Southwold

[Colin K]

Hello,
I wondered what the latest situation was in Southwold? Thinking of visiting in June and was curious if there is now a visitors pontoon and how big and what the shower facillities were like ?

Cheers. Colin.

 

[Cantata]

Yes there is a visitor pontoon, not that big from memory, maybe 70-80 feet?
Smart new showers in the HM's building - I was there in September and they were just being finished.

 

[MoodySabre]

Always worth talking to the HM. He found us a pontoon berth before the new pontoons because we had small children coming aboard. What a great place.

 

[Bru]

I love Southwold and whilst the new showers are most welcome, I'm probably unusual in hoping that the traditional staging moorings aren't modernised!

 

[Lucky Duck]

Picture of the Southwold visitors' pontoon from the Walberswick shore. It can accommodate two or possibly three rafts of boats.

Personally I wouldn't miss the staging one bit if they were converted to pontoons.

 

[Colin K]

Hello, thanks for the replies I appreciate that some prefer the old stagings and i am sure they will keep some for those inclined however a pontoon is fantastic for those living for the day and needing a wee less hassle.

I understand the ladies showers are improved in the SC. Which is grand I am happy to pay for that. Looking at the pictures are the new pontoons seaward of the HM office?

Cheers. Colin.

 

[MoodySabre]

Hello, thanks for the replies I appreciate that some prefer the old stagings and i am sure they will keep some for those inclined however a pontoon is fantastic for those living for the day and needing a wee less hassle.

I understand the ladies showers are improved in the SC. Which is grand I am happy to pay for that. Looking at the pictures are the new pontoons seaward of the HM office?

Cheers. Colin.

Isn't that the HMs office in centre picture?

 

[Cantata]

Yes, that's right, the pontoon's inshore end is pretty much by the office as I recall.
I really like Southwold, pity it's quite so far from over here or I'd visit more often. It's a simple unspoilt boaty place and long may it remain so. I don't mind the stagings at all, just another challenge. Not that bothered about fancy showers for that matter. I wonder why I have so few friends?

 

[Bru]

I don't know about ladies showers in the sailing club, my understating on our visit last year was that the then unfinished showers in the office building were unisex

Given that the showers in the SC were by a very long margin the worst I have ever seen in forty odd years of camping and boating the new showers are a definite plus! (My crew did reckon that the camp site showers weren't too bad but they are quiet a hike from the moorings)

As for the pontoons, for now there is the best of both worlds but the HM did suggest that the stagings days are probably numbered in the longer term

 

[Lucky Duck]

Harbour Master's office is just beyond the raft of Legends in the centre of the picture, when we visited on the August bank holiday the work to create the new showers had some way to go before being complete.

 

[Leighb]

We spent a few days on the pontoon last year and although it was very relaxing compared to the staging as far as the actual mooring is concerned, the noise and stink of diesel from one of the fishing boats - the white one 2nd to the left - which ran it's engines for up to 1 1/2 hours after returning to port, was a big minus. As it was upwind all the time we were there it was particularly unpleasant. When we go again this year - hopefully - we might consider going back on the staging.

 

[Javelin]

The big flood in early 2014 damaged a lot of pontoons up and down the river and really put back the plans for the public facilities.
Talk between Waveney council/ Southwold town council and the harbour trust on who will take future ownership was and is still underway and so trying to secure funding for better facilities is almost impossible until ownership is settled.

That said there are new pontoons as seen above as well as the existing staging.
However if the harbour is busy then Peter the HM will usually give us a ring at the boatyard (HMS) and we'll find a berth either on our pontoons or on one of out customers berths if we know they're away or we have their boat out of the water.
At one point last year I think we had 8 or 9 boats on our berths due to a huge influx of Dutch boats.

It appears that the entrance has scoured out a bit over the winter.
I brought a 52' hoek in last month drawing 2.2m at a couple of hours after low water with no issues.
Not had chance to do my usual pole survey yet but will do before Easter.

As an aside we've now bought the Cafe next to the boatyard and this is now open everyday except for Christmas.

 

[Colin K]

Thank you all. We will be there early season and look forward to it.

Cheers. Colin.

 

[Javelin]

Just a little update.
We sailed home from Harwich to Southwold today and took a risk and followed a friendly fisherman I know who called out the depths at the three shallow areas we know of.
LW was at 17:30
We entered at 15:50
The least we saw was 2.8m
We draw 2.1m
Quite a big tide today as well so on that basis I reckon I can amend my in and out Max guide for my boat as 1 1/2 hour before and 1 hour after LW.

 

[Leighb]

Thanks for the update, we do hope we can visit our favourite port again this year.

 

[MoodySabre]

Thanks for the update, we do hope we can visit our favourite port again this year.

And me. Arriving a couple of hours before LW will be much better than HW. Thanks Javelin

 

[Javelin]

A little video of our 4 1/2 hr sail from Half Penny Pier to Southwold on Monday

 

[pks1702]

Nice Video - thanks.

Kite looked to be doing its job well.

 

[Koeketiene]

A little video of our 4 1/2 hr sail from Half Penny Pier to Southwold on Monday

Nice one - thanks for sharing.

God, I miss my boat

 

[Habebty]

God, I miss my boat

Luckily, so did I coming back up the Orwell Monday