Sell the East Coast to SWMBO

Judders

Judders

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It's now six months until I take a big pay cut. The boat will probably have to be sold and I'm planning on moving out of London.

I can not really afford a cute little cottage in Hamble and lets face it, the commute would be a nightmare.

I quite fancy Burnham but SWMBO, bought up in Bosham and Hamble has a blind spot for the joys of the East Coast.

How can I sell it to her?
 
The appreciation of flat land and mud and the peace and solitude may take some getting used. My wife moved from St Albans to Leigh-on-Sea when we got together and we have a view over the Thames and the tide goes out a mile in front of the house. For ages she only invited her friends down when the tide was in but now she has come to appreciate the changing estuary and the light on the mud.

Burnham is quite a way from anywhere else - how about Maldon? Or even Leigh-on-Sea! Rent somewhere first so you get to know where you'd like to buy. Get one of us eastcoasters to take you sailing up rivers and creeks. Breathe frsh salty air with the hint of seaweed aroma - aah it's grand here:)
 
Have to move out out of London... still have access to London. My wee boat's on the Orwell. I can stay in St Kat's for £30 a night. If you're on the East Coast you can sail under the M25, admire the traffic jams, and have cheap accommodation in central London.
 
Selling the east coast

We live midway between the Solent and the East coast and most of my sailing was previously on the Solent, but now I have my own boat the East coast wins hands down. The big difference is the lack of crowds both on the water and driving there; it may be slightly further to Ipswich but takes less time and once on the boat is so much quieter, for example on a long 3 night weekend we usually only pay marina (or any other) fees for one night. What it is not good for is trips to France or the C Islands; Holland is that bit further.

Regards
 
What's not to like? Saltings and mudflats are so much more interesting than watching a few feet of seaweed-covered jetty appear. The wildlife, especially the birdlife, is fantastic and people travel from round the world to visit the area just for that.

Burnham is a glorious (and expensive) yachting town that hasn't quite lost the plot the way Cowes has. If Burnham Week is anything like it used to be then you'll have more fun whether you're crew or owner than you ever could at Cowes Week.

If you look at Maldon then you've got everything from Barge racing to Mud racing and as for the climate, one of the largest vineyards in Britain is just outside Maldon and it produces some quite drinkable wines (and, to be fair, some stuff that makes you wonder if they keep cats).

There's even still real pubs selling real beers to the people that actually live nearby - a genuine local.

Most important though is that, provided you don't expect live on the Quay in Burnham, you will have a far nicer home than ever you could if you tried to stay on the South Coast - somewhere SWMBO will be proud to have her friends come and stay. On top of that you should be able to have a better quality of life by being more comfortably within your means. Nothing is more guaranteed to cause problems than having to watch every penny because you're so extended.


Any of that any help? I spent my mid-teens in Burnham and learnt to sail there. I can honestly say I'd be back like a shot if work permitted. My redundancy plans involve a houseboat of some kind on the Crouch or Blackwater and consultancy work in London, hopefully just for a couple of days a weeks. I keep asking them...
 
Hahaha....

I'm from near Leigh-on-Sea and spent most of my child hood playing in and around the area...I absolutely love the fact the tide goes out and a new landscape appears...it makes me realise why my Dad concentrated so much when we used to leave the mooring and head out for a days fishing....

My Greek wife on the other hand finds it hilarious that I love the mud flats...she's quite happy for us to live in the tideless med (actually I'm quite happy being able to jump on the boat any time of day :) )

Maldon/Burnham....If I'd stayed in the UK I think I'd be quite happy living there..very pleasant areas.
 
From a pure sailing perspective having done Solent / S Coast and East Coast the East Coast wins hands down for me. I'm not into racing (although it is there (Burnham / W Mersea etc) but do enjoy the relatively uncluttered waters, cheap moorings (often free overnight). Calais / Gravelines is just 12 hours away in my 27' sailing boat - much the same as Yarmouth to Cherbourg, Holland is a bit further but easily done as a long sail or coast hopping France / Belgium etc. Folk are freindly too - we raggies even speak to stinkpots! :eek:
 
I took my two lads and we spent a couple of hours sat on the sea wall at Sheerness looking out to Southend and I have to say the view was superb. Watching the traffic go past was a joy and the number of yachts at sail had the place to themselves. I know it's south of the mudflats but it still beats the M25 that is the Solent hands down, IMO of course.
 
Well thats the other thing. I'm pretty Solented out.

Her father thinks its a brilliant idea and as she worships him, she is slowly starting to listen more sympathetically.

I must get her to re-read Secret Water soon. Any other good East Coast books?

If anyone wants a couple of crew for a cruise of the most delightful east coast destinations one weekend, I would be very grateful!
 
Judders said:
I must get her to re-read Secret Water soon. Any other good East Coast books?
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Well, everbody ought to read the Magic of the Swatchways - but perhaps later when you are both settled in. Since Maurice Griffiths seems only to have been happy when there was a gale blowing or snow on the decks, or preferably both, it might not have the desired effect. Good read though.

And, of course, if you want a really accurate picture of East Coast sailing, then Des Sleightholme's "Old Harry" series is the answer.... ;)

If anyone wants a couple of crew for a cruise of the most delightful east coast destinations one weekend, I would be very grateful!
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That's the best answer. The East Coast doesn't wear its heart on its sleeve. What you get is a very great deal more than what you see at first glance. You have to get to know it and experience it in its many different moods. It creeps up on you. No gasps of "oh, how lovely!" as one chocolate box scene after another appears before you. But eventually you may find more beauty in the creeks and marshes than you could ever imagine. I wouldn't swap them (and I have sailed all over Europe from the Baltic to Spain, including many years in the west country and Brittany)

Beware, though, You may become addicted..........
 
How right you are. The Orwell and Deben are above comparison against any waterway between Chichester and Dartmouth. Beautiful and scenic, with composed philosophers ghosting around in nice clean bottoms - well, that's my life's mission......come join us!

Hope it works out for you both...

PWG
 
Have a little tour around with SWMBO. See what the East Coast is like and let her decide. There is the Thames, the Orwell and the Crouch. All good fun to sail in. Do not listen to the metropolitan elitists who sneer at anything East of the Smoke. Those who are rude about Essex do not know it!
 
Stoneness said:
Coast is like and let her decide. There is the Thames, the Orwell and the Crouch. Those who are rude about Essex do not know it!
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No Medway? No East Swale? No Roach? No Blackwater? No Colne? No Backwaters? No Stour? No Deben? No Ore? No Alde? No Southwold? Lowestoft...ahem.......

Mind you, if she likes the Solent, the Orwell is probably the best place to start as it is most certainly the Hamble of the East. A pretty river, but quite crowded now and the crowds have spilled over into Hamford Water, which is pity, although there are still plenty of secluded parts of the Backwaters. Best out of season and mid week, though, these days.

(And if you do keep the boat, you'll never be charged to anchor and you will be able to moor overnight free in many places as well)
 
Ok downthecreek, I did leave a few rivers out, mea culpa. But the sentiment is the same A run from Burnham to Ramsgate can be fun for "Wifey" if conditions are right. Nice run ashore. By the way isn't 'Smack Boys' a bit nudge, nudge, wink, wink?
 
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