Sailing out of Tollesbury Marina

Daverw

Daverw

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My friend is just about completed the purchase of his new yacht which is currently in Tollesbury marina. We are planning to sail it back to our club on the river Humber in about 3 weeks time.

Just looking at pilotage info for sailing out of Tollesbury out to sea and heading north, any advice would be appreciated, I've only seen the river etc at low tide and I trailered my previous boat from there so have never sail out.

Plan is to sail out, over night at Wells and then head to the Humber
 
The tide falls to the north hereabouts. Leaving Tollesbury as soon as you have enough water to get out, you will punch a bit of tide then have it behind you. Where exactly will depend on your SoG. Try and avoid doing it in a NE.. the Wallet is not called vommit alley for nothing.

Good sailing
 
Would expect about min 5 knots under motor, 32' yacht. How well is the channel marked from Tollesbury to the main river? Looked a little confusing when we looked a couple of years ago but was at low water, And how much time approximately to get to river mouth.
 
Daverw said:
Would expect about min 5 knots under motor, 32' yacht. How well is the channel marked from Tollesbury to the main river? Looked a little confusing when we looked a couple of years ago but was at low water, And how much time approximately to get to river mouth.
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It's clearly marked. Follow the buoys and moorings. Look on
http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page29.html
Where are chartlets for the channels and leavings. As Tomahawk said, leave as soon as the depth gauge on the cill show enough water. Classic East coast sailing " how much water do you need"
 
Wells will be ok, been in and out a number of times, we have lifting keel and my friends new yacht also has lifting keel, 3'2 up 5'8" down.

We may look at going straight north without wells stop over but both female admirals may have other ideas and overrule.
 
Depending on draught, you might have a small window at Wells and as it's about 120 nm from Tollesbury you'll be punching the tide for a long while, 5 knots SoG might become 2 :( If you make Lowestoft your first stop, about 65 nm, you should be able to work your times out to do that leg with favourable tides most of the way.

2nd leg, Lowestoft to Wells, would be about 55 nm. Timed to arrive Wells about 2 hrs before HW keeps the foul tide to a minimum.

3rd and final leg from Wells to the Humber about 40nm can be planned with a minimal amount of foul tide, arrive at the Humber around LW and take the flood tide up the river.
 
If you are there at anything more than half tide then don't bother to go right out to the Colne Buoy, - unless it's really kicking up. I have a 1.7 keel and never bother. Just go across the bar.
 
I would talk the admirals into a stopover at Lowestoft rather than Wells, the town is nothing to write home about, but the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk YC is charming and welcoming. They have their own small marina to port as you enter the harbour, before you get to the bridge. That option would save you quite a few milesand avoid the need to navigate the Wash.

Peter
 
PeterWright said:
I would talk the admirals into a stopover at Lowestoft rather than Wells, the town is nothing to write home about, but the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk YC is charming and welcoming. They have their own small marina to port as you enter the harbour, before you get to the bridge. That option would save you quite a few milesand avoid the need to navigate the Wash.

Peter
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Wish i'd have thought of Lowestoft :)

I'm curious, how does stopping at Lowestoft, rather than wells,
save you quite a few miles and avoid the need to navigate the Wash
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Not sure why visiting Wells requires any Wash navigation.
 
Wells to humber normally go right outside wind farm, direct route until Donna Nook, did this a few weeks ago, left wells, set sails and rested for 9 hours and did not touch anything, shame it was raining.
 
PaulRainbow said:
Wish i'd have thought of Lowestoft :)

I'm curious, how does stopping at Lowestoft, rather than wells,

Not sure why visiting Wells requires any Wash navigation.
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Quite simple, to go north from Essex to the Humber requires you to pass Lowestoft, the most Eastern point of England. To head back West into the Wash for Wells, or any other Wash port, adds unnecessary miles to the Lowestoft - Humber passage and by definition requires you to sail into the Wash. Better, imho, to do Lowestoft - Humber direct.

Peter.
 
PeterWright said:
Quite simple, to go north from Essex to the Humber requires you to pass Lowestoft, the most Eastern point of England. To head back West into the Wash for Wells, or any other Wash port, adds unnecessary miles to the Lowestoft - Humber passage and by definition requires you to sail into the Wash. Better, imho, to do Lowestoft - Humber direct.

Peter.
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But, Wells is not a Wash port, it isn't in the Wash.

Lowestoft to the tip of Spurn Point is 94nm, Lowestoft to Spurn Point via Wells is 97nm.

That said, i'd stop off at Lowestoft and Wells, for the reasons i gave earlier.
 
PaulRainbow said:
But, Wells is not a Wash port, it isn't in the Wash.

Lowestoft to the tip of Spurn Point is 94nm, Lowestoft to Spurn Point via Wells is 97nm.

That said, i'd stop off at Lowestoft and Wells, for the reasons i gave earlier.
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I have to agree, This would be at least a two nighter if I were planning, especially with two on board. Unless you get the tides exactly right 5 knots through the water isn't 5 knots SOG. I'm not sure I would want to enter Wells in the dark.....
 
At the moment plan is to avoid evening stop over at Wells, it's just about do able but leaves it a bit tight, looking at stopping at Lowestoft then straight to Humber, we have options then to anchor and wait for LW or head to Grimsby or Hull time dependant, as the Humber is our home water happy when we pass Spurn Head and back into familiar areas, tides and timings.
 
I will offer a slightly different option. and that is to stop at Southwold rather than Lowestoft. It is about 10 miles shorter for your first day, is an easier entrance. With your draft can be entered at any state of the tide ( but within an hour of high or low tides is best as the tide runs very fast, particularly on the ebb). I suggest Southwold because if you need any parts or repairs ( quite possible on your delivery passage !) you have the large boat yard, Harbour Marine Services, to sort you out, I didn't see anywhere similar near to Lowestoft when I visited both places last week.
 
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