Southend Air Show Guidance

DanTribe

DanTribe

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Hi.
Can anyone give me some advice on visiting the Southend air show by boat.
Is it practical to anchor overnight? How crowded is the anchorage? Are there exclusion zones? Any suitable bolt holes in bad weather? That sort of thing.
I've wanted to do it for some time but the weather is often unfavourable.
Dan
 
I have done it before, good fun, but spend the night before in Queenborough and then sail across and drop anchor as close in as you can get. Off the beach to the west of the pier
 
Hi
She's a UFO 31. Fin keel 1.8m draught, So I reckon Ray Gut is out of bounds for us. We shall be coming from the Crouch and don't very often visit the Thames / Medway area, perhaps we should.
Dan
 
With respect, you are going to have to be a long way off the beach when the water goes down the plug'ole.
You need a Lift/Bilge you do. What day is it this year?

Jim
 
I understand that we'll be about a mile off the foreshore, but should be able to see the display from there presumably. I was wondering about the practicality of anchoring between Leigh Middle & Marsh End but how crowded does it get, or will we be the only nutters there?
We usually only get to see the occasional plane if they approach via River Roach.
Had a magnificent private view of Battle of Britain Flight on a low pass over Yokesfleet last year.
Thanks for your advice but actually I don't want a bilge keeler, [but a lift keel would be nice]
Dan
 
Theres usually plenty out there. I only asked what day it is as I might be able to squeeze out of Havengore for the day, and nip back in later. I only draw 3 feet plate up.
Could be up for selling tickets in the guise of Lead Capped Red French Fluids /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif


Jim
 
I understand that it's on Sunday & Monday 29th & 30th May.
Going out of Havengore & back in the same day? You'r just showing off now!

Dan
 
Have you considered the Clacton Air Show?

You can anchor just off the end of the pier and have the priviledge of being right under the flight path of the Tornado as it passes flat out...it is LOUD!!!

Two years back where we anchored seemed to be a waypoint that the Red Arrows were using for starting several of their routines quite an amazing spectacle.

Certainly air shows seen from the water bring a completely new dimension to a pleasant day out!
 
Have anchored off in Ray Gut the night before the Air Show. We draw just about the same as you and there is plenty of water just off Westcliffe. Gets pretty crowded though. Any exclusion zones are/were marked by red buoys.
 
I sail from Benfleet but have never watched the full air show from the boat, but I did anchor for a couple of hours last year before going over to the Medway.

It's a briilliant way to see the show!

Anchoring overnight in the Ray isn't recommended for you. Even if the wind is light, there's lots of ship washes that bounce about all over the place, so the only quiet place is right at the top alongside the point and you draw too much for that. So, as suggested, I agree you should spend the night in Queenborough (after an evening in the QYC, I trust!).
The Ray gets crowded for the air show but you'll find space so go for it; it's sheltered once the banks are uncovered and you'll find plenty of water other than in the very top half mile.
I'm not aware of any restriction zones; certainly not in the Ray.

If you're there on Sunday, look out for the Combined Cruiser Series fleet returning from Upnor, and (possibly, hopefully) a little red boat called Tiptoe among them ....
 
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