanks, Suffolk Yacht Harbour looks very handy.

Anyone got recommendations for Pilot books?

East Coast Rivers

 

[Little Rascal]

Thanks.

Been looking at the Walton charts - is it possible/permissible/sensible to anchor in 'The Dardanelles' creek W of the Walton channel? The chart doesn't show moorings there and nothing shows on google earth. There appear to be some holes further in where I could lie afloat, at least at neaps?

 

[PaulGooch]

I'd have thought the moorings on Hamford Water would be better.

 

[AliM]

I was told that the Dardenelles was a good place to anchor, by someone I met who had a small trailor-sailor sized boat - no first hand knowledge.

I don't think there are any moorings in Hamford Water (but I don't think we visited there in 2011, so they might have put some in) but it's a super place to anchor, except in strong easterlies.

 

[PaulGooch]

I don't think there are any moorings in Hamford Water (but I don't think we visited there in 2011, so they might have put some in) but it's a super place to anchor, except in strong easterlies.

Sorry, bad choice of wording in my post, perhaps i should have said "anchorages in Hamford Water"

 

[nigelm]

I was going to say about the small dock off to the left passed W&FYC as you go up the twizzle towards Tichmarsh , not deep or glamourus but was handy when kids were small for Walton beach/pier/town ,our etap 26 got in ok , but I don't know If it's still in use .

 

[Little Rascal]

Is that where the mudberths are?


I found this sequence of interesting photos....

 

[BAtoo]

SYH - can DIY launch a Squib there certainly HW +- 3hrs, probably more, especially at neaps; and there's a walkway adjacent to the slip for mast raising if needed. Full tidal access.
Lots of car parking (free), basic provisions, decent chandlery, decent grub on the Lightship, long way from town though.

Some of the locals are even friendly.......

We have a Squib fleet there......

 

[Little Rascal]

Thanks BAtoo!

East Coast Rivers

How does the EC Rivers compare to the EC Pilot? Or is that a controversial question here?

 

[sailorman]

Thanks BAtoo!




How does the EC Rivers compare to the EC Pilot? Or is that a controversial question here?

i have never used the latter

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Thanks.

Been looking at the Walton charts - is it possible/permissible/sensible to anchor in 'The Dardanelles' creek W of the Walton channel? The chart doesn't show moorings there and nothing shows on google earth. There appear to be some holes further in where I could lie afloat, at least at neaps?

I've seen boats in there a few times. You need to be either very careful about checking your swinging area and depth, or able to take the ground. I believe the main 'pool' is 2.0m at LWS though.

The entrance is shoal on the Titchmarsh side, so stick to the seaward side of the entrance when entering...

We've often thought about creeping in there, but with a deep fin keel, never been quite brave enough!