Swallows and Amazons Secret Water 15th16th

Phoenix of Hamble

Phoenix of Hamble

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I know a number of forumites are planning on being in the Twizzle for this weekend, and joining a BBQ on the beach....

Initial talk was to be there Friday night, and then BBQ Friday night on the beach....

However, CliveG, who is now joining us has pointed out to me that its a big spring (unsuprising given the need for lots of water for the gaff rigged dinghies to get round the island), and that LW is 21h16... so I am thinking that effectively anyone drawing more than about a metre is going to be struggling to get in between 20h00 and 23h00 being optimistic. Given that its a Friday evening, and so many will struggle to be there any earlier than that, we may need to redraw our plans...

My initial thoughts are that, weather permitting, it could be fun to get an anchorage group set up just outside the Backwaters in Pennyhole Bay.... (would have been great this weekend)... but if there is any wind or sea, then that wouldn't work either.... SYH entrance might be awkward given the LW as well, Shotley a possibility or perhaps Halfpenny pier at Harwich? or alternatively, grabbing a mooring at Pin Mill, but again LW will make trips ashore to the Butt and Oyster unattractive.... perhaps anchoring somewhere up the Orwell?

Thoughts?
 
Who's organising the S&A sail around the island and can anyone join-in? Our boat's at Titchmarsh but we've also got a half share in a gunter-rigged classic dinghy and it would be great to drop it in at Titchmarsh and join in the fun. Any one have any more details?
 
Alas we won't now be there, as SWMBO has been conscripted for Galley Duty at the Deben Yacht Club on the 15th.

Have fun. The Old Gaffers are a very friendly crowd.
 
Woolverstone could work, but I kind of begrudge paying a nights marina fees for a marina just 30mins from our home marina!

Perhaps your other suggestion of up the Stour would be nice..... I don't have any charts at home, so not sure about the practicality of the suggestion for Ewarton Ness.....so any thoughts appreciated.... or perhaps we just make it nice and easy, and go for Halfpenny pier...

Also, is everyone still up for a BBQ, and small beach fire for marshmallows etc on Saturday night?
 
Neil

I have just got the charts of the boat (Which is at home /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif).

Where is Halfpenny Pier?

Ewarton Ness is about 2 miles up the Stour from the Shotley marina entrance on the north bank.
the shoreline there appears to be quite steep-too shelving from 3.3m to -2m in 0.1 NM of the end of the pier.
there is no indication of an anchorage or moorings in the area.
The bottom is marked as mud shell and stone.

We are up for the BBQ.
What are you going to burn on the fire?
 
Ok.. in order...

Halfpenny pier is at Harwich, just at the entrance to the Stour, but on the Stour side... its a pontoon... no services...

Don't know about anchoring at Ewarton Ness, never even been there!, but steep too sounds good, means we can get out of the channel easily... and the bottom sounds good too!

What are we going to burn on the fire?..... I assume what will make the fire... well there is usually loads of driftwood on the beach....
 
I would much prefer the pontoon as we have not had a night on anchor with this boat and I would like to do that in a more sheltered area (The Back Waters)

In fact I have only used the anchor on Sireria once and the was for a lunch stop on Grafham Water. We managed to lift a 3' Dia ball of weed on that occasion.
The only night I have done at anchor was in the bay to the south of Hugh Town on St Mary's and I didn't sleep much that night.

What is the set-up at Halfpenny Pier?

I shall get some meat during the week and freeze it ready for the BBQ.
 
Only one further suggestion... depending on how many of us there is what about contacting Royal Harwich Yacht Club. I think they might be a bit cheaper than Woolverston. The other Stella that might come along is a member there.... just not sure how much space there will be. What's the current count on numbers for Friday night?
 
We would love to come down on Cento, but will not be down to Woolverstone till late Friday, sailing Sat and planning to spend the Sat night at Hamford Water if anyone is about and would like to join us.



We will have friends with us over the weekend, but they will have to rough it.

The Stour is OK for anchoring, but make sure the anchor is well set in the mud, we watched a boat drift past the other day, while the family all sat in the cockpit eating and chatting, whilst heading slowly to Shotley backwards.
 
Erwarton Ness is a good anchorage. You can anchor either side of the beacon (tho' most anchor upstream). Best landing is right by the beacon, it's hard shell and accessible virtually all states. There is plenty of driftwood, and lots of places to BBQ. You also have the option to walk through the fields to the Queen's Head in the village, which has a good restaurant (you may have to phone first to chack availability).

For kids, the crabbing at Erwarton is excellent - grandson caught 51 (yes fifty-one) in just over an hour, a couple of weeks ago.

The south shore is also OK, but getting ashore is well-nigh impossible, as it's very flat.

For these reasons, we are almost certain to be there on the Friday evening, complete with 2 grandkids.
 
Sounds good....

Suggest however, we leave the BBQ to Sat night to give everyone a chance....

Perhaps easiest is for everyone to make their own arrangements for Friday night, and we'll all meet Sat morning at Stone Point....
Current numbers are 7 boats....
 
Halfpenny pier can be very uncomfortable overnight (combination of wash and tides) - you can often (dare I say "usually") find a free mooring buoy outside Levington which would be more comfortable IMHO.
 
Sat for the BBq would be great for us as some of my crew will have to drive up during the day.
I understand your reluctance at Woolverstone, then again i was intending to arrive late (after 2000 and leave early (b4 06000. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
If anchoring up the Stour, watch for much less water west of the SCM opposite Wrabness than there used to be - no idea why this is, but it's now necessary to anchor almost in the buoyed channel there.
 
That works for me.
We will stay in SYH Friday night.
Low water on Saturday morning is 0.7m at 09:30.
So mid morning entrance should be fine.

Any idea what sort of time you would be off SYH?
Be good to go round in company to see the way in.
 
We draw 6ft. and have anchored many a time at Ewarton Ness-nice quiet spot if wind is from the NW, passable from the SW, but a bit bumpy if from the E.
 
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