Southwold entrance

Colin K

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 Aug 2009
Messages
411
Location
Coventry
Visit site
Hello hope everyone is enjoying the Summer.

We are after a bit of advise on entering Southwold which we have done many times but always on a well rising tide or high water.
Working our way North from Ipswich at the end of next week we are hoping to have a quiet night on the Butley "river" on Friday 29th if quiet is an option at this time? then up to Southwold on Saturday 30th appreciating its going to be busy. To fit in with leaving the Ore an hour before high (we have cut that entrance a bit fine too often). That gets us to the entrance of Southwold at 12:00 ish. L/W is 15:10hrs 0.8m and wondered if anyone with local knowledge could advise me? Think it will be fine.

Cheers, Col.
 
Kind of depends on what you draw.

Mine draws 6'4" and I've made it in on lw neaps and 1hr after lw springs.
However I'm local so know where the deep water usually is.
However if you draw a similar amount then a couple of hours before or after LW will see you in with little problem.
Once through the knuckle aim for the lifeboat station and then keep a boat length and a half from the north wall, all the way to the first pontoon on your right.

See video below,
The script does tend to er on the safe side but the line we took coming in is best for deep water.

 
Last edited:
Hello,
Thanks for the reply, We are passage planning in the comfort of the conservatory so appreciate you coming back so quick. We only draw 1m so quite shallow compared to yourself. Understand swell etc can be an influence although I have not ordered swell for this trip to Wells and back!!�� We hope to have a cpl of days in Southwold each way.

All the best, Col
 
In that case any state of the tide will be fine.
Swell is only an issue from 20knts in the east really.

There is a shallow around 50m off the entrance piers, not an issue for grounding but it does throw up some swell with stiff onshore winds.
Just inside the piers you will notice that there is a tidal eddy that always heads North on the ebb and the flood.
In effect it pushes you away from the South Pier but it can be a bit of a surprise.
Same as any harbour entrance really, keep the jib ready just in case unless its on the nose.

Make sure you pop down to the HMS yard and say Hi.

Mike.
 
Your plan of leaving the Ore an hour before HW is very cautious, the entrance used to be shallow but it's much better now, have a look at the latest ECP chartlet, your draught would get you in or out almost anytime. http://www.eastcoastpilot.com/Ore2016v1.pdf


Hello,
Thanks for that its bery reassuring to heat about the ore, I confess we did a wee bit of prop polishing last year but survived!
Downloaded the ECP chartlet and laminated it last might ready which I will take as gospel as it does not correspond with Navionics.

Thanks again all the best, Col.
 
Hello,
Thanks for that its bery reassuring to heat about the ore, I confess we did a wee bit of prop polishing last year but survived!
Downloaded the ECP chartlet and laminated it last might ready which I will take as gospel as it does not correspond with Navionics.

Thanks again all the best, Col.

I left the Ore at the weekend LW+1. 0.8m draft and had no less than 1m under the keels. Just for info.
 
I left the Ore at the weekend LW+1. 0.8m draft and had no less than 1m under the keels. Just for info.

Hi,
Thanks for the info very welcome.only three days away and all looking forward to it. Hoping to anchor the first night on the Butley, wonder if the Dutch and Belgians are onto the place yet?

Cheers, Col
 
Goodness,
Well we will be nosing our way in on Sunday. Management and family love the Harbour inn. Great food expensive but good beer. Sadly its the visitors moorings for me wish I had that sort of loose change but you mever know keep doing the lottery. Weather looks promising.

Cheers, Col.
 
Hopefully see you on Sunday.
Wave when you pass "Somersault"

Hopefully I'll be leaving early Monday for Holland for a few weeks.

somersault_001.jpg
 
Here is a short clip of us entering southwold a couple of weeks ago after a fast reach across from Ostend.

https://youtu.be/yRX3MAXB1dg

We are heading off on Friday night for Amsterdam then heading south inland for a couple of weeks. Where are you headed javelin, perhaps meet for pint...?
 
Here is a short clip of us entering southwold a couple of weeks ago after a fast reach across from Ostend.

https://youtu.be/yRX3MAXB1dg

We are heading off on Friday night for Amsterdam then heading south inland for a couple of weeks. Where are you headed javelin, perhaps meet for pint...?
Hi Henry, we'll be on board in Amsterdam Marina (L4) from Thursday night onwards. If you happen to visit the marina pop over.

Cheers
Nigel
 
I have been into Southwold 3 times (once in the dark - NEVER TRY THIS !!!). It is a gorgeous place.

We once entered the Deben in darkness which is something I am in no particular rush to do again.

Hopefully see you on Sunday.
Wave when you pass "Somersault"

Hopefully I'll be leaving early Monday for Holland for a few weeks.

somersault_001.jpg

Those stagings look very posh!
 
We once entered the Deben in darkness which is something I am in no particular rush to do again.

The scariest thing we've done. We assumed - stupidly - that the buoys would be lit, they aren't and we didn't have their coordinates or a GPS track. With two young children asleep below we were so angry with ourselves we considered giving up sailing. And it was back in the days of a wider gap over the bar and more water.

Tall mast on the boat Javelin. Looks impressive.
 
Where are you headed javelin, perhaps meet for pint...?
All the usual places dictated by swmbo and large kids plus friend.
Not much say in it myself.
So in at Roompot and then tour round the southern delta.
Might head North but more likely to buy a ticket and stay in the Grevelingmeer.
So yes if heading south a beer sounds like a good idea.

Obviously after you've had your Nicholson owners rally in Amsterdam.

Those stagings look very posh!
There are some posh ones about in the river these days.
I tend to flit between half a dozen as I'm in the lucky situation of knowing which ones are free and for how long.

Tall mast on the boat Javelin. Looks impressive.
CW, your mast envy seems to be getting worse.
I wonder if there's a support group somewhere.
Anyway it won't be too long until we bolt that huge one on your boat that we have on the rack.
(you'll probably be after a longer keel then) :rolleyes:
 
Top