Stour, Sandwich

[Murv]

A bit of a long shot, but has anybody navigated the Stour recently? I'm taking a friends boat from Sandwich marina to Conyer soon and wondered if there was any local knowledge available. Rumor has it at least one of the channel buoys is submerged at HW.

 

[tillergirl]

Not heard about any warning about the buoys other than at Sandwich Port and Haven | Cinque Port of Sandwich – A trust port managed by Sandwich Port and Haven Commissioners at the foot of the page. I am sure you could ring them

 

[Richborough]

The river is fine to navigate. What with the rain the last few days and the wind. Plenty of water

 

[MikeBz]

We have been up to Sandwich a number of times but not for a couple of years. It was easy and stress free. The harbour master Ian Broughton is very helpful and keen to have visitors - his contact details are here: Contact us – Sandwich Port and Haven | Cinque Port of Sandwich

 

[oldgit]

Should be an interesting trip.

 

[Richborough]

Should be an interesting trip.

Also there are 2 new boat yards open now Richborough marine and coastal marine . Using land at port Richborough. Right at the mouth of the stour . 2 good guys and sensible pricing.

 

[shanemax]

There is only one river Stour worth visiting. The one in Essex is a very wide, tidal, long beautiful river with no marinas and often you do not see another boat. Some times a couple anchored enjoying the beauty and peace.

 

[MikeBz]

There is only one river Stour worth visiting. The one in Essex is a very wide, tidal, long beautiful river with no marinas and often you do not see another boat. Some times a couple anchored enjoying the beauty and peace.

Wild stab in the dark - you haven’t been up the Stour in Kent to Sandwich.

 

[Gargleblaster]

And there is a Stour River on the East Coast of the Main Island in NZ

 

[shanemax]

Wild stab in the dark - you haven’t been up the Stour in Kent to Sandwich.

you are right, but looking on the chart it looks like the whole lot dries out with enough water, at high tide, in the channel, for a canoe

 

[johnalison]

you are right, but looking on the chart it looks like the whole lot dries out with enough water, at high tide, in the channel, for a canoe

One of our club members went up to Sandwich a few years ago and did a presentation about it. I think he had something like a Hunter 26 at the time. It looked like an attractive destination.

 

[oldgit]

you are right, but looking on the chart it looks like the whole lot dries out with enough water, at high tide, in the channel, for a canoe

Std buoyage ? does that clubhouse have a bar ?, best anchor ?

 

[Murv]

Many thanks all, much appreciated

 

[Biggles Wader]

One of our club members went up to Sandwich a few years ago and did a presentation about it. I think he had something like a Hunter 26 at the time. It looked like an attractive destination.

Very nice destination if you can get up to Sandwich. Olde Worldie town a bit like Rye and nicer than trendy Deal or Folkestone.

 

[Egret]

Does anyone have any pilotage comments or photos on the way across the sands and where best to moor for the town - Parent Cinque Port for Brightlingsea - Have found the Port and Harbour Commissions website now, but other information might be of interest. Is it easy to see the way in from offshore, is it only sensible on a quiet day? - Website says approach in 'sheltered conditions' - Thanks to Tillergirl below.

 

[tillergirl]

The River Stour – Sandwich Port and Haven | Cinque Port of Sandwich

Best available I know of. There is that comment on the bottom of the Home Page.

 

[PetiteFleur]

We went to Sandwich about 5/6 years ago - no problem getting up the river on a rising tide - just followed the buoys, but at one point we did stop and had to go around an obstacle on the bottom, no idea what but we continued up to Sandwich and moored up to the Quay near the public toilets. We had a long board so we could rest against the piles when aground. We didn't pay anything as there was a dispute with the harbour master and council - the public toilets and showers were closed and we had to use the disabled toilet, which was fortunately not locked. Nice town but we only stayed one night. We draw 1.4m draught.
We also went many, many years ago, in our first boat, a bilge keel Vivacity 20, which just settled in the mud at an angle when aground, not comfortable at night!
Just read the directions from Tillerpilot - should have read them earlier before we went... !

 

[tillergirl]

I recall there was a problem at one point about 5 years ago which might have been that obstacle you mention. I have a vague recollection that a bank had sort of collapsed starting to intrude into the channel. But that could be my brain fade. I'm good at brain fade. Nobody could beat it.

 

[MikeBz]

youare right, but looking on the chart it looks like the whole lot dries out with enough water, at high tide, in the channel, for a canoe

The entrance dries, but once you are in there is plenty of water all the way up to Sandwich and beyond the bridge. It is quite narrow in places, especially alongside the pontoons at Sandwich Marina.

We didn’t fancy going alongside the quay - with bilge keels we would have laid over away from the quay at LW which would have made getting on & off the boat nigh on impossible. The Harbourmaster kindly allowed us to lay alongside the gunboat where we stayed afloat and getting on & off was easy.

Sandwich Marina (linear pontoons in the river) would be a lovely place to stop, but when I spoke with them a few years ago they weren’t taking visitors despite their price list having a tariff for an overnight stay - maybe things have changed. Highway Marine beyond the bridge may be worth a call too, but in the first instance I would speak with the Harbourmaster.

The tides at Sandwich are a bit peculiar - it’s shallower at LW neaps than LW springs. There used to be a chart showing this on one of the websites but I can’t find it now.

From the Sandwich Port website:



The river is delightful.

Moored alongside the gunboat, town quay beyond:



River views…

 

[shanemax]

is that Donald Trumps navy on its way to take over Greenland.