Southwold entrance

Leighb

Leighb

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We have not visited Southwold - by sea - before. Although it is our favourite seaside day out.

We are planning to go this summer, what is the latest info regarding depths over the bar, and what are the recommended times for entry?

The pilot books seem to have very different ideas, varying from: close to LW - if depth allows -, from half tide rising, to 30mins before HW. Rather a large variation it seems. :confused:

We draw 1.4M, any recommendations please?
 
Leaving from the Orwell, my tactic has been to take the last of Northbound ebb aiming to be past Orfordness at slack water and then punch the south going flood for a couple of hours so that there is sufficient rise of tide at the entrance.

The boat draws 1.9m and this has worked well for me.

There were reports of considerable shoaling in the entrance earlier this year but the HM will be able to advise.
 
Thanks for replies, we are going there by car tomorrow, for an Anniversary day out, so plan to have a look and talk to the HM.

I had thought taking the last of the ebb north seemed a possible plan but was confused by the quite different advice from the pilot books.
 
I am going on the August bank holiday weekend and had planned to arrive somewhere in the last to hours of the flood. I draw 1.5M it has not been so much the depth that has had me thinking but the strength of the flow in the river and at the entrance with reports of 6 knots plus that is what I need to get right! I supose once we have been there and laid the demons it will all be simple the second time around.
 
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petehb said:
...... I supose once we have been there and laid the demons it will all be simple the second time around.
Click to expand...
Well, the advice that I offered below is that visitors should contact the HM every time they go. The shallows outside are very mobile. Second time around you might be surprised, if you don't ask.
 
Cantata said:
Well, the advice that I offered below is that visitors should contact the HM every time they go. The shallows outside are very mobile. Second time around you might be surprised, if you don't ask.
Click to expand...

Another good reason to contact the HM is that at busy weekends and especially when a local club is has made a block booking, the harbour can be full.
 
An update, we went to Southwod today, by car, had a lovely day.

We had a long chat with the HM. He said that the minimum depth this year is 1.3M on a line with the harbour entrance bearing 310deg True at 1/2 mile.

We observed 2 yachts coming in and 1 leaving close to LW and also chatted to some friends who had come in at LW a few days earlier. They preferred a LW entry as tide is slack outside., provided there is enough depth, on a neapish tide there should be around 2.3 - 2.5M, so enough for us.
 
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We went for the first time last year. Arrived at HW which was planned. Left an hour after LW (0.8m showing below 1.7m keel). This gave us 8 hours of fair tide back towards Bradwell. A chat with HM beforehand and before leaving was reassuring and informative.

Will be even better this year now I have a holding tank :o it's a long walk to the loo when the pub is closed :eek:

Great place - when we were kids my uncle had a caravan on the harbour site so lots of good memories.
 
For those without holding tanks and in need of the Good Loo Guide:

The pub has loos which are kept open most of the time. A camel ride away is the caravan site which has loos and showers which are open all of the time. Close to the pub, and not nearly as far away as the caravan site, is the sailing club which has loos AND SHOWERS which are open so long as the sailing club is open.
 
I went to Southwold yesterday for a look see. Couldnt find the HM but visitors moorings are right outside the Pub! Looks like they dont dry so I am pencilling a visit in probably next year (from the Crouch)as boat still not arrived yet! It was a bit lumpy on the entrance as ebb was running (about 2 hrs after HW initially) & there was a fair breeze
Great fish & chips from one of the fishermans huts as well& many others selling sea food & wet fish
 
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